There has been a dramatic change in social security law that will affect spousal benefits and therefore, must be considered by parties facing divorce. The new rules went into effect (with virtually no warning to the public) on November 15, 2015. Historically, ex-spouses could each independently decide when to file for social security benefits based […]
alimony, child support, divorce, divorce attorney, property settlement, settlement negotiations, social security benefits, spousal support, supportSometimes I think I am the only person in the world who does not use Facebook. Well, actually I do have a Facebook page for my law practice, but I do not have one for personal use. I do not post personal news or photos, nor do I check out the Facebook pages of my […]
children, custody, divorce, divorce attorney, divorce judgment, divorce settlement, Facebook, marital assets, marital home, marriageI receive many inquiries in my law practice concerning step-parent adoption. A step-parent adoption can occur when a custodial parent (either divorced or never married to the non-custodial parent) marries and the couple wishes to have a court order permitting the new spouse (step-parent) to adopt the child. This will typically occur when the […]
Although I am not a psychologist, I am often asked by my clients both when and how to tell the children that a divorce is planned, or even in the works. I do recommend that clients – especially those whose children are already in treatment – follow the specific recommendations of the therapist. For the […]
It is not uncommon for me to receive phone calls or emails from people inquiring whether they really “need” an attorney for their divorce. They don’t own much and they agree about everything. Often a brief conversation reveals that there are property issues they do not know how to handle or children involved with various […]
Michigan is a pro-marriage state. Public policy favors marriage between domestic partners and our laws reflect that favoritism. Indeed, Michigan does not recognize what is referred to as “common law marriage.” Over my career as a family law lawyer, I have had many potential clients query me about their “rights” when dissolving their live-in relationship […]
common law marriage, equitable property division, meritricious relationshipHaving grown up during the era of civil rights protest for racial equality, I see alarming parallels to the current battle for same-sex marriage equality. And, just as the landmark US Supreme Court case of Brown v Board of Education, which mandated school integration, did not result in immediate and peaceful attaining of its goal, […]
Current statistics tell us that one out of every three women in an intimate relationship is being abused. As a domestic relations/family law attorney, I have learned that domestic violence thrives when we are silent. Sadly, in my experience, the silence is deafening. I want to talk to you about the silence. Victims of domestic […]
I had a call from a potential client this past week, a mother who was very distraught because during his last week of summer parenting time, her ex-husband had taken their ten year old daughter for a haircut. He did not consult with the mother first, and she was furious about that. She called me […]
Are you certain the answer is “No?” A recent article in HuffPo by Fred Silberberg entitled Is That Domestic Violence caught my eye. Silberberg posits that “even those who are not actually being physically abused can be victims of domestic violence.” He points out that the California Family Code states that “abuse is not limited […]
