Some years ago, I represented a wife in a divorce involving three children. The children ranged in ages from kindergarten to middle school. My client was a savvy business woman, and her husband owned a small, successful business as well. One of my favorite things about this case is that my opposing counsel (husband’s attorney) […]
One of the most common legal disputes in family court that occurs after entry of a divorce judgment relates to a child’s extra-curricular activities. Invariably, a divorce client will return to my practice with one or both of the following common complaints: (a) the other parent has violated the divorce judgment by enrolling the […]
There are a number of questions that I frequently receive from potential clients. These are inquiries I have heard many times over the years and which are often based on assumptions that are usually invalid. The following are the top five questions, and the answers that often surprise the potential clients. Question No. 1 – […]
Michigan’s Child Custody Act mandates that courts must make custody decisions in the child’s best interests. The Act goes on to describe the analysis the court must apply to determine the child’s best interests. I was recently reminded that staying focused on the child’s best interests (rather than that of the parents) can be emotionally […]
best interests, children, divorce, legal custody, primary custody, step-parentsI 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 […]
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 […]
Recently, Steve Thorpe of the Detroit Legal News interviewed me for his regular feature, “Asked and Answered.” The topic was a recent Michigan Court of Appeals ruling in a case where the divorced parents disagreed on whether the children should receive childhood immunizations. As you may know if you follow this legal blog, I am very […]
