The newly enacted tax code will effect some very significant changes that directly impact the practice of family law and the nature of settlement negotiations in both divorce and custody cases. This article considers the impact on the payment of spousal support in divorce cases. As of this writing, I have practiced family law for […]
One of the most challenging issues that can arise in a family law case occurs when the opposing party is self-employed. Simply put, throughout my career in family law practice, I can safely say that virtually every self-employed person in litigation reports a downturn in business that is coincident to the legal case, whether it […]
Warning: Non-pet owners come back for next week’s blog post, or spend the next few minutes rolling your eyes and shaking your head in bewilderment. If you don’t own a pet you will not understand what I am writing about this week! I have two large dogs. One is a labradoodle named Rosie, who was […]
pet custodySometimes 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, marriageIt 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, […]
It is indeed an exciting time to be practicing family law – there are changes in the wind, and today, I would like to remark on one of them that I see coming – prenuptial agreements and gay married couples. Once upon a time prenuptial agreements (prenups) were the sole province of the rich and […]
I am frequently contacted by potential clients who tell me that that want to mediate their divorces rather than “go to court.” Sometimes I get inquiries about collaborative law or arbitration. All of these are forms of what is called Alternative Dispute Resolution or ADR. Depending on the nature of your relationship with your spouse, […]
I am often contacted by potential clients who tell me they want to file a “no fault” divorce, as opposed to one where someone is to “blame” for the breakdown in the marriage. It has become clear to me that many people do not understand what “no fault” divorce actually means. In Michigan, “no fault” […]
