By David R. Dawson | Published December 15, 2025 | Posted in Family Law | Tagged Tags: family law, surrogacy |
How Surrogacy Legalization in Michigan Can Affect Families
Until 2005, Michigan stood alone as the only U.S. state with both civil and criminal bans on reproductive surrogacy. Any surrogacy agreement was declared void and unenforceable. Moreover, those who entered into, facilitated or even attempted compensated surrogacy could face criminal penalties. The result was that many would-be parents were required to legally adopt their Read More
Read MoreHow Courts Deal with Parents’ Disputes Over Children’s Education
When divorced parents make decisions about their children’s education, it is not uncommon for significant disagreements to arise. There are numerous educational avenues available, including public schools, private academies, religious institutions, charter programs and homeschooling. Each path may involve distinct teaching philosophies, religious considerations and extracurricular activities, as well as different financial burdens. These issues Read More
Read MoreEquitable Distribution Can Sometimes Apply to Separate Assets
In a Michigan divorce, the process of equitable distribution is used to divide property in a fair though not always strictly equal manner. State law distinguishes between two types of property. Marital property includes anything acquired by either spouse during the marriage, regardless of whose name is on the title. Separate property, on the other Read More
Read MoreWhich Should Come First: Divorce or Bankruptcy?
A combination of financial woes and marital turmoil can put a couple on the horns of a dilemma. Should they file for divorce and then bankruptcy, or the other way around? Both divorce and bankruptcy have significant impacts on personal finances and future stability, and the order in which these steps are taken can matter. Read More
Read MoreWhy Divorce Mediation Is Often Preferable to Litigation
In a contested divorce, battles over child custody, spousal support, property division and related issues can drag on for inordinate lengths of time, adding costs and stress. Fortunately, there are alternatives available. Mediation offers a much more amicable and pragmatic process, empowering spouses to resolve their divorce issues with less conflict and greater mutual satisfaction. Read More
Read MoreWhy High-Asset Divorces Are More Complicated to Resolve
When substantial wealth is involved, the process of dividing assets in a divorce becomes a matter not just of assigning dollar values, but of untangling a complex web of property, investments and financial instruments. These cases present unique challenges that require both specialized legal knowledge and strategic financial insight to achieve fair and equitable settlements. Read More
Read MoreBenefits of Using Mediation to Resolve Disputes in a Divorce
Mediation has become an increasingly popular method for resolving divorce issues in Michigan, offering couples a practical and often more harmonious alternative to traditional litigation. Unlike courtroom battles, which can be adversarial and stressful, mediation focuses on cooperation, communication and mutually agreeable outcomes. Its multiple benefits make it a compelling option for divorcing spouses. Michigan Read More
Read MoreHow Dissipation of Marital Assets Can Affect Equitable Distribution
In Michigan, dissipation of marital assets can play a significant role in both the division of property during a divorce. Dissipation is a spouse’s use of marital assets for purposes unrelated to the marriage, often involving intentional or wasteful depletion of resources. When this occurs, a court can take measures to compensate the other spouse Read More
Read MoreHow the Friend of the Court Can Help Enforce Parenting Time
If a parent in Michigan feels they are being denied parenting time granted to them by a court, they can seek enforcement through the Friend of the Court (FOC). The FOC is an office that serves as an arm of the circuit court, with the primary responsibility of assisting in cases involving child support, custody Read More
Read MoreCosts Not Covered by Child Support, and How to Deal With Them
Child support payments are designed to cover the basic necessities for children, such as food, housing, and clothing. However, there are many other costs associated with raising a child, potentially creating financial challenges. Parents going through divorce need to understand these costs and how to provide for managing them. The following are significant categories of Read More
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