By David R. Dawson | Published July 17, 2023 | Posted in Divorce | Tagged Tags: equitable distribution, joint property settlement, pet custody | Comments Off on Pet Custody: Who Keeps the Family Dog in a Divorce?
Pet Custody: Who Keeps the Family Dog in a Divorce?
Deciding who gets to keep a beloved pet can be a very divisive issue in a divorce. As much as people treat pets like family member, Michigan law treats them as property. This means they are subject to the same laws that control division of other marital assets. However, courts have begun to consider noneconomic Read More
Read MoreMistakes That Can Hurt Your Chances for Child Custody
If you are going through a divorce in Michigan and there are children of the marriage, your behavior during the proceedings can have a pronounced impact on the court’s child custody decisions. Making a strong case for joint custody means showing affirmatively that such an arrangement will be in the child’s best interest. But you Read More
Read MoreWho Pays For a Child’s College Expenses if the Parents Have Divorced?
When determining child support to be paid following a divorce, one of the significant questions that arises is how a child’s college expenses will be covered. Under Michigan law, both parents must share in the financial support of their child, but child support terminates when a child reaches the age of 18 or completes high Read More
Read MoreCan Grandparents Be Granted Visitation Rights in Michigan?
Child custody and visitation usually are the concerns of divorced or separated parents, but sometimes other family members claim to have an interest in being part of a child’s upbringing. This occurs most frequently when grandparents feel their relationship with the child is being interrupted. In Michigan, parents generally have the right to deny grandparents’ Read More
Read MoreHow Does Divorce Affect Your Estate Planning?
Among the important but sometimes overlooked impacts of divorce are the changes that may need to be made in your estate planning. If you currently have a will, a trust or other planning documents in place, there are several steps you should take to review and revise them in order to account for your new Read More
Read MoreMaking a Strong Case for Child Custody in Michigan
In custody cases, courts generally find that children benefit from having a continued relationship with both parents. However, the court’s role is to order an arrangement that is deemed to be in the child’s best interests. When parents disagree over who should have primary physical custody, the court will decide based on who can provide Read More
Read MoreHow Covid Vaccination Disputes Affect Divorcing Couples
The vaccines used to combat Covid-19 are sometimes the cause of disputes between divorced parents of minor children. Childhood vaccinations have been part of the societal landscape for decades. Some vaccinations are required for children to enroll in school, while others are recommended but not mandatory. Covid vaccinations are optional among school age children in Read More
Read MoreWhat’s Involved in Modifying Spousal Support in Michigan?
In Michigan, spousal support — also known as alimony — is often awarded in a divorce to a spouse in need of financial assistance, whether for a short or long term. In general, the more financially dependent that one spouse was on the other during the marriage, the more likely that support will be awarded. Read More
Read MoreDividing a Professional Practice as an Asset in Divorce
When a married couple divorces, dividing the assets can be difficult and contentious. Property division can be further complicated when one spouse owns a business, especially if it is a type of professional practice. During a divorce, the family court judge is required to divide all marital property in a way that is fair, just Read More
Read MoreMichigan Prenups and Postnups — What They Can and Cannot Do
Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements are typically thought of as ways for wealthy individuals to shield their assets from gold-digging spouses. But prenups and postnups have become common in many marriages, even when the spouses are on equal financial footings. A fair agreement can allow each spouse to make independent financial and property arrangements during the Read More
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