Birth Support and Divorce in Michigan: On July 6, 2012, Shari Motro, a law professor at the University of Richmond wrote an editorial in the New York Times advocating Preglimony. Preglimony is sort of alimony for pregnant woman and would include the loss of income arising from pregnancy, or the cost of an abortion. Professor[…]
The engagement ring and Michigan divorce: Some etiquette books say if a marriage has lasted less than a year, then an engagement ring should be returned. However, under Michigan law, as long as the parties go through with the wedding, the ring is a gift and need not be returned in the event of[…]
Taxes and Innocent Spouse Relief: We are fascinated with the failures and problems of celebrities and every year, the IRS chases people who evade or underpay federal income tax, and actors and popular figures in the media make the news. The facts are tax problems are not only common among celebrities. What if your spouse[…]
Deciding to divorce: Celebrity break-ups make headlines. For everyone else, break-ups make headaches. Deciding when enough is enough is never easy. There are multiple considerations including the effect on children, financial and emotional happiness. Whenever a relationship is on the rocks, I always advise my client’s of the three choices. They are simple and[…]
Parental kidnapping: This morning’s headlines shed light on one of the most frightening moments in a custody case: Country star Mindy McCready kidnapped her 5 year old son. While there is no one comprehensive integrated process for gathering and analyzing data and information on international child abduction cases, in 1988 family members abducted 354,100 children[…]
Changing pension or life insurance beneficiaries after divorce. A Judgment of Divorce may not be enough! In almost every Judgment of Divorce, the parties either award or waive an interest in the former spouses’ pension plan(s) or life insurance plan(s). However, if the benefit is governed by ERISA, a waiver in a Judgment of Divorce[…]
Married for 72 days? Keep the ring! Etiquette books may say if a marriage has lasted less than a year, then an engagement ring should be returned. Michigan law, is not politically correct on this issue. If the Kim Kardashian divorce was filed in Michigan, she would get to keep the ring. Under Michigan law,[…]
Recent headlines shed light on a frightening application of Michigan law. On December 26, 2010, the Detroit Free Press reported that a Rochester Hills man faces up to 5 years in prison – – for reading his wife’s email.
The Michigan Court of Appeals has recently changed the rules regarding commingling of assets. Lawyers must advise their clients accordingly and clients should seek competent legal advice before commingling assets with his/her spouse. When dividing property in a divorce, a primary consideration is whether the property is ‘marital’ or ‘separate’. Generally, property acquired during the[…]