A divorce deposition is a form of discovery. Discovery is the formal process by which you “discover” information relevant to the case. There are three forms of discovery in a Michigan divorce. First, Interrogatories (think to interrogate) which are written questions which must be answered under oath and subject to the felony of perjury. Second, a[…]
Michigan divorce law distinguishes between active and passive appreciation when dividing retirement accounts in divorce. The seminal case on point is Reeves vs. Reeves.
Can a court impute overtime income in calculating child support? This issue was addressed by the Michigan Court of Appeals on September 10, 2020, in its opinion in the case of Olivero v. Olivero. In the Olivero case, the father objected to a Friend of the Court recommendation which imputed overtime income to father in[…]
The short answer is no, however, under Michigan law in every Michigan custody case a child has a right to be heard and the court must consider the child’s preference in awarding custody and parenting time. In every Michigan parenting time or child custody case the trial court is required to consider the statutory best[…]
On August 13, 2020, the Michigan Court of Appeals issued an opinion in a child custody awarding the father custody after determining that the mother interferes with everything. The case of Osborne v. Osborne arises out of a tumultuous divorce and child custody dispute. The parties had two children and divorced in 2019. The divorce[…]
The ex spouse of a worker covered by social security may qualify for a benefit equal to 50 percent of the insured worker’s primary insurance amount while the worker is living and 100 percent of the insured worker’s primary insurance amount after the insured workers death. See: 42 USC 402(b)(2),(c)(2),(e)(2)(a), (f)(3)(A). The benefits paid to[…]
Michigan Custody Law can be broken down into three steps. First, (in modification cases), you must address proper cause or change of circumstances. Second, you must address an established custodial environment. Third, you must address the best interest of the child factors.
An annulment, is a judicial determination that the marriage did not occur. A divorce is the changing of the legal status by a court from married to unmarried. The grounds for an annulment in Michigan. The grounds recognized for an annulment in Michigan are: Bigamy (married to more than one person); A marriage to a[…]
There are two paths in every divorce, the emotional path and the legal path. We trust that you understand how you feel. We help you understand the law.
The seminal case on choice of school issues is Pierron v. Pierron and we have you covered with the nitty gritty details on how the process works.
Oakland County Circuit Court – Family Division: At Findling Law, we have the great privilege of appearing before divorce courts throughout the state of Michigan. One of these courts is the Oakland County Circuit Court. The Oakland County Circuit Court – Family Division is simply known as the Oakland County Divorce Court. The Oakland[…]
Prior to suspending parenting time of a party, the trial court must hold an evidentiary hearing and find by clear and convincing evidence that continuation of parenting time would endanger the child’s physical, mental, or emotional health. Rozek v Rozek, 203 Mich App 193, 194-195; 511 NW2d 693 (1993).
If your relationship is on the rocks you may wonder if it is important to be the first to file for divorce? Is it important to be the first to file for divorce? Every divorce has an emotional and legal component. The legal component involves the division of assets, liabilities, support and concerns regarding the[…]
With Memorial Day in our rear-view mirror, we look forward to summer. Sunny days. Lemonade stands. Pool toys. Boats. Games of capture the flag. Ice cream trucks. Sleep-away camp. These are just some of the many things we associate with the summer months in the great State of Michigan. Unfortunately, we are entering summer during[…]
Michigan Compiled Laws Section 552.23 provides that a Michigan court can order spousal support if the estate and effects awarded to either party are insufficient for his/her support.
What is a “Black Swan” event and why do financial and news outlets from Forbes to Yahoo and CNN to the Wall Street Journal keep using this mystifying term? Black swan events generally are unpredictable events far beyond what is typically expected and have potentially severe and catastrophic consequences. While some leading epidemiologists and public[…]
There is an old adage in Michigan Divorce and Family Law cases. “You do not want your ex as a business partner”. However, in a recent Houghton Circuit Court case, that is exactly what the trial court ordered. On Appeal, the Michigan Court of Appeals address the issue if a divorce court can force you[…]
As you are almost certainly aware, President Trump signed the CARES act on Friday, March 27, 2020. This act provides that individuals with an income lower than $75,000.00 and couples filing joint tax returns with incomes lower than $150,000.00 total are entitled to a “stimulus credit” in the amount of $1,200.00 and $2,400.00 respectively. Additionally,[…]
COVID-19 is responsible for a concerning increase in domestic violence as well as a depletion of resources available to those in need.
There are two common ex parte orders entered in a Michigan divorce case. The first is called a financial status quo order and the second is a restraining order regarding property transfer.
On March 12, 2020, the Michigan Court of Appeals issued its opinion in the case of Negron vs. Watts. In this Michigan custody action, the mother argued on appeal that the court lacked child custody jurisdiction to decide the case. Therefore, the final custody and parenting time order granting father sole legal and physical custody[…]
M.C.L.A. 600.1420 provides: “The sittings of every court within this state shall be public. . .” Zoom hearings are private.
If your income has been reduced because of the economic effect of the COVID-19 outbreak, Governor Whitmers’ Executive Order 2020-21 (COVID-19), and an alimony or child support order is in effect, the time to modify support is now. There is no retro-active modification of alimony or child support. Time is of the essence to modify support.[…]
You should still exercise parenting time during the Shelter in Place Order if safe to do so. See: Section 7(b)(4) of Governor Whitmer’s Shelter in Place Order.
Findling law, your Michigan divorce and family law firm remains open for business during the COVID-19 pandemic. We can meet by phone, video teleconference and in person. As one of Michigan’s best divorce and family law firms, we recognize that problems need to be solved even during national emergencies. We have also produced comprehensive video[…]