role of fault

The role of fault – “He hit me and gave me a bloody nose.”

It just happens that one of the most common questions asked is the role of fault in a Michigan divorce and on July 18, 2017, the Michigan Court of Appeals addressed the issue in the case of Koch v. Koch.  The Koch marriage began in 1987 and ended October 17, 2014.  The parties had one[…]

bias judge

Justice? – the case of the biased judge.

When things don’t go your way, it is easy to blame the decision on a biased judge.  A bias judge is a judge who has a prejudice in favor or against one thing, person or group compared with another.  It the context of a divorce or custody case emotions are often running high and an[…]

big mistake

We made a “BIG” mistake in the Judgment of Divorce.

What happens when you make a mistake in a Judgment of Divorce?  The answer is it depends.  If both parties agree, a mistake is easily corrected.  However, if the mistake favors one party, it is not always easy. In the case of Amante v. Amante, Mich App. Case No. 331542, the parties entered into a[…]

50/50 property

Consider fault when a 50/50 property division is not fair

Michigan is a no-fault divorce state and many people (and some lawyers) are of the belief that means only a 50/50 property division is fair.   While it is not uncommon for a divorce to result in property acquired during the marriage to be divided 50/50, it is not what Michigan law requires. In fact, fault[…]

Best interest of the child

Best interest of the child – The case of a stripper and the National Guard.

With a population of 21,000 people, Marquette Michigan may be considered a small town, however for the parties in Lessard v. Londo, Michigan Court of Appeals Docket No. 336156, the small town was home to a big problem involving the best interest of the child, age 16 months. Mr. Lessard met Ms. Londo on the[…]

Divorce lawyer

Spare the Grey Hairs: 10 Ways a Divorce Lawyer Can Save You Money and Aggravation

Here at Findling Law, we appreciate how anxious you may be to get your divorce over as soon as possible. In fact, you may be scrolling through the extensive library of divorce materials on our website right now, educating yourself on a variety of Michigan divorce law topics, as well as how to best prepare[…]

the needs of the parties

Alimony in Michigan – The needs of the parties.

Alimony and spousal support are payments made to support a former spouse.  Most attorneys use guidelines to estimate an alimony payment.  However, Michigan alimony law allows for an evaluation of the needs of the parties in determining alimony or spousal support, something that alimony guidelines don’t do. The most popular alimony guidelines take into consideration[…]

divorced

The Path Toward Your New Happiness: Resolutions for the Newly-Divorced

For the newly-divorced, the goals might be less about decluttering, a regular workout schedule, or eating clean. A divorce offers the chance to forge a path toward your new happiness.    Healthy Boundaries (It’s Not About Salad) During the course of your marriage, you and your spouse had a set of boundaries, often unspoken, about[…]

college and Michigan divorce

Can a court order a parent to pay for college in a Michigan divorce?

Markus Moos a University of Waterloo Professor conducted research published in Forbes magazine that millennials are earning less than their parents.  One way to curb this trend is to ensure that children attend college, which begs the question:  Can a court order a parent to pay for college in a Michigan divorce? Child support in[…]

Counselors

Counselors, Social Workers, and Psychologists: Which is right for your child?

Divorce can be a difficult experience, especially for kids. This can be a time when your child is truly struggling – with academics, personal relationships, or managing emotions and behaviors. A little extra help in dealing with this new situation can make all the difference. But, who do you turn to? Counselors, social workers, psychologists[…]

first responders divorce

First Responders divorce – a high risk profession

First Responders: At Risk for Divorce First Responders are individuals who are first on the scene of an accident or disaster, such as firefighters, police officers, or other law or medical personnel.  It’s no wonder why this unique category of professionals are considered to be at higher risk for troubled marriages and divorce. First Responders[…]

Status quo

Q: How are the bills paid during a divorce? A: Financial Status Quo Order

A breakdown in a marriage can also be a breakthrough in finding happiness regardless of how the marriage is ending.  While you may feel like life is in disorder, the bills still need to be paid which begs the question:  Who pays the bills during a divorce?  The answer can be found in a Financial[…]

Post-nuptial

Ending a Marriage When You Still Love Each Other

When a marriage is filled with anger, dysfunction, conflict, and even hate, it seems plausible and even reasonable that it should and will end in divorce. After all, marriage is a relationship built on love and respect that lasts until the end of time. Or at least until the love and respect run out and[…]

after divorce travel

Travelling Alone: Getting Away After Divorce or Separation

A bevy of emotions unleash during the process of separation or divorce … and rarely do any of them feel peaceful, settled or anything other than exhausting. Many people at this point consider taking a trip – however long or short – as a means of clearing their minds and bringing focus to their next[…]

divorce and special needs

Managing Divorce with a Special Needs Child

If you are a parent of a special needs child, you already know how much more challenging your days are providing care, education, treatments, and socialization for your child. Divorce is often an emotionally charged event for a couple with no children, quite a bit more so for a couple with children, and exceptionally challenging[…]

taxes on alimony

Paying (or not paying) taxes on Alimony (spousal support).

Alimony in Michigan When every dollar counts, paying (or not paying) taxes on alimony can be a big deal.  Under Michigan law, “Alimony” is the same as “Spousal Support” and are payments made to support a spouse after divorce.  The primary factors in determining an amount of alimony are the age, education, length of marriage[…]

Michigan divorce statistics

15 Mind-Blowing Michigan Divorce Statistics

Mind Blowing Michigan Divorce Statistics. Divorce is nothing new, nor is it something that rarely happens anymore. Everyone knows someone who has divorced. And, that is just as true here in the state of Michigan. Take a look at these mind-blowing Michigan Divorce Statistics.   All stats here refer to the year 2015 unless noted otherwise.[…]

File a Michigan divorce

Where to file a Michigan divorce? – The Jurisdictional and Residency Requirements of a Divorce

Where can you file a Michigan divorce? I was recently approached by the editors of the Michigan Family Law Journal to write a monthly column on Michigan Divorce and Family Law.  The Michigan Family Law Journal is a publication of the State Bar of Michigan Family Law Section and serves as “Family Law Council’s forum to[…]

Change of circumstances

Brush and floss or prepare for loss – a change of circumstances?

The Michigan Court of Appeals recently decided a case involving dental hygiene to change custody, affirming the trial court’s decision that there was neither proper cause or a change of circumstances sufficient to warrant a change of custody. In the case of Kelly v. Johnson, Michigan Court of Appeals Case No. 334144, the father was[…]

Michigan divorce

Common Red Flags That Can Signal a Marriage Breakdown

People often say that they should have seen the signs of a deteriorating marriage sooner. It’s hard to notice subtle changes in everyday behavior, though, but you might notice persistent behaviors that just don’t quite add up. We combed many sources and found several recurring themes on this topic. Here are a few common red[…]

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The 2017 Michigan Child Support Formula Manual and Supplement

The 2017 Michigan Child Support Formula Manual (“MCSFM”) The new Michigan Child Support Formula Manual has arrived. The last time the Michigan Child Support Formula Manual was updated was 2013. The major changes to the 2017 Michigan Child Support Formula Manual are set forth on pages “i” and “ii” and are restated below.  You can[…]

Marriage is ending

10 Tips for Staying Productive when your Marriage is Ending.

Moving forward with your life is so hard when your marriage is ending. It can be really hard to stay focused and get anything done at home, work, or school. There are some little things that you can do to regain some of that focus and stay productive when you just want to curl up[…]

divorce coach

What is a divorce coach and do you need one?

It seems that there’s a coach for everything these days, and that includes divorce, too. While your Findling Law lawyer is your most trusted expert when it comes to all of the legal and strategic aspects of your divorce, you may find that you could use some other types of support during this challenging time. That’s[…]

divorce selfies

Divorce Selfies: The Closure on Divorce

Chances are, you’ve got a smartphone and that you’ve taken some photos with it. You might even have taken a selfie or two, at least to send to your mother or to create a profile picture for your social media accounts. You may even have taken some selfies along the course of your divorce, to[…]

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When is a deal a deal?

When is a deal a deal?  Settlements. I was recently approached by the editors of the Michigan Family Law Journal to write a monthly column on Michigan Divorce and Family Law.  The Michigan Family Law Journal is a publication of the State Bar of Michigan Family Law Section and serves as “Family Law Council’s forum to[…]

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