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Grand Rapids Family Law And Estate Planning Blog

Joint custody requires the parents to cooperate

During a Michigan divorce, disputes over children are common. Since the breakup of a marriage can be difficult for kids, it is important that the parents do whatever they can to make the process as seamless as possible. For many, joint custody is the most viable...

Taking care of your mental health during a divorce

Divorce can be one of the most mentally and emotionally stressful experiences you will ever go through. You might know that your marriage is over, and that divorce is the right choice, but you may still experience feelings of sadness, bitterness and regret. Taking...

Legal separation in Michigan

When confronting the breakdown of their marriage, some couples don’t want to rush headlong into divorce. They choose instead to separate and there are variations on this theme. Some states have types of separation — trial separation, permanent separation and legal...

Annulment in Michigan

Annulment is a path to marital dissolution, but it’s a very different animal than that of divorce. Where divorce ends a marriage that was entered into lawfully but no longer works, annulment rescinds the marriage because it asserts the marriage never existed. The...

Mediation: A viable path to settlement

For some divorce cases where the parties are not diametrically opposed and the level of acrimony is manageable, mediation can be a means to an end that is faster, cheaper, more confidential, and finally more productive. It’s a reliable form of dispute resolution. For...

The 10-year divorce rule in Michigan

In Michigan, an equitable distribution state, the divorce laws apply to all cases, whether you’re dealing with a short- or long-term marriage. That is, property is divided equitably. Child custody arrangements are guided by the best interests of the child. Spousal...

Is a Collaborative Divorce right for me?

Divorce is emotionally difficult and technically demanding by its nature. Our adversarial justice system can make it harder because it pits one side against the other, with each party trying to get the best deal. Even in a relatively amicable divorce, both spouses may...

 Preparing for your divorce  

Divorce is something you may have been thinking about for a long time. Once you have decided that divorce is something you are going to do, there are many things you should do to prepare. Do not just rush out and file. Divorce is a major life event, both financially...