Many financial decisions will confront couples in Michigan who choose to end their marriages. Although people have long recognized the appropriateness of legal advice when seeking divorces, consultations with financial planners have become increasingly common,...
Year: 2018
Understanding Michigan’s stepparent adoption process
If you live in Michigan and are already playing the role of mother or father to a child who is not biologically yours, you may be considering trying to adopt your stepson or stepdaughter to expand your rights and cement the family bond. Becoming an adoptive stepparent...
An estate plan can benefit everybody in a family
While estate plans can help Michigan residents protect their assets while alive and after death, they can cost money to create. The amount of money that a person may spend on their plan depends on their needs. However, it is advised that those who are looking to hire...
How arguments over housework could lead to divorce
Arguments over household chores could lead to more divorces than Michigan couples may realize. In a recent Harvard Business School survey of 3,000 divorced couples, housework disputes was listed as the top reason for splitting by one-quarter of respondents. Spending...
Divorce and protecting finances
The divorce process can have a detrimental effect on one's finances. However, there are steps that Michigan residents can take to protect their money. It is important that divorcing individuals are aware of their own credit standing as well as that of their spouse....
Important factors for white collar charges
White collar crimes happen more frequently than people may think. Many people may not think white collar crimes are very serious, perhaps due to their nonviolent nature, but the law treats them as serious criminal offenses. For those who may be facing such charges, it...
Best interest test informs judicial decisions in custody fights
Michigan parents concerned about potential divorce litigation should know the biggest disputes in most cases are related to child custody. Parents are typically emotional and highly motivated regarding parenting time and the unpleasant prospect of being forced to...
Fathers have equal legal standing in child custody cases
Although family courts in Michigan have traditionally viewed mothers as the best custodial parents for children, modern law recognizes the parental rights of fathers and mothers equally. Men might still encounter prejudice when they pursue custody of their children,...
The truth about shared parenting
As a general rule, parenting decisions in a divorce are designed to be made with the best interest of the child in mind. However, what this actually means may be ambiguous to Michigan residents and others. In some cases, decisions may be based more on personal or...
Changes ahead for alimony and taxes
Tax laws around alimony are set to change in 2019 for people who live in Michigan and throughout the country. However, experts are unsure just how the new rules will play out. The current law allows people who pay alimony to deduct it from their taxes and requires the...