Protect Your Rights In A Divorce With A Grand Rapids Divorce Attorney
Divorce is never easy. However, getting divorced is more than just an ending and a dissolution of your marriage – it is also an opportunity to take control of how the next decade or two of your life will look.
With an experienced Grand Rapids divorce attorney committed to your case, you can protect your rights and your children’s best interests during custody battles. You can also protect your right to a fair distribution when dividing marital property and assets. At WN Law PLLC in Grand Rapids, Michigan, we help divorcing spouses end their marriages with dignity and position themselves to start a positive new life.
Protecting Your Interests In A Michigan Divorce
Whether you are concerned about the custody and visitation schedule or the child support and alimony payments, our divorce lawyer can help. Our founding attorney, Renee Wagenaar, has a master’s degree in psychology. Combined with her knowledge of the law, she has the experience and skills needed to help you get the best possible outcome. Our attorneys are both aggressive and caring. Our goal is to identify the best way to protect the children in the divorce and ensure that assets and finances are distributed in a fair and equitable manner.
Key Responsibilities Of A Divorce Attorney
Navigating a divorce requires professional guidance from an attorney who understands both the legal requirements and the personal challenges involved. A skilled divorce attorney serves multiple crucial functions throughout the process, helping to reduce the emotional strain while protecting your rights and interests.
Filing For Divorce
The divorce process begins with proper documentation and filing procedures. Your attorney prepares and submits all necessary paperwork to initiate the divorce action, drafts the complaint or petition, and handles service of process to your spouse. Timing and proper filing can impact everything from jurisdiction selection to temporary orders that protect your financial security during proceedings. Your attorney also responds to any counterclaims filed by your spouse’s legal representation.
Child Custody Arrangements
Perhaps the most sensitive aspect of many divorces involves determining how parents will share time and responsibilities for their children. Your attorney helps develop parenting time schedules that serve the children’s best interests while protecting your parental rights. This includes:
- Creating detailed parenting plans outlining physical and legal custody arrangements
- Addressing special considerations such as holidays, vacations and extracurricular activities
- Developing decision-making protocols for education, health care and religious upbringing
- Preparing for custody evaluations when necessary
These arrangements form the foundation for your family’s future functioning, making professional representation particularly valuable during this phase.
Spousal Support Negotiations
Michigan law provides for spousal support (alimony) in certain circumstances. Your attorney evaluates eligibility based on factors including length of marriage, age, earning capacity and standard of living.
A skilled negotiator can help secure appropriate support whether you are the potential recipient or payer. In cases of complex divorce with high-value assets or business interests, specialized financial analysis may be required to determine fair support arrangements.
Division Of Assets And Debts
Property division in Michigan follows equitable distribution principles, meaning assets are divided fairly but not necessarily equally. Your attorney:
- Identifies all marital and separate property
- Determines accurate valuations of assets, including real estate, retirement accounts and businesses
- Allocates debt responsibility appropriately
- Negotiates solutions for unique assets such as family businesses or inherited property
Understanding the tax implications of various distribution scenarios is also critical to protecting your long-term interests.
Beyond these core responsibilities, your attorney may discuss alternatives to divorce, such as legal separation or annulment, if appropriate for your situation. While general information is valuable, the expert advice provided through a personalized assessment based on your specific circumstances can significantly impact outcomes.
Working Together To Find Answers
In many cases, divorcing spouses know how they want to end their marriage. Often, divorcing couples agree about most everything when it comes to the division of property and ending their marriage. Our firm’s divorce attorneys routinely represent clients in uncontested divorces. An uncontested Michigan divorce will cost less, will require minimal paperwork and can be processed quickly.
On the other hand, contested divorces can be filled with anger and stonewalling. When the issues are contested, everything becomes more complicated. A contested divorce takes longer, and the amount of work and costs rise significantly. We help clients in these situations as well.
The firm’s divorce attorneys succeed in assisting clients going through uncontested and contested divorces using both mediation and trial. Divorce attorney Wagenaar uses a practical and straightforward approach in her mediation sessions to ensure that parties act in the best interests of their children and their family, even during a divorce. When mediation and collaboration are insufficient to protect clients’ rights and their children, attorney Wagenaar litigates in Michigan family courts to ensure that clients are heard and their rights are protected.
Seeking Post-Divorce Modifications In Michigan
Changing circumstances may mean that earlier court orders are no longer appropriate. It is also possible that your former spouse is failing to uphold his or her end of the deal. In these circumstances, our firm helps individuals enforce court orders and petition the family courts for relief and modification of your divorce decree when circumstances change. It is important to have an experienced Grand Rapids divorce attorney who can file motions on your behalf and demonstrate why a new custody, parenting or child support court order is appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Divorce Process
When you face the complexities of divorce, it is crucial to have legal guidance that you can rely on. At WN Law PLLC, our attorneys are here to answer your questions and help you navigate the divorce process. We understand this is a difficult time, and we are committed to providing the compassionate support and legal advice you need.
Here, our Grand Rapids divorce attorneys answer some of the questions they are most commonly asked. For answers to questions about your specific case, our firm offers a free, initial consultation appointment.
Does it matter who files for divorce in Michigan?
In Michigan, your rights remain protected regardless of who initiates the divorce action. However, being the first to file can offer strategic advantages. You can choose the jurisdiction in western Michigan or Kent County where your case will be heard. Filing first also allows you to submit additional motions that can safeguard your assets and child custody arrangements. If your case proceeds to trial, you will have the opportunity to present your evidence first, which can be a significant advantage.
Is Michigan a no-fault divorce state?
Yes, Michigan allows for no-fault divorces, meaning that you can file for divorce without proving fault or wrongdoing by your spouse. Anyone can file for divorce under the grounds that the marriage has broken and there is no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved. This makes it easier to proceed with a divorce, as you do not need to prove specific grounds, which can often lead to a less contentious and more straightforward process.
How do I protect myself financially in a divorce?
Protecting your financial interests during a divorce is critical. Before filing for divorce, you should have comprehensive financial documents and an understanding of your current financial situation. Consider closing joint accounts and opening accounts in your name only. Consulting with a family law attorney can provide you with tailored advice on how to handle property settlements and estate planning during your divorce proceedings.
How do I choose a divorce attorney?
Choosing the right divorce attorney is pivotal to the outcome of your case. Look for experienced divorce lawyers who demonstrate a deep understanding of family law issues and are responsive to your personal needs. An attorney who listens to your concerns and crafts personalized strategies will significantly impact both your experience and the results of your divorce judgment. At WN Law PLLC, our attorneys approach every case with honesty and a commitment to ensuring your rights and interests are prioritized in every decision and legal action.
Consult A Grand Rapids Divorce Attorney For Free
At WN Law PLLC, we offer prospective clients a free, no obligation initial consultation. To schedule your free appointment, call us at 616-426-9491 or email our firm. You can call or email us 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we will be available to discuss your case. We look forward to telling you more about how we can help you.