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Family Law
Divorce / Separation
Spousal Support
Custody
Parenting Time
Active Duty Military Parents
Military Separation Agreements
General Civil Mediation
Domestic Relations /Family Mediation
Child Support
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Friend of the Court Issues
Domestic Abuse
Military Family Support
Going through a divorce can be a very trying time. Most often, parties contemplating divorce feel insecure, unsure, and frustrated. If you are going through a divorce it is important to have a support network. You need someone to call if you have questions, someone who checks up on you, and someone who listens to your wants and needs.
There are two types of custody: physical custody and legal custody.
Legal Custody gives the parent the right to make decisions about the child’s upbringing and welfare including: education, healthcare, and religious creed. Legal Custody is generally awarded to both parents, called Joint Legal Custody.
Physical Custody gives the parent the right to have the child live with him or her. It is possible for a court to grant Joint Physical Custody to both parents, in a case where the child spends significant amounts of time with both mom and dad.
Parenting time is granted by the court if the court finds that parenting time is in the best interest of the child. Parenting time can be supervised or unsupervised. The traditional parenting time plan varies according to each county; it is always best for parents to agree on a parenting time schedule. Once a parenting time schedule becomes an order of the court, the parents must adhere to that schedule.
In these tough economic times, everyone worries about their finances. You should know that Child Support in Michigan is the inherit right of the child and is computed using a pre-established standardized formula. You should also be aware that child support is modifiable upon proof that there has been a change in one party’s circumstances or every three years. The child support calculation is computed based upon the needs or expenses of the child, each parent’s income, and the number of overnights with the child that each parent exercises.
Spousal Support, previously called alimony, is paid by a party in a divorce to the other party for his or her support and maintenance. Spousal Support is awarded upon the discretion of the Judge taking into consideration: the past relations and conduct of the parties, the length of the marriage, the ability of the parties to work, the source and amount of property awarded to the parties, the age of the parties, the ability of the parties to pay spousal support, the present situation of the parties, the needs of the parties, the health of the parties, the prior standard living of the parties, whether either party is responsible for the support of others and general principals of equity.
If you are an active duty servicemember, are your rights being protected by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act? If you are a soon to be ex-spouse of an active duty servicemember, and you support a child, is it more beneficial to receive BAH or state ordered child support?
Mediation is a process where parties can reach a resolution to a dispute while saving the time and expense of court proceedings. The parties can rely on a trained mediator, who is a impartial and neutral third person, to help the parties facilitate communicate regarding the dispute in an attempt to reach a resolution. The mediation process is confidential, with limited exceptions (MCR 2.412), and any agreement reached at mediation is final and binding.