It is possible under the law to adopt your stepchild in Michigan if certain circumstances exist. But it is not always easy. The most important question in stepparent adoption cases is whether or not the child's noncustodial biological parent is willing to terminate...
Over 30 Years Experience Focused In Divorce & Family Law
Year: 2015
Custody Ruling By a Michigan Appellate Court Affirms Marital Equality
In the wake of the Obergefell decision by the Supreme Court of the United States in June of 2015 extending the right to marriage to same sex couples, Michigan appellate courts have issued some recent rulings in a case involving a custody battle between a same sex...
Grandparents Have the Constitutional Right to Visitation in Michigan
The Michigan Court of Appeals recently ruled on a very significant case for grandparents' rights. The case dealt with the constitutionality of The Grandparent Visitation Act in Michigan and has finally concluded it is constitutional after several trips through the...
Are You Suspicious That Your Spouse is Hiding Assets?
In divorce cases, a surprisingly large number of people set out to hide assets from the court, even though the law requires equitable distribution of marital assets. The reasons for doing so vary, although they are usually rooted in anger, greed, or spite. Divorce...
When the Other Person Happens to Be A Bottle
Recently, a North Carolina website came up with a list of the drunkest cities in Michigan. Mount Clemens located in Macomb County was named the second drunkest city on the list. The list was determined by the amount that drinking is discussed on Twitter and the number...
Religious Prenuptial Agreements?
In Michigan, for a marriage to be considered legitimate in the eyes of the law the marriage must be solemnized and the couple must obtain a marriage license. For a person to have a legal prenuptial agreement, a marriage must have occurred according to Michigan law....
Religious Annulment Was Just Made Easier
Recently, the Pope announced that he is going to make changes to the annulment process that will make it significantly faster for Catholics to have their marriages annulled. In addition to speeding up the process, the Pope announced that the annulment process should...
Could your Child be Forced to Stay with an Abusive Parent?
Determining Custody Domestic violence does not just include physical abuse, but also verbal and emotional abuse. When determining the best interests of a child in a custody case, domestic abuse is only one of the factors taken into consideration. Some of the other...
Things to Consider in a High Asset Divorce
Although a marital union may not last a lifetime, the financial consequences could last for what feels like forever. The more assets that are involved and the more complicated the divorce, the more you will need an attorney who is able to meet your unique needs....
Child Support Payments in Michigan
When a couple with children gets a divorce, child support is one of the complex legal issues that will be addressed during the divorce proceedings. Divorce is difficult enough; however, when children are involved it becomes an even more emotionally charged issue. This...