Archives: FAQs
Some divorce-related orders can be modified later, although the rules and restrictions depend on the issue. You typically must establish a significant change in circumstances since the original divorce order. Post-judgment motions often require you to submit updated forms and a formal request to the court.
In Michigan, you don’t need to prove fault to obtain a divorce. However, marital conduct, including infidelity, may still factor into cases when a court must decide issues like spousal support or equitable property division. For instance, the court may award alimony to one spouse if the other spouse wasted marital assets on an affair […]
Michigan discovery rules give parties tools to demand financial information, including required disclosures, document requests, interrogatories, and motions to compel. If your spouse refuses to cooperate, the court may order them to comply, award you expenses or attorney fees, and impose other discovery sanctions.
When the court grants your divorce, you may petition to go back to your birth name or a surname you legally used before your marriage. You may even take an entirely new last name.
Divorces aren’t always contested. If both spouses agree on property division, alimony, child support, custody, and parenting time, you may present a proposed separation agreement for the court’s review. However, keep in mind that Michigan law imposes a 60-day waiting period before a final judgment can be entered, which is extended to 6 months if […]
If you filed and later reconcile with your spouse or decide not to proceed, you can ask the court to dismiss the case. How you do so will depend on your case’s status and whether your spouse has already responded. However, both spouses must agree, and the request must be submitted before the final divorce […]
The first step is to file a Complaint for Divorce and related forms in the appropriate circuit court. Because Michigan is a no-fault divorce state, the complaint must cite an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage but not go into further explanation or cite additional grounds. The other spouse must then be served notice of the […]
Under Michigan divorce laws, either spouse must have lived in Michigan for at least 180 days before filing. Also, either spouse must have lived in the filing county for at least 10 days, with limited exceptions.
Research your attorney’s qualifications. Consider whether your attorney specializes in family law or has a general practice. Ask your attorney how many years he or she has been practicing family law. How many trials does your attorney conduct annually? If your attorney never takes any cases to trial, then you should expect your attorney to accept a settlement […]
Decades ago, Michigan law provided that a divorce could only be granted if one spouse was at fault for the break up of the marriage. Common reasons of fault were adultery, imprisonment, insanity or abuse. A lot of time, effort and money was spent on proving fault. Fault is no longer required to obtain a divorce. […]