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Grand Rapids Family Lawyer

WITH OVER THREE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE, WE’RE GRAND RAPIDS FAMILY LAW FIRM YOU CAN TRUST

For many people, dealing with a family-related legal issue is their first introduction to Michigan’s court system and family law lawyers. Among those who try to navigate the process on their own, some succeed, but many seek the assistance of an attorney when the damage is done.  Unfortunately, once you obtain a bad result, it is difficult, and sometimes even impossible to reverse the poor hearing results. Even so, the Kraayeveld Family Law team has represented countless clients over the past decades who received a bad ruling either because they tried to represent themselves, or did they did not have effective representation. With Kraayeveld Family Law, You can put yourself in good hands by getting in touch with our established Grand Rapids family law firm.

Family-related legal issues are inherently personal. No two families’ family law issues are the same and there is no single solution that will work to resolve different families’ different legal needs. Whether you are contemplating a divorce, need to establish custody rights or are dealing with an issue of parental alienation or defending against a false domestic violence claim, the details matter and you need to pursue the best resolution based upon your individual circumstances. An experienced Grand Rapids family lawyer can help. Our highly skilled family law attorneys are here to help. Take advantage of our initial consultation and find out what course of action is best for your unique situation.

What is Family Law?

“Family” and “law” are two concepts that most people don’t often put together. But, while family matters are personal, the reality is that they often have legal and business implications as well. Getting married, getting divorced, having a child, relocating after a separation – these are all events that can have long-term legal consequences and they need to be treated accordingly.

Of course, most people don’t think about the legal aspects of their major life decisions until they start running into problems. If this is your situation, don’t worry. You are not alone. With the benefit of hindsight, there is a good chance that you would have planned ahead. But, things happened, your situation is what it is, and now it is time to do what is necessary in order to move forward. We specialize in family law. That is all we do, so a family law attorney from our firm has a vast amount of experience in all aspects of family law in Grand Rapids, MI.

The lawyers in our office have extensive experience representing clients in Grand Rapids and West Michigan in a broad range of family law matters. Regardless of what your next steps should be, we can help you make smart decisions and guide you every step of the way. With our exclusive focus on family law matters, we help clients navigate situations like yours on a daily basis. Of course, as we said, no two situations are exactly alike. So, while we will use our experience to help you, we will also work with you one-on-one to craft a solution that is custom-tailored to your unique individual circumstances. Seek legal advice from the experts in Grand Rapids MI.

What can we do to help? Our firm is devoted to representing parents, spouses and other family members.

Michigan Family Law FAQs

Q: HOW DO I KNOW WHEN IT IS TIME TO HIRE A FAMILY LAW FIRM?

If you are wondering whether you need to hire a family lawyer, there is a good chance that you do. When you contact us, we can help you decide whether it makes sense to schedule a no obligation initial consultation. If so, one of our experienced attorneys here in Grand Rapids will be happy to meet with you to go over your options in confidence.

Q: IF WE HAVE A CHILD TOGETHER, CAN I MOVE OUT OF STATE?

If you have a court order that outlines the custody of your child, it may include a prohibition against moving more than 100 miles or out of state in which case you will need the court’s permission to move. Even if you do not have a court order in place, suddenly moving a long distance will likely create uphevel for the child and the other parent may file a court action to either have the child returned or have custody and visitation amended.  When you contemplate a change of domicile or a change or residence, your best option is to discuss it with an experineced family law attorney first. Work with the best family law attorneys in the state. We are highly experienced with divorce and other family law matters.

Q: MY FORMER SPOUSE STOPPED PAYING ALIMONY. WHAT CAN I DO?

If your former spouse stopped paying alimony, our Grand Rapids family law firm can go to court to enforce your rights. You are entitled to the payments stated in your judgment, and a failure to pay can subject your former spouse to sanctions and other penalties.

Q: I WANT TO CHANGE MY CHILD’S SCHOOL. HOW DO I DO THIS?

Start by reading your court order to determine your legal custody arrangements. Then contact an experience child custody attorney to brainstorm creative ways to reach an agreed upon court order or alternatively, seek the court’s permission to change the child’s school. Parents who share joint legal custody must jointly make this decision.

Q: MY FORMER SPOUSE SEEMS TO BE EARNING MORE THAN HE OR SHE WAS AT THE TIME OF OUR DIVORCE OR CUSTODY ORDER. CAN I HAVE MY CHILD SUPPORT INCREASED?

If your former spouse is earning more than he or she was when you got divorced, you may be able to have his or her child support obligations increased. Our family law attorney can assess your situation to determine whether a petition for modification of child custody amount is warranted.

Q: CAN YOUR GRAND RAPIDS FAMILY LAW FIRM HELP WITH A MEDIATION?

Yes!  Mediation is ordered in nearly all divorce and child custody cases. Mediation is a practical and cost-effective way to resolve conflicts in many divorces and other family-related disputes. However, you still need to go through the court process of filing and completing your divorce or custody case.  It is very important to have a competent attorney draft your final order. We can help you prepare for mediation and provide your family law attorney with independent advice to ensure that you get the best results possible from the mediation process.

REQUEST A CONSULTATION WITH OUR GRAND RAPIDS FAMILY LAW FIRM

If you would like to speak with a family lawyer about your situation, we encourage you to contact our Grand Rapids family law firm offices for a no-obligation consultation. To schedule an appointment, call us at 616-285-0808 or send us a confidential message online today.