Child custody matters are incredibly sensitive during a divorce. As divorce attorneys, we know there can enormous benefits to parents reaching agreement through Collaborative Divorce, but sometimes litigation is necessary. A judge’s custody determining is often challenged later on as life situations change and parents’ views on their children’s best interests vary.

Proposed Michigan legislation, however, would change the system and create a presumptive 50/50 child custody split. House Bill 4691, the Michigan Shared Parenting Act, passed a House Panel earlier this summer and lawmakers are now trying to send it to the house floor. Recently, a town hall was held in Grand Rapids to invite community discussion on the bill. Read more

Experienced divorce attorneys know the process can be one of the most challenging life experiences. Along with emotional distress, divorce can drain your time, money, and energy. The process can become significantly more complex when children are involved.

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Along with the emotional toll involved with a divorce, there is always the difficult process of dividing assets. Historically, courts across the country have viewed family pets as property to be considered in property distribution. Pet owners, however, will almost always tell you how they view the pets as another member of the family. Read more

A lot can happen during a custody battle. Not only are parents wrapped up in their divorce, but they’re also competing over who gets access to their children. One parent may live in Grand Rapids while another wants to move out-of-state. During these disputes, parents sometimes resort to extreme tactics to maintain custody. These strategies can sometimes result in “parental alienation,” an issue that has lead to a rally later this month. Read more