Royal Oak Divorce Attorneys

In Michigan, divorces are filed with the circuit court. This can be the circuit court of the county where the filing spouse lives or the county where the other spouse lives, if they are not the same. In order to file for divorce in Michigan, the filing spouse must have resided in Michigan for at least 180 days prior to filing.

If you are considering filing for divorce, first speak with an experienced divorce lawyers to learn more about all that a divorce entails. Getting divorced is a big step, but for many, it is a step in the right direction.

Why Do Couples Divorce?

There are a lot of reasons why couples divorce. A few examples of these reasons include:

• Ideological differences with regard to their lifestyle or how they raise their children;
• Disagreements about financial matters, such as how they will save for retirement or how they will spend their money;
• Infidelity;
• Addiction;
• Involvement with criminal activity;
• Domestic violence; and
• An inability to communicate effectively, resulting in constant arguing and building resentment.
  

At the core of each of these reasons is one thing: incompatibility. Compatible couples can survive some of the issues listed above through means such as relationship counseling or drug rehabilitation. But not every couple can survive all of these issues. In some cases, it is best that the couple divorces.

Issues Present in the Divorce Process

Once a couple begins the divorce process, multiple issues need to be resolved in their divorce settlement. Sometimes, the couple can resolve these issues on their own and other times, the court needs to make these decisions. These decisions include:

• The division of the couple’s marital assets. In Michigan, this is done according to the doctrine of equitable distribution, which means that the couple’s property is not necessarily split 50/50 but instead, according to each party’s personal needs and contributions to the marriage;
• Decisions related to the couple’s children, such as their child custody and child support agreements. Sometimes, it is in the children’s best interest for the parents to have joint physical and legal custody, which means that the children rotate between both households and that both parents can make legal decisions for the children. When only one parent has physical custody of the children, the other may have parenting time, which is time spent with the child. This used to be known as visitation; and
• Spousal support. If one spouse opted to leave the workforce or take on lower paying work for the good of the family, he or she may receive spousal support after the divorce is finalized.

How Can a Divorce Lawyer Help Me?

A divorce lawyer can help you by first walking you through each step of the divorce process, then acting as your guide and advocate as you progress through it. This includes preparing you for your deposition and other interactions with the court and negotiating with the court on your behalf.

Work with an Experienced Royal Oak Divorce Lawyer

If you are considering filing for divorce, contact our team of experienced Royal Oak divorce lawyers at Iafrate & Salassa, P.C. to set up your free legal consultation with our firm. We can answer any questions you have about the divorce process and help you determine the next step to take.