Macomb County Divorce

If you are facing a divorce, there are important financial and parental rights that are on the line, and proceeding with purpose and care is always well-advised. Every divorce is unique, and while every divorce follows the same process, it’s extremely difficult to predict how a divorce will be resolved from the outset, which makes working closely with an experienced Michigan divorce attorney the best policy.

Property Division

In Michigan, courts require that the property you and your spouse acquire while married – which is known as marital property – be divided fairly between you. While this fair division usually means dividing the assets close to 50/50 between both spouses, this isn’t necessarily the case.

Assets that either spouse owns individually prior to the marriage could remain the property of the original owner if those assets are kept separate throughout the marriage.

Child Custody and Parenting Time

The State of Michigan addresses child custody in relation to both physical custody, which includes parenting time, and legal custody, which addresses primary parenting decisions.

Physical Custody

Physical custody determines the schedule by which parents divide their time with their children. Michigan courts are invested in supporting the best interests of the children, which – barring a reason for ruling otherwise – means maximizing the amount of time they spend with both parents. Custody can be divided evenly between both parents, or one parent can take on the primary custodial role while the other has a visitation schedule.

Legal Custody

Legal custody guides how you and your ex will address the matter of primary decision-making. This includes decisions like the following:

• Those related to your children’s education
• Those related to your children’s healthcare
• Those related to your children’s extracurriculars and travel
• Those related to your children’s religious upbringing

Parents can continue making these decisions jointly, but other options include:

• One parent has the authority to break a tie if it’s necessary to do so
• Splitting decision-making authority according to the kind of decision being made
• One parent having sole legal custody

Child Support

Parents are responsible for supporting their children financially, and child support is the tool used by the state. A range of factors go into the child support calculation, but the primary concerns are each parent’s income and the amount of time each spends with the children.

Spousal Support

When divorce leaves one spouse with too few assets to continue supporting themself, spousal support, or alimony, can be employed. Spousal support is generally set for a duration and amount that allows the recipient to obtain the job training or education necessary to gain greater financial independence.

It’s Time to Consult with an Experienced Michigan Divorce Attorney

The terms of your divorce will directly affect you and your children’s future, and the accomplished Michigan divorce attorneys at Aiello & Associates appreciate your related concerns. We’re committed to fiercely advocating for terms that work for you, so please don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us for more information today.