Sterling Heights Divorce Attorney

Sterling Heights Divorce Attorney

Your future – as well as your children’s – will be directly affected by the terms of your divorce, which makes protecting both your financial and parental rights throughout the process key. To do this, reach out for the skilled legal guidance of an experienced Sterling Heights divorce attorney. 

The Terms of Divorce

Your divorce will address the dissolution of your unique marriage, but the terms are universal and include the following:

• The division of marital assets
• Child custody
• Child support 
• Spousal support or alimony

The Division of Marital Property

Marital property refers to those assets that you and your spouse acquired during your marriage. In Michigan, these assets are generally divided evenly between both spouses. Ultimately, the division, however, must be fair, and the court has the discretion to divide the assets differently. The property that either of you owed prior to marriage and that you managed to keep separate from your marital assets during your marriage remains the separate property of that spouse.

Child Custody

Child custody addresses the matters of primary decision-making on behalf of the children (legal custody) and parenting time (physical custody). Michigan courts base child custody determinations on the children’s best interests, which are established in accordance with a range of factors.

Physical Custody – Generally, parents either divide their time with the kids fairly evenly, or one parent takes on the primary custodial role while the other has a visitation schedule. 

Legal Custody  – The kinds of primary decisions addressed by legal custody include those related to your child’s healthcare, religion, education, extracurricular activities, and more. Both parents can make these decisions together, or one parent can be assigned sole legal custody. 

Child Support

When parents divorce, they remain responsible for supporting their children financially, and this typically means one is responsible for paying child support to the other. The child support calculation process factors in a range of variables, but the parent with higher earnings generally has the responsibility of paying child support. 

Spousal Support

Spousal support is commonly called alimony, and it refers to a payment system in which the spouse with higher earnings helps the other gain firmer financial footing post-divorce. This means that if divorce leaves one spouse unable to support themself while the other has the financial resources to help, alimony may be ordered. Alimony is typically set for a specific amount of time and is only permanent when divorce happens after a very long marriage. 

Turn to an Experienced Sterling Heights Divorce Attorney for the Help You Need

The accomplished Michigan divorce attorneys at Aiello & Associates take immense pride in their reputation for fiercely protecting the legal rights of clients like you throughout the divorce process – in pursuit of terms that support their own and their children’s best interests. We appreciate the challenges you face and are here to help, so please don’t put off contacting us for more information about what we can do for you today.