There may be a scenario where the father wants to seek custody because the mother has substance abuse issues as well as possibly drinking problems. The mother may have gotten custody by default or by a court order and received custody when she wasn’t having substance abuse problems. If you are in the situation where the mother of your children is suffering from substance abuse, you should immediately file a petition to change custody to save the children so that … Read More →

Parties frequently end up battling over child custody decisions, whether there is a marriage present or not. This prompts the court to decide what is in the children’s best interests. Domestic violence is one of the considerations the court evaluates when deciding on suitable custody arrangements. You need to be aware that one party can try to manipulate you into engaging in possible domestic abuse so that they might get an advantage in the custody dispute.  Click here to watch … Read More →

If you think that the other parent is abusing your child, you have to remember that this needs to be handled very carefully. Everyone has a different definition of abuse, but if you believe your child has been a victim of physical abuse, then you need to go before a judge and limit the parenting time. In order to do this, then the court will need to be persuaded that the allegation has merit. You may want to take your … Read More →

In the state of Michigan, departure from the marital home doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve abandoned the home you don’t get your share. The marital home is a valued asset and will have a number that will be half for both the mother and father. Moving out of the house as it relates to custody means if you are moving out and taking the children with you, it can show you are removing the children from an unhealthy environment and will … Read More →

A common question that often comes up has to deal with whether or not a parent can be guilty of actually kidnapping their own child. Parental kidnapping can come about as a result of violating a court order that specifies which days the child should be with a certain parent. Warrants can be issued for your arrest, you can be guilty of federal & state charges involving kidnapping even though it is your child. You have to be certain that … Read More →

CPS can be a double-edged sword. The problem that you have deals with the interface between CPS and your divorce & custody case. When CPS becomes involved, now it involves you, the opposing party and a CPS representative. This means your case now involves a third party and if you’re waiting in a hearing and CPS isn’t there yet, you are stuck paying your attorney by the hour because you’re simply waiting on them. A lot of times the court … Read More →

Wills, trusts, and estates refer to different legal concepts relating to the ownership of property. A will is a legal document by which a person names another to manage his or her estate and provide for the distribution of property at death. A trust is a legal relationship whereby property is held by one party for the benefit of another. Finally, an estate refers to the entirety of a person’s property at a given point. Michigan Estate Planning Law An … Read More →

The decision to draw up a will before tragedy strikes is one of the smartest and most protective decisions you can make for your family. Wills often avoid tedious and long lasting drawbacks after passing and allow for an easier transition for your family during this difficult time. At Goldman & Associates, we understand the importance of providing security and safety for your family, and our experienced team of Michigan lawyers are here to aid you through the will process … Read More →

If you have recently lost a loved one, probating an estate is probably the last thing on your mind. However, at some point, this is an issue that will have to be addressed, and it is usually on the decedent’s family members to handle these affairs somewhere down the road. If the deceased passed on with a small estate, you are probably wondering whether it makes sense to hire an attorney to help you out when the value of the … Read More →

When probating an estate, most estates will be unsupervised. Only in limited circumstances will supervised administration be appropriate (such as if the will directs it or the court orders it to protect interested persons). Opening an estate can seem complex for those who have little experience in probate court. Therefore, it is often helpful to hire an attorney for help. What follows is a brief description of unsupervised administration of an estate in Michigan Opening an estate in Michigan requires … Read More →