Mental health is a prevalent health problem in Michigan. About 1.3 million Michigan residents have a mental condition. About 22% of adults in Michigan experience some form of mental illness. These are serious health statistics that can affect families.  Statistics include 16.72% having a substance use disorder.  4.84% are contemplating suicide. This is a concern for courts when mental issues are present in a custody case. A parent might be part of this statistic. It can become a factor in … Read More →

We want our life to be stable. Some want it predictable. Most do a lot of praying to keep what they have. Others sign a prenuptial agreement. We call it prenup. Sometimes, they are not fair. If one spouse gets too little or nothing, the court may reject it. People may feel forced to sign without understanding the terms. A prenup can cause problems later if not done properly. If a prenup isn’t clear or is unfair, it could affect … Read More →

Leaving a home is not an easy thing for anyone. Having children and leaving them is even harder. Parents leave for many reasons. Some for money, others for safety. A co-parent shows up at your doorstep after years of absence. Now, your co-parent wants to be back in your life. Wants custody of the children. Custody is not an easy pursuit. Your children might have gotten used to a routine. The court may not be inclined to change it. You … Read More →

Military service. A career of honor and sacrifice. Part of the sacrifice is being apart from family. Frequent and long deployment takes a toll on military parents and their families. Separation during an ongoing custody case brings uncertainty. Balancing responsibilities while one parent is away is almost unfair.  Military service has its benefits. It has its rewards. Military families can receive housing. They have access to healthcare benefits. It’s all great except for the time you get deployed. Click here … Read More →

So, you’re moving. You’re taking the children with you. Have you told your ex-spouse about it? Are you moving for the right reasons? Are you aware of the rules about moving with your children?  Rules about moving are different in each place. Custody orders can be hard to understand. Moving might change who makes decisions for your children. It can also change where they live. These things can be confusing and stressful. They can affect your whole family. You might … Read More →

Divorces with children are not easy. It’s not easy for you and it’s not easy for the courts. There’s this big question always. Where will they live? You need a good plan. A plan that might be a source of disagreements. It adds up to the difficulty. It weighs on the children. It can be a sad time for the family. Click here to watch the video on What If We Can’t Agree on Temporary Custody During Divorce Try talking … Read More →

You filed your divorce papers. You waited for a response. With that waiting, you reflected on what the future will be for you. You think this is the first step to moving on. Moving forward isn’t easy. You need money to be somewhere else. Money is essential to take care of yourself and your children. Now, alimony comes to mind. You earn less. It’s unfair. You cared for children instead of pursuing a career. You could have gone places but … Read More →

You have to move on from fighting divorce to taking care of your children. Engaging with your children between separate households is tricky, if not weird. Problems with talking to your children are going to happen. There will be issues with phone calls or visits. You need to address these issues. You will be sad if you don’t. It’s confusing to children. Tension will start to build up between you and your co-parent. Click here to watch the video What … Read More →

You’re about to end your marriage. You’re starting to understand the implications of the papers you signed. Things will start to change. A bit slow at first. After a while, things start to move fast Every schedule you agree to fills you with dread. You start to think if you’re doing the right thing. The right thing for you. The right thing for the children. You start mulling over support. Worry about bills you need to pay. Divorce is going … Read More →

Your spouse might avoid the court process. They might ignore what needs to be done. This can make things take longer. Cause frustration. You may feel stuck, unsure of what to do next. Your family may also feel the stress of waiting for things to move forward. If children are involved, their future may be uncertain. Decisions about money and property may be delayed. Ignoring the process will not stop the divorce, but it can cause unnecessary problems. Click here … Read More →