We have all learned from the recent economic downturn that someone’s financial position can change in a heartbeat. This knowledge has added serious stress to our lives. In some cases, we appreciate our family and the support they can provide more. In other cases, the family cannot continue in its current configuration and couples divorce.
When a husband or wife is considering divorce, it is important for them to decide early whether they want to spend their family resources battling with their spouse or whether they wish to conserve the resources to find comprehensive problem resolution that will serve their family well now and in the future.
Many parents worry about the negative impact their divorce will have on their children. This is a valid concern since children can get lost in the conflict between their parents.
Considerable research that includes longitudinal studies of divorced families has shown that the single best determinant of how well children whose parents divorced will do is the level of conflict between the parents. Parents who can set aside their personal differences and work for the benefit of their children will raise health, well-adjusted young adults. Parents who continue to fight will probably rear troubled children.
When celebrities divorce, it seems that our media crazed society feels that it has the need to know all the details. Celebrities and their professional assistants, such as lawyers, have to work particularly hard to provide the celebrity, the spouse and their children the privacy to work through their marital problems.
For the spouse, it may be enticing to get revenge by exploiting the celebrity's status and try to win supporters for the spouse's position. However, the reason for the celebrity's success and the family's financial strength is the following and respect that celebrity has. Any news that undermines the celebrity can negatively impact that person's success and future financial security. It is in the spouse's best interest to keep the divorce matters private for the spouse and the children's future financial security.
It is spring and that means spring cleaning, spring planting, and ... taxes. While preparing one's taxes is one of the spring tasks we love to hate, tax planning this year is significantly more difficult and potentially important than ever. The legislators in Washington and Lansing are all busy trying to find ways to raise more money. One simple way to do that, especially given the apparent difficulty of passing legislation, is to let prior tax laws with sunset provisions expire.
There is a lot of information on the web about divorce. There are also low-cost and no-cost kits available. Do you have enough information to handle your own divorce?
Sometimes, the answer is yes, especially if your spouse and you have no children and not much property.
More often the answer is, "You are taking a huge risk." Remember your Judgment of Divorce can often not be modified, unless both spouses agree. If you have left out something that favors you, it's unlikely that your spouse will agree to change it later.
More stressful than any economic crisis is the personal upheaval that often accompanies divorce and family law matters. Court battles are seldom a “smart” option and they are never affordable. In Michigan and around the country, out-of-court family law options are becoming increasingly popular.
If anything good has come out of the current economic downturn, it is a sense that people are increasingly willing to demand new, smarter ways of solving some of life’s most important issues. Having witnessed the expensive and traumatic divorces of friends and family members over the years, many people are insisting they do NOT want “their parents’ divorce.” Many couples and families dealing with divorce, custody and property issues are relieved to learn about out-of-court family law options that are much more affordable – and also truer to their values.
Do Tiger and Elin have a prenuptial agreement? No one is saying. However, agreements that determine what share of a large estate each spouse will receive in the event of divorce are common, especially when a person of modest means marries someone with considerable wealth.
When non-traditional families (gay and lesbian partners) or blended families (partners who have step children) separate, the courts in Michigan seldom have the authority to deal with all their issues. In the case of gay or lesbian partners (even if you have married in states that sanction marriage), the court will not have jurisdiction.
Because of the intense public interest in Tiger Woods’ family problems, Elin and Tiger can take proactive steps to deal with their divorce problems in private. Using Mediation or Collaborative Practice based dispute resolution can provide a win-win for both of them and can shelter their children from a public spectacle.
Our Family Mediation & Collaborative Practice Center in Brighton has expanded into a new space on Grand River. Click to learn more about the mediation and collaborative divorce services being offered.
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“Among your many great services, what won me over was the fact that my attorney knew when to take off her legal hat and be a compassionate, caring friend.” Mother of 3, Ypsilanti
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Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Phone: (734) 994-3000 • Fax: (734) 994-1557
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