Michigan Equitable Distribution Lawyers
When a couple decides to separate or divorce, all marital property must be distributed between the parties. In the state of Michigan, this is done through a process called “equitable distribution.” The process does not require an equal division of property but instead a distribution that the court deems to be “fair and just.”
To arrive at this determination, the court will go through a three-step process.
First, the Michigan court will determine what assets and debts of the parties are “marital,” meaning they were acquired during the course of the marriage. This property can include real estate, cars, electronics, jewelry, businesses, bank accounts, stocks and retirement funds.
> More information: Determining Marital Assets
Second, the court will assign a value to the marital assets and debt.
Finally, the court will distribute the marital estate by looking at a variety of factors, including:
- Duration of the marriage
- Contributions of each party
- Age of the parties
- Health of the parties
- Life status of the parties
- Necessities and circumstances of the parties
- Earning abilities of the parties
- Past relations and conduct of the parties
- General principles of fairness
If a spouse brought property into the marriage and kept it apart from the marital estate, then it is deemed to be “separate” property and cannot be distributed by the court.
All three steps in the equitable distribution process can present complex issues. At The Stroble Law Firm P.C., we believe you should work with an equitable distribution attorney who has experience going through these issues and who will aggressively protect your interests and assets.
While a trial may be needed in some cases, alternative forms of resolution may also be used. Our family law attorneys believe in using mediation and arbitration to distribute property after a marriage, which reduces cost and time spent on the matter.
Based in Bloomfield Hills, The Stroble Law Firm represents clients across Michigan, including Macomb County, Oakland County, Warren, Clinton Township, Sterling Heights, St. Clair Shores, Mount Clemens, Utica, Roseville, Troy, Farmington Hills, Waterford, Southfield, Pontiac, Birmingham Michigan, Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield and Bloomfield Hills. Call The Stroble Law Firm at (888) 454-0801, or contact us online.
