Michigan Divorce Lawyers
Whether you are seeking a divorce, separation or annulment, many complex legal issues can arise, including those involving spousal support, child custody, child support and other financial or marital property-related disputes
At The Stroble Law Firm P.C., our family law attorneys work to find the best solutions to these issues for our clients -- both in and out of the courtroom. We believe it is important to consult and work with a divorce attorney who can guide you through the process and help you to protect your rights and interests along the way.
Contact The Stroble Law Firm P.C. today at (888) 454-0801, or use our online contact form.
Divorce
Our divorce attorneys can assist you in filing for a divorce, which is a process that can be both simple and highly complicated.
To obtain a Michigan divorce, you do not need to show that the other spouse was to blame for the marriage’s failure. Instead, you need to only show that the marriage has broken down to a point where the object of the marriage has been destroyed, and there remains no reasonable likelihood it can be preserved. This is called a “no-fault” divorce.
To file for a divorce, you need to be a resident of Michigan for at least 180 days before the date of filing. Also, you or your spouse must have lived in the county where the divorce is filed for at least 10 days.
However, in certain situations, a person can file for divorce in any county in the state without meeting the 10-day requirement. Those situations include:
- The other spouse is a citizen of another country
- The parties have a minor child
- There is a reasonable risk that the other spouse might take the child out of the country
Issues can arise when the other spouse is not a state resident. Although you can still obtain a divorce in a Michigan court and have it registered in another state, there could be difficulty in determining the division of marital property, spousal support, child custody, child support and parenting time / visitation.
The parties must wait 60 days until the divorce is granted. However, if children are involved in the marriage, the waiting period could take six months.
There is no requirement that you go to trial to obtain a divorce in Michigan. In fact, a trial is often not needed. Mediation and arbitration offer flexible and cost-efficient ways for parties to resolve their divorce issues, such as those that often arise with equitable distribution, spousal support, child support and child custody and visitation rights.
Separation
A person filing for a separation in the state of Michigan follows the same procedure as he or she would in a divorce. Also, like a divorce, there is no requirement to show the fault of one spouse. The party needs to only show that there has been a breakdown in the marriage to the point where the object of the marriage has been destroyed, and there remains no reasonable likelihood it can be preserved.
While a Michigan divorce action is pending, a spouse may be able to file for temporary spousal support and take legal steps to secure equitable distribution, child support, child custody and visitation rights.
Annulment
The procedure is the same for obtaining an annulment as it is for a divorce or separation. However, unlike a divorce or separation, the party must prove that there was never a valid marriage in the first place, which can be a difficult task in some circumstances.
Among the ways to prove that the marriage was “void” is by showing that, at the time of the marriage, one spouse was already married, a relative or legally incompetent because, for instance, the spouse was not old enough to marry.
In addition to showing one of these situations, you might also need to show that you did not consent to the marriage by living together for a period of time after being married.
More information: The Divorce Process in Michigan, Michigan Divorce Documents
Contact Us
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.
