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Recent Blog Posts
Three Main Benefits of Divorce Mediation
We all know what happens in a traditional divorce: the spouses spend months on end arguing about who gets the house, where children will live, and how their property will be split between the two. A litigated divorce can be stressful for you, hard on your bank account, and potentially traumatizing to the children. It is important to understand that you do have other options. Divorce mediation is one of those options and has become an increasingly popular route for many divorcing couples because of the multitude of benefits it offers.
At Elkouri Heath, PLC, we provide clients with personalized counsel and representation at every stage of the divorce process. Our Novi, MI divorce attorneys have over two decades of legal experience, which has given us deep insights into how to handle family law issues.
Can We Stop Our Divorce if We Change Our Minds?
Divorce is a complex period for a couple in many ways. Financially, emotionally, and physically, a couple may feel worn down and discouraged before they reach the point of divorce. Making final decisions can be difficult, especially when both spouses feel as though their marriage may still have redeeming qualities. You should know that Michigan generally allows spouses to stop a divorce before it is finalized.
The decision to end a marriage may be so conflicted that some spouses may be determined to pursue a divorce, only to later change their minds. If this sounds familiar to you and you have already filed for divorce in Michigan, you may be wondering whether it is too late to stop the divorce process. At Elkouri Heath, PLC, our Novi, MI family law attorneys are here to provide you with compassionate legal counsel. We have been named among the 10 Best Law Firms for Client Satisfaction by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, so you can rely on us to attend to your needs.
Can Grandparents Get Visitation or Custody in Michigan?
Grandparents play a special role in the lives of their grandchildren. However, this relationship typically isn’t recognized with formal legal rights. If you wish to petition for custody or visitation as a grandparent, you should know when you can ask the court to recognize that relationship.
At Elkouri Heath, PLC, our Northville, MI family law attorneys have over 20 years of experience representing clients throughout southeastern Michigan. If you have any questions about custody rights, don’t hesitate to contact us. We can review your situation, inform you of your rights, and help you pursue the best course of action.
Grandparent Visitation Laws in Michigan
In Michigan, grandparents do not have automatic visitation rights. The law supports allowing parents to decide who spends time with their children. Grandparents may request court-ordered visitation only in specific situations. These include cases where a parent has died, the child’s parents were never married, or a divorce or separation has already occurred. Even then, the court looks closely at whether visitation serves the child’s best interests and does not interfere with a parent’s rights.
Can a Resistant Spouse Unreasonably Delay Divorce Proceedings?
Most people, once they have concluded that divorce is inevitable, want the whole process to be over and done with as quickly as possible. But what happens if one spouse tries to unreasonably delay the legal process?
One spouse can definitely drag out divorce proceedings by contesting the divorce and endlessly bickering over settlement terms. But ultimately, they cannot stop a Michigan divorce from happening. At Elkouri Heath, PLC, our Novi, MI family law attorneys will do everything we can to keep the legal proceedings moving. We have decades of experience in divorce law, so we will not be deterred by a resistant spouse.
Why a Spouse Might Try to Delay Divorce Proceedings
There are many valid reasons why one spouse might fight hard over certain terms of a divorce settlement and take a long time to reach a reasonable compromise. However, a spouse may also employ delaying tactics with less worthy motives. Here are some common reasons that one spouse might try to stall out a divorce:
What to Do When Your Ex Won’t Follow the Divorce Decree
After your divorce, you will be expected to follow the judge’s orders. This may come with various provisions about property division, child custody, alimony, and more. However, if your ex refuses to obey the decree, you might have to take legal action to enforce it. A Novi, MI family law attorney can represent you in a petition to hold your ex accountable in court.
At Elkouri Heath, PLC, we know just how difficult it can be to deal with an ex who won’t cooperate. When you work with our firm, we will fight for a proper resolution to your situation, whether it involves unpaid support or another problem entirely. Our legal professionals have been named in the 10 Best Attorneys for Client Satisfaction by American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, highlighting the trust we have built up in our community.
Collecting Unpaid Child Support in Michigan
Unpaid child support can quickly strain your budget. Child support is a court order, and in Michigan most payments go through the Friend of the Court and the state disbursement unit, so missed payments are recorded even when parents do not speak.
Who Gets Wedding Rings and Family Heirlooms in a Divorce?
Divorce feels different when your main disagreements are not about cash flow or retirement accounts. For many, the most difficult fights to solve in a divorce involve items with personal history: a wedding ring worn for generations, artwork passed down through the decades, or a vacation property that has been in one family since childhood.
These items are not just random things. They are meaningful sources of memories, identity, and sometimes a connection with someone you’ve lost. So what happens to heirlooms and sentimental belongings in a divorce?
Understanding how courts classify and divide these assets can help you have realistic expectations and make smarter decisions. Our Michigan divorce attorneys can help.
How Does Michigan Law Classify Sentimental and High-Value Personal Property in a Divorce?
Michigan is an equitable distribution state. That means property is not automatically divided 50/50. Instead, courts divide marital property in a way they consider fair under the circumstances, per MCL 552.401.
What Happens if My Spouse Files for Bankruptcy During Divorce?
People usually don’t get divorced because their life together is simple and easy. Financial issues in particular cause marital strife: According to the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysis, between 20 and 40 percent of all divorces involve serious financial problems.
If you are in the process of getting a divorce when you get the news that your spouse has decided to file for bankruptcy, you aren’t alone in asking serious questions. What does bankruptcy mean for your divorce? Will you get the marital property you need? Does bankruptcy delay the entire divorce process?
The truth is that filing for bankruptcy during divorce does create complications. Having a good Northville, MI divorce attorney to explain how bankruptcy and divorce come together under Michigan and federal law will help you protect yourself and get through your divorce intact.
10 Tips for Managing Your Kids After Divorce
In Michigan, both parents have equal rights and responsibilities under MCL 722.23, which says that in custody cases, the court should focus on the best interests of the child. That means your ability to provide stability and a supportive environment for your child matters just as much as your parenting schedule. It also means the odds are that you will be sharing custody with your ex.
If you are getting ready to face single parenthood after divorce, these practical tips can help you manage your new reality. For personalized guidance, reach out to Elkouri Heath, PLC. Our Novi, MI child custody lawyers have over 20 years of experience helping parents throughout southeastern Michigan. We can help you create a clear, streamlined parenting schedule and give you advice for managing your household on your own. Call us today.
Where Do I Live During Divorce?
One of the first and most stressful questions people ask after being served with divorce papers is where they are supposed to live while the process unfolds. Can you stay in your home? Should you move out? What happens if you want your spouse to move out, but they refuse to leave? These are personal and emotional questions, but they also have serious legal consequences.
In Michigan, decisions about living arrangements during a divorce depend on many factors. Courts often handle these issues with temporary orders meant to maintain fairness, protect children, and prevent further conflict while the case moves forward.
At our firm, our Northville, MI divorce attorneys have more than 20 years of experience helping clients get through these tough transitions. We offer free consultations and have earned a reputation as one of the top-rated family law practices in the area.
How to Negotiate an Airtight Prenup with Your Fiancé
Few topics make engaged couples more nervous than prenuptial agreements. Understandably, bringing up a "prenup" before your marriage might feel uncomfortable. But it is actually one of the most practical and honest conversations two people can have before tying the knot. Far from being unromantic, a well-written prenup can strengthen your relationship considerably.
For couples in Michigan, writing a prenuptial agreement can give you a chance to talk about your values around money. Whether you have significant assets, own a business, or simply want to protect yourself in the future, a prenup can help.
However, the nature of a prenup is, in some ways, similar to the nature of a divorce agreement. Money is finite and money that goes to one spouse automatically does not go to the other spouse. So how do you negotiate a prenuptial agreement that protects you and your fiance?
At Elkouri Heath, PLC, our Oakland County, MI family lawyers have over 20 years of experience helping couples negotiate strong prenuptial agreements. We will guide you through each step of the process to make sure your prenup holds up under Michigan law. We also offer free consultations to help you understand your options before making any commitments.
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