By David R. Dawson | Published December 30, 2023 | Posted in Divorce | Tagged Tags: equitable distribution, marital property, misconceptions about divorce |
Most people understand the basic concept of divorce as a legal dissolution of a marriage. There is certainly no shortage of news about high-profile divorces and their vivid details. But the average person, in Michigan as elsewhere, may still harbor certain misconceptions about the divorce process. If you’re contemplating the end of your marriage, it’s Read More
Read MoreOne of the most potentially contentious issues in a divorce is the division of property. Michigan, like many other states, typically follows the principle of equitable distribution, which treats the property that either spouse acquires during the marriage as being jointly owned. A notable exception is property that was individually inherited or gifted. However, this Read More
Read MoreWhen a married couple divorces, dividing the assets can be difficult and contentious. Property division can be further complicated when one spouse owns a business, especially if it is a type of professional practice. During a divorce, the family court judge is required to divide all marital property in a way that is fair, just Read More
Read MoreDuring a divorce where property is being divided, certain assets may be challenging for the spouses to parcel out. This is particularly true for the marital home. In addition to having sentimental value and being a nurturing place for children, the family home is often a couple’s largest single asset. Although Michigan law includes the Read More
Read MoreIn many divorce cases, one of the major issues is how assets will be divided between the spouses — a process known as equitable distribution. There are two types of property to be considered in this regard: separate and marital. Separate property is any asset that one spouse owned prior to the marriage or acquired Read More
Read MoreDuring the course of your marriage, you may have suffered the loss of a parent or other family member and received an inheritance. Under Michigan law, an inheritance is normally considered the individual property of the spouse whose relative died. This is an exception to the general rule that any asset acquired by either spouse Read More
Read MoreWhen a marriage doesn’t last until “death do us part,” the spouse’s estate plans will likely need updating. Property division, alimony and child support orders during a divorce can leave each spouse with a substantially different financial position than existed during the marriage. A divorcing person may also have a change of heart about who Read More
Read MoreIt is crucial to obtain full disclosure of your spouse’s assets if you hope for a fair court order regarding alimony and property division during a divorce. Though Michigan law requires both spouses to reveal all of their assets and liabilities, some people still try to skirt the law in the hope that it will Read More
Read MoreEmotions tend to run high during a divorce, but it’s best to think twice before you take to social media to vent your frustrations or send a text fueled by anger. A rant written in the heat of the moment could have long-term consequences for you and your family. Social media posts and text messages Read More
Read MoreIn 2019, a Michigan appeals court affirmed an earlier court decision that a man who won $80 million in the lottery while going through a divorce owed half of the winnings to his ex-wife. Why? Although the couple had split up two years before the man purchased the lottery ticket, their divorce had not yet Read More
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