If you and your spouse have been struggling together and you decide that divorce is the best option for you, as sad as that may seem, it may give you both the chance to be happy again. Sometimes being apart is a better answer than being together. There are many different things to consider when a couple divorces, including child support if there are children in the family, asset division, and spousal support. In Michigan, there are several different ways that the divorcing couple can come to an agreement on spousal support. How does a couple reach an agreement? Depending on the relationship th ..read more

No two divorces are exactly alike. The basic legal issues may be the same from one divorce to the next but there is always variation in the details. Spousal support may be needed in one divorce but not in another. There is one type of spousal support with which you are likely not familiar. Pendente lite Most people understand the basic concept of spousal support (alimony). It is a payment ordered by the court, following divorce, from one spouse to the other, for the maintenance of the spouse receiving it. Pendente lite is the Latin term for spousal support which is ordered long before the divo ..read more

Are you worried about what your life is going to look like post-divorce? If so, we understand your concerns. You may have enjoyed a high-net-worth marriage that provided you with the safety and security that you needed, but it may seem like that’s all coming to an end with the dissolution of your marriage. But, depending on the circumstances of your case, there are probably things that you can do to position yourself for strong financial standing post-divorce. Among them is building a robust case for spousal support. How can you build your spousal support case?  The first step is simply u ..read more

When a couple gets divorced, they will have to adjust to being able to support themselves physically, emotionally, and financially, without their spouse’s involvement. Under Michigan law, the court may determine that one spouse requires alimony to help support them financially after the divorce. Generally, alimony may be awarded to a stay-at-home spouse who has been out of the workforce for an extended period or a lesser-earning spouse who is likely unable to maintain the marital standard of living as a single person. Factors used to determine alimony While Michigan alimony statutes do not pro ..read more

Alimony disputes can have massive financial implications for all parties involved. That’s why, regardless of which side of the dispute you find yourself on, you need to know the law and diligently craft the legal arguments that support your position. Although you might be able to negotiate a resolution to this dispute, you should always be prepared to litigate it. Why is the marital standard of living important? There are a lot of factors that come into play when a decision is made as to whether alimony is appropriate and, if so, how much those alimony payments should be. Amongst those conside ..read more

A spouse’s financial future may change radically when their marriage is over, and they lose financial support. Negotiating for spousal support, commonly known as alimony, requires preparation. Your situation Factors like the payor and payee’s gross and net salary, their assets and marriage length help determine whether there is support and its length. A spouse’s financial situation during marriage and after separation are other important factors. Awareness of the gap between those two situations can help determine reasonable support. Developing an accurate budget of daily expenses is an import ..read more

Alimony plays an important role in the post-divorce lives of many Michigan residents. It is the money that some divorced individuals are required to pay to their exes in order to provide them with ongoing support. Not all divorces involve awards or agreements of alimony; some divorces involve two individuals who are financially independent and able to support themselves once their marriages are over. Most awards and agreements of alimony involve monthly or periodic payments. However, this is not the only structure that alimony may take on. This post provides information on how alimony may be s ..read more

Married couples can manage their households in many different ways. In some cases, both spouses choose to work outside the home, while in other households, one spouse works part-time or chooses to be a stay-at-home parent. In any case, if the couple chooses to get a divorce, courts make it a priority to ensure that both spouses are taken care of following the finalization of the divorce. What is alimony? When one spouse earns less income than the other spouse, or no income at all, it may difficult, if not impossible, for them to maintain the lifestyle they had while they were married when they ..read more

Few aspects of divorce are more contentious than alimony. While child support payments may be a difficult subject as well, few dispute the need to pay child support. Alimony can be much more difficult.  Unlike with child support, in the state of Michigan there is no specific formula for calculating alimony. It is possible for both partners to independently agree on alimony as part of property division, but if the matter goes to a judge, the mitigating factors are less concrete. According to Michigan Legal Help, permanent spousal support is most likely in long-term marriages.&nbs ..read more

The current trend is favoring couples to substitute permanent spousal support with rehabilitative spousal support. The courts are now encouraging couples to go for the process of temporarily supporting one spouse while he or she tries to become financially stable and self-supporting. There are 11 factors which the courts use to determine whether permanent or rehabilitative spells of support is appropriate. The longer the marriage, the more likely it is that long term spousal support will be awarded. If a woman in her forties has been married for 20 or 25 years, it is less likely that she will ..read more