Making the decision to get divorced is difficult. Telling your children about it brings on all sorts of feelings and emotions. Mental Health Professional and Divorce Expert Brett Sherman and I discuss the ins and outs of best discussing this sensitive topic with your minor children. Should you have any questions, please contact us.
Attorney Max S. Emmer speaks with Brett Sherman of B Sherman Counseling in a three (3) part series on the benefits of including mental health professionals in the divorce process. Brett has a private therapy practice and regularly works on collaborative divorce cases in the greater Detroit area. Should you have any questions, please contact us today.
You are preparing to file for divorce, or, you are in the thick of it, and, living in the marital home with your current spouse is miserable? Perhaps it is an untenable situation? It would be better for all involved if you went and lived somewhere else temporarily, to defuse the situation? While there can be ramifications with respect to financial interests in the marital home, as well as custody and parenting time, should you abandon the marital home, there are simple steps to take to protect your rights and to let cooler heads prevail. Should you have any questions, please contact us.
Should you date during the pendency of your divorce? What do you think? My advice is no. Don’t rock the boat. Don’t inflame tensions. Don’t incite resentment or retaliation. Be respectful of your current spouse and co-parent. Now, if you were previously seeing someone, or, you HAVE to start dating during your divorce, do it discretely and privately. And, by no means, should you introduce your shared minor children to a new date/partner/”friend” during this time. It will only exacerbate an already messy situation. Take a few months – focus on yourself and your children. Get your house in order. And, after your divorce is finalized, please, explore all the other fish in the sea. But, until then, be pragmatic. If we can assist you in consultation on this or other family law matters, please contact us.
Ladies and gentleman, we did it. Another school year completed, another summer upon us. I have a piece of advice – be reasonable with your co-parent this summer. Your kids should enjoy a summer break and holiday with their other parent just like they should with you. Certainly, you should not be taken advantage of, but, try not to sweat the really small issues. Remember, if you give them a tough time about a summer holiday, break or vacation, they are going to do the same right back, creating a never ending, and, unnecessary cycle of pettiness and unpleasantness. If you have any questions about summer parenting time or other divorce issues, please contact us.
Are you the payer of child and/or spousal support and wish your payment(s) were less and lower? Thinking about quitting or reducing your employment/working hours and that will do the trick? Not so quick. In Michigan, there is a legal principle called the imputation of income. Obviously, the Courts cannot force someone to physically go to work and make money. That said, the Court can calculate your income to an amount it believes is fair, reasonable and/or justified. For example, you make $100,000.00 per year and quit your job. If you go to Court saying I cannot pay support, the Court will say, “Too bad, if you don’t want to work at that job, thats on you, but, you don’t get to quit, not work and have an income of $0.” Similarly, if you elect to work less than you can/should, the court can impute you at a higher income for support calculation purposes. What does all of this mean? If you want to attempt to lower your support payments, speak with a family lawyer about (1) negotiating directly with your spouse or (2) assessing the filing and success of a Motion to Modify Support before the Court and the Friend of the Court. If you have any questions on this or any other divorce issue, please contact us today.
