Bloomfield Hills Divorce Lawyers
Most couples spend a significant amount of time planning for their wedding and their future together. When a marriage ends, that same consideration needs to be spent preparing and resolving a divorce in order to plan for the next stage of a person’s life.
At Jackman & Kasody PLLC, a Michigan divorce and family law firm based in Bingham Farms, divorce is our primary focus. Located in Bingham Farms, we serve clients throughout Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Novi and the surrounding areas. Our skilled lawyers have more than 60 years of combined experience walking clients through the emotional and financial process of a divorce with knowledgeable advice and attentive service.
Addressing Divorce And A Variety Of Related Issues
We understand how difficult it is to untangle all aspects of your life in a divorce, from bank accounts and retirement plans to kitchen cupboards and photo albums. For couples with children, this process can be even more difficult, as time with your kids becomes a precious commodity.
At Jackman & Kasody PLLC, we help clients navigate all issues related to divorce, including asset valuation, property division, alimony, child custody, parenting time and child support. To best serve the needs of our clients, our team draws on the insights and advice of a vast network of respected experts in the fields of psychology, financial planning, business valuation and property appraisal to give clients the resources they need to make informed decisions.
Our lawyers also work closely with unmarried couples and same-sex couples, ensuring that they understand their legal rights and advocating on their behalf in cases involving a wide range of family law issues. When these couples raise one parent’s biological or adopted children together, we can also help them navigate the complex issues of custody, visitation and support that can arise.
No Divorce Case Is Too Complex
While some divorces are straightforward, some cases involve significant assets and net worth. Some substantial assets include stocks and investment accounts, retirement accounts and additional properties like vacation homes and more. These cases require special consideration that are best handled by the Bingham Farms divorce and family law lawyers at Jackman & Kasody PLLC. Common complex divorce issues we handle are:
- High-net-worth divorce
- Complex property and asset division in divorce
- Business valuation in divorce
- Alimony for high-income individuals
- Tax implications of high-asset divorce
- Wealth protection and financial planning in divorce
- Prenuptial agreements for high-net-worth individuals
- Hidden assets in divorce
Whether you feel your divorce is simpler or more complex, our Bloomfield Hills family law attorneys want to help serve the best interests of you and your family and set you up for your new life as well as possible. Contact us today to find out how we can help you and to schedule your initial consultation.
Should I talk to an attorney if I am separating from my spouse or considering divorce?
Even when people are not ready to start the divorce process, speaking with an experienced divorce attorney can be highly beneficial. Seeking legal guidance can help people explore their options and familiarize themselves with the divorce process before taking that first step.
An attorney can also help them identify their unique priorities so that they have a strong strategy in place at every stage of their divorce. Depending on their situation, an attorney may help people protect their rights during a trial separation, protect their interest in their marital home or document their child’s needs to lay the groundwork for a fair support agreement.
What Are The Stages of the Mediation Process?
The mediator works as a neutral third party to help both parties find areas of compromise. Mediators are exceptional problem solvers, brainstorming creative solutions to alleviate the stress of making concessions or compromises.
Before any mediation begins, the mediator will meet with both parties to discuss expectations for the mediation process, as well as discuss terms of payment. The mediator takes this stage to gather information about the participants. This initial meeting covers administrative details, such as explaining procedures, presenting an agenda and handling questions.
For the mediator to work successfully, he or she needs all the facts of your divorce and situation. You will need to provide information about the areas where you and your spouse already agree, as well as your positions on spousal support, division of marital property, child custody and child support. The mediator may ask you to bring financial statements, school paperwork, medical information and more.
During this stage, you and your spouse share your individual expectations and outcomes, as well as the reason for these outcomes. Needs and wants get evaluated against priorities, goals, values and what puts the needs of any children first.
What Happens To A Business In A Divorce?
The results of a divorce case can significantly affect a person’s life in a number of ways. If you are a business owner, you might even find that the results of your divorce can deprive you of a major source of livelihood.
Michigan property division laws follow a policy of equitable division for all marital assets, including a business owned by either spouse. Without a separation agreement in place that outlines what will become of the business in the event of divorce, it is possible that enterprise ownership will split between both spouses. Another possibility is that you might liquidate the business entirely and split the proceeds.
The Difference Between An Annulment And A Divorce
In Michigan, the end of a marriage can legally occur in two ways: divorce or annulment. Both processes legally terminate a marriage, but they differ significantly in their implications and prerequisites.
An annulment effectively erases a marriage, stating it was invalid from the outset due to factors that prohibited a legal union. In Michigan, grounds for annulment include fraud, bigamy, inability to consummate the marriage, a party was underage at the time of the marriage, mental incompetence or coercion into the marriage.
The burden of proof falls on the party seeking the annulment. They must present evidence demonstrating one of the aforementioned grounds existed at the time of marriage. Importantly, children born during an annulled marriage are not considered illegitimate in Michigan.
How Are Gifts Treated In A Divorce?
Spouses give each other gifts all the time; birthdays, holidays and anniversaries happen every year. As a general rule, Michigan treats these gifts as marital property, owned by both spouses and subject to the rule of equitable distribution. This does not necessarily mean the gift will have to be sold and divided between the spouses along with other property. Rather, it means the value of the gift will be counted as part of the total assets which must be distributed. If one spouse has a particular emotional attachment to the gift, there’s a good chance they’ll be able to keep it.
Gifts given by parties outside the marriage, such as friends or parents, can be either separate property or marital property. If the gift is given to both spouses, with the intent that both spouses share in it, the gift will be classified as marital property. If it is given to an individual spouse, with the intent that it be enjoyed solely by that spouse, the gift will be considered separate property and retained by the spouse who received it.
There are circumstances, however, where a third-party gift, given to an individual spouse, can be transformed into marital property. If the other spouse invests time and resources into using the gift or maintaining/improving its value, these actions could create an interest in the property they did not possess at the time the gift was given. Like many assets which must be divided during a divorce, properly identifying gifts as marital or separate property is a complex process which requires knowledge and experience.
Experienced. Dedicated. Proven.
At Jackman & Kasody PLLC, divorce and family law matters are our sole focus. Whether providing answers when concerns arise or helping our clients explore their options and make informed decisions, we offer compassionate and skilled guidance at every stage of the legal process. Our attorneys bring over 60 years of combined experience to every client’s legal matter and use that experience to craft personalized legal strategies for our clients.
Contact Our Firm About Your Divorce And Family Law Matter
To schedule a free initial consultation with a team of experienced divorce and family law attorneys, contact Jackman & Kasody PLLC at 248-220-6963 or send us this form.