Family Law

Michigan family law addresses the legal issues affecting spouses, parents, and children, including:

Divorce: Michigan is a no-fault divorce state. A divorce may be granted when the marriage has broken down beyond a reasonable likelihood of preservation, without requiring proof that either spouse caused the breakdown.

Child custody: Courts determine custody based on the child’s best interests, considering factors such as emotional ties, parental ability to provide care, stability, domestic violence, and the child’s reasonable preference when appropriate.

Parenting time: Courts establish schedules and conditions for a child’s time with each parent, focusing on the child’s best interests, safety, and maintaining strong parent-child relationships. Parenting time may be supervised or otherwise restricted when necessary.

Child support: Courts generally apply the Michigan Child Support Formula to determine financial support. A court may depart from the formula when its application would be unjust or inappropriate, but must explain and document the required findings.