Byron Center Divorce Lawyer - Kraayeveld Family Law

Getting divorced is difficult and painful. The divorce procedure in Michigan can take several months, even up to a year to conclude, and you’ll need to address many complex issues along the way. But working with a determined and tenacious Michigan divorce lawyer can make your life easier during this difficult time.

At Kraayeveld Family Law, we stand by you during the Michigan divorce process. With over 30 years under our belt, we pride ourselves on offering individualized attention and excellent response times. Our reputation for settling cases to our clients’ satisfaction stems from our willingness to go to trial when needed — and being determined and tenacious when we’re in court. Finally, as a well-known family law practice in the community, we provide thorough representation for our clients while maintaining a realistic and ethical approach to their cases.

Our team is dedicated to advocating for you while ensuring your needs come first. When you’re ready to take the next step in your life, contact us today for a confidential consultation with a Byron Center, MI, divorce lawyer.

Why You Need an Attorney for Your Byron Center, MI, Divorce Case

One common question we hear from potential clients is, “Do I need a lawyer to get a divorce?” Technically, there’s no law saying you do. But do you know how to file for divorce in Michigan and understand the residency requirements? What’s the difference between a dissolution of marriage and an annulment? How do you ask for temporary relief to maintain your finances while the legal process plays out? What are the best ways to get the court to see your side of things if you and your spouse don’t agree on issues like child custody and child support? Do you know how to introduce evidence to the court?

A Byron Center, MI, divorce attorney from Kraayeveld Family Law can answer these questions for you and protect your interests throughout the legal process. Our knowledgeable attorneys not only understand how to get a divorce in Michigan, but they also know how to guide you through the process efficiently while protecting your rights.

Without a lawyer’s help, you have to handle the whole legal process yourself, which is a significant burden during an already difficult period. In addition, any minor slip-up could have long-term ramifications. But your lawyer can file all court pleadings involved in a divorce, gather evidence to support your position, attend mediation sessions with you to safeguard your interests, and handle any necessary courtroom proceedings.

As seasoned divorce lawyers, we at Kraayeveld Family Law know how important your case is and how much is at stake. You have crucial questions and concerns that need answers. Our one-business-day guarantee means your calls and emails get answered promptly.

What Are the Differences Between a Contested Divorce and a Noncontested Divorce?

Michigan is a no-fault divorce state. Even so, there are two types of divorce: contested and noncontested.

In a contested divorce, the spouses don’t agree on the essential issues they must resolve before the courts issue a final divorce decree. These issues include child custody and support, spousal support (alimony), how to divide marital property, and so on.

Contested divorces often involve a courtroom trial where a judge decides these vital issues, though it’s generally quicker and less costly for everyone if two disagreeing spouses can find common ground through mediation or other means.

In a noncontested divorce, the spouses agree on the terms of the divorce. A noncontested divorce is usually the most efficient, cost-effective divorce for all involved.

What Are Common Issues in Getting a Divorce?

Along with the divorce proceeding, the attorneys at Kraayeveld Family Law also handle a wide variety of other family law disputes, such as:

Child Custody – Determining who will have legal and physical custody of your children can be challenging. At Kraayeveld Family Law, we advocate for arrangements that serve the best interests of your children while protecting your parental rights.
Visitation – Visitation rights ensure both parents maintain a relationship with their children post-divorce. Kraayeveld Family Law can help you develop a fair and workable visitation plan.
Child Support – Child support helps ensure your children’s financial needs are met after a divorce, but determining the appropriate amount can be complicated. Your lawyer can explain your rights and obligations while fighting for a child support arrangement that reflects the best interests of your children.
Parental Relocation – When a parent needs to move to a different location, it can complicate custody and visitation arrangements. Your lawyer can work to negotiate or litigate the relocation.
School Choice – Deciding where your children will go to school can become contentious during a divorce. A lawyer from our firm can negotiate with the other party, support you in mediation, and fight for educational choices that support your children’s best interests.
Spousal Support – Spousal support, or alimony, aims to provide financial stability to a lower-earning spouse after divorce. Kraayeveld Family Law can work to achieve a fair and reasonable support arrangement.
Grandparent Rights – Grandparents can play a crucial role in a child’s life. Your lawyer can fight for the child’s grandparents’ rights, helping to maintain these important family bonds.
Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements – Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements can simplify divorce proceedings by outlining asset division and financial arrangements when the couple is calm and in a good place. These agreements often come into play for spouses with a high net worth or entering a later-in-life second marriage. Our team can help you draft a fair, legally compliant pre- or postnup and check that any existing agreement you signed is fair.
Asset Division – Dividing marital assets is often one of the most contentious parts of a divorce. Kraayeveld Family Law has the experience to negotiate a division that results in each party getting an equitable share of the property, assets, and debts.
Parental Alienation – Parental alienation occurs when one parent attempts to turn the child against the other parent. This harmful behavior can have long-lasting effects on the child-parent relationship. Your lawyers have extensive experience with addressing and mitigating parental alienation issues.
Annulment – Sometimes, the best thing for a spouse to do is seek an annulment, which has the legal effect of the marriage having never occurred. Michigan grants these in limited circumstances, such as a spouse’s lack of capacity to consent due to disability or age, marriage under fraud or duress, or bigamy.
Appeals – In some instances, a family court judge may commit a legal or procedural error that influenced the case’s outcome, which could give you grounds to appeal the ruling. Divorce, child custody, marital property, and parental alienation are among the matters that could be considered for appeal.

What Does a High Net Worth Divorce Involve?

In a high net worth divorce, the marital estate includes various high-value or complex assets. While these divorces involve many of the same legal issues as a standard divorce, some elements often make these cases more complicated. These issues may include:

Greater assets, which can foster additional disagreements over property division
Disputes over shared business interests
Jewelry, artworks, high-value cars, and other pricey assets
Disputes over ownership of the family home and other real estate (rental properties, timeshares, etc.)
Disagreements over spousal support and child support
The existence of prenuptial agreements, which may or may not be legally valid

For these cases, spouses must hire financial experts and appraisers to assign values to unique or complex assets. In addition, forensic accountants may need to search for any marital assets that the other spouse could be concealing.

Are There Residential Requirements When Filing for a Michigan Divorce?

Yes. You have to meet certain residency requirements to file for divorce in Michigan. First, you or your spouse must have lived in the state for at least 180 days. Second, you or your spouse must file the initial divorce complaint with the local circuit court where one or both of you have lived for at least 10 days. Assuming you meet these requirements, you can start your case at any time.

Are There Factors of ‘Fault’ a Judge Could Consider in a Divorce Judgment?

Because Michigan is a no-fault divorce state, you do not have to include fault in the divorce petition as grounds for your divorce. However, the judge can consider the following factors when determining how marital property will be divided and the amount of spousal support:

Spousal abuse
Adultery/infidelity
Desertion/abandonment
Criminal matters

How Long Could It Take for My Divorce to Become Finalized?

Every divorce is different, so it’s hard to say how long your case might take until our lawyers can look more closely at your situation. While most divorces take several months, others could take up to one year if there are complex questions to resolve related to child custody, spousal support, and property division, among other things. Working with a lawyer and being open to compromise when appropriate can help you speed up your divorce.

Can I Have My Divorce Judgment Modified?

It’s possible to modify a divorce judgment, but doing so requires you to demonstrate to the court that there’s been a significant change in your circumstances since the original court order. A divorce lawyer in Byron Center, MI, can help you make a compelling case to the court to modify your divorce judgment.

What Divorce Situations Would Necessitate an Appeal?

You might want to appeal a court’s decision in a divorce case if you believe the court made a legal error or an unfair judgment. Situations that could allow you to file an appeal include improper asset division, incorrect calculation of spousal or child support, biased custody decisions, or new evidence that could significantly impact the case.

The appeals process does mean you get to reargue your case before another judge in hopes of receiving a more favorable outcome. Rather, filing an appeal requires demonstrating that the trial court made a legal error in its rulings.

If you believe the court overlooked important facts or misapplied the law, Kraayeveld Family Law can help you file an appeal to protect your rights and interests.

How Much Does a Divorce Cost?

The cost of a divorce varies widely based on the particular factors involved in your case. These can include the complexity of the case, the level of conflict between spouses, the need for expert witnesses, and the time required to reach a settlement or go to trial. Attorney fees, court costs, and other expenses like mediation can also add up.

While hiring a lawyer might add to your initial expenses, having someone protect your financial, legal, and family interests is worth it in the long run.

Contact Our Byron Center, MI, Divorce Attorneys Today

The earlier you involve a Michigan divorce attorney from Kraayeveld Family Law in your divorce, the more they can do to protect your rights and help you start the next chapter of your life on solid footing. Contact Kraayeveld Family Law to schedule a confidential consultation.