Family Law Attorney in Grand Haven

Are you dealing with a family law matter in Grand Haven, Michigan, that could impact your parental rights, financial future, or personal well-being? Don’t attempt to handle your case alone. Kraayeveld Family Law can help.

At Kraayeveld Family Law, we have over 30 years of broad experience in family law matters and have helped thousands of satisfied clients with their situations. Our lawyers are determined and tenacious advocates dedicated to your best interests. We have a solid reputation in the legal community for providing individualized attention, excellent response times, and comprehensive representation to our clients.

Contact us today to arrange an initial consultation with a Grand Haven, MI, family law attorney. Discover how our experienced legal team can protect your rights and pursue a fair outcome for you and your loved ones.

Why You Need an Attorney for Your Grand Haven, MI, Family Law Case

Approaching a family law case without an attorney can significantly jeopardize your rights. The legal system is complex, with numerous procedural rules and case law precedents that require substantial knowledge to manage effectively. An experienced family law attorney can guide you throughout the process, helping you understand your options and make informed decisions protecting your rights and your family.

Kraayeveld Family Law gets outstanding results because opposing counsel know we don’t hesitate to take cases to trial when necessary. Our Michigan family law attorneys are realistic, direct, and ethical in all we do. We will vigorously fight to uphold your rights and achieve a favorable outcome for your family law case.

Moreover, our lawyers and legal support staff provide the care and support clients need to see things through. Because we know your family situation is the most important thing for you during this time, we make responsiveness a priority. With our one-business-day guarantee on your calls and emails, you will never have to wait longer than necessary for us to answer your questions and keep you updated on your case.

What Are the More Common Family Law Matters?

Family law claim cases encompass a wide range of sensitive and complex issues that can profoundly impact the lives of spouses, children, and extended family members. The overarching goal of these cases is to reach resolutions that prioritize the best interests of all parties involved, particularly the well-being of children affected by family law conflicts. Common family law issues include:

• Contested Divorce – A contested divorce occurs when spouses cannot agree on key issues like child custody, asset division, or alimony payments. These types of divorces can result in lengthy court battles where a judge must decide the terms of the divorce after hearing evidence from both sides.
• Uncontested Divorce – An uncontested divorce happens when both spouses agree on all divorce-related matters upfront. They submit an agreed-upon settlement to the court for approval to avoid lengthy litigation, so the process tends to be faster and less expensive than a contested divorce.
• Child Custody – Child custody cases determine which parent(s) will have the legal authority to make major decisions about a child’s upbringing and where the child will reside after divorce.
• Child Support – Child support orders require parents to contribute financially to raising their children after separation or divorce. Child support amounts are based on factors like each parent’s income and how much time they spend with the child.
• Prenuptial Agreements – A prenuptial agreement is a contract specifying how a couple will divide their assets and debts in the event of divorce. The enforceability of a prenup depends on factors like full financial disclosure and fairness. Prenups are common among high net worth individuals and in later-in-life second marriages.
• Property Division – During a divorce, Michigan courts divide marital property and debts equitably based on factors like each spouse’s needs and contributions to the marriage.
• Parental Alienation – Parental alienation involves one parent undermining the other parent’s relationship with the child, often through bad-mouthing, limiting contact, or creating false allegations. Family courts aim to protect the child’s best interests in cases involving parental alienation.
• Parental Relocation – If one parent wishes to move far away with a child after divorce, relocation cases are often necessary to determine whether the move is in the child’s best interests.
• School Choice – Divorced parents sometimes disagree on which schools their children should attend. In these cases, a judge might have to decide based on factors like the child’s needs and each parent’s rights and abilities.
• Alimony (Spousal Support) – Alimony, also called spousal support, refers to payments one ex-spouse makes to the other after divorce. Courts consider factors like each spouse’s income, age, health, and the length of the marriage when determining alimony.
• Paternity Issues – Paternity cases establish the identity of the legal father of a child born outside of marriage, which impacts issues like child support obligations and parental rights over the child.
• Visitation – Visitation, also called parenting time, refers to the non-custodial parent’s rights to spend time with their child according to a set schedule. Visitation orders are meant to maintain the child’s relationship with both parents if possible.
• Guardianship Litigation – Guardianship gives a non-parent the legal authority to care for a child. Guardianship litigation often occurs when a parent wants to terminate the guardianship.
• Grandparent Rights – In some cases, grandparents seek court-ordered visitation over their grandchildren, often due to the parents’ deaths.
• Domestic Violence – Domestic violence cases involve physical, sexual, emotional, or economic abuse between family members. Courts can issue a restraining order and make custody determinations to protect a victim in such a family law claim.
• Annulment – An annulment is a legal procedure that involves declaring that a marriage never legally existed. Grounds for annulment in Michigan include underage marriage, bigamy, fraud, inability to consummate a marriage, or a blood relationship between spouses.

If I Am Getting Divorced, Will My Spouse and I Each Need to Pay for an Attorney?

Yes. If you are getting divorced in Michigan, you and your spouse will typically need to hire your own attorney to represent your individual interests. While some couples attempt to use one attorney for an uncontested divorce, this is generally not advisable as the attorney cannot ethically advise or advocate for both clients impartially.

Having independent attorneys allows each spouse to receive objective guidance tailored to their unique situation and goals. Your lawyer focuses solely on protecting your rights and pursuing an ideal outcome for you during negotiations and court proceedings.

It is possible for the court to order one spouse to pay some or all of the other spouse’s attorney fees in case of need or frivolous actions during the litigation.

What Are Family Law Matters That May Require an Appeal?

Even after a family court issues a ruling, the legal process might not be over. If you believe the judge made an erroneous decision that impacts you unfairly, you could have grounds to file an appeal and seek a review by the Michigan Court of Appeals and, if necessary, the Michigan Supreme Court.

Be aware, however, that an appeal does not allow you to reargue your case before a different judge in hopes of a more favorable outcome. Rather, an appeal requires demonstrating that the trial court made an error in its rulings.

Among the family law matters that commonly prompt appeals:

Appealing a family court’s decision requires adhering to strict filing deadlines and procedural rules. An experienced family law attorney from Kraayeveld Family Law can evaluate your case, identify viable grounds for appeal, and provide skilled legal representation throughout the appeals process to advocate for a just outcome.

What Property and Asset Division Issues Often Arise in a High Net Worth Divorce in Michigan?

Wealthy couples frequently possess a diverse array of valuable assets accumulated over the course of their marriage. Properly valuing and equitably distributing these assets requires meticulous effort from legal professionals, financial experts, and the court system. Common property division issues in high net worth divorce cases involve assets like:

• Homes – High net worth couples often own multiple homes, including primary residences and vacation properties. In divorce cases, courts allocate properties between spouses or order sales and divisions of proceeds based on factors like financial resources and custody of children.
• Closely Held Business Interests – When spouses co-own private companies or professional practices, valuing and dividing businesses becomes a complex divorce issue. Judges aim to divide the value of a business fairly while avoiding disruptions to operations.
• Real Estate Property – Beyond personal residences, wealthy couples frequently hold investment properties like rental homes, timeshares, and undeveloped land. Factors like income generation, appreciation potential, and taxes guide courts in distributing this real estate equitably.
• Cars – Affluent couples often own multiple vehicles, including luxury and classic cars. Cars’ values depend on make, model, year, mileage, and condition. Courts divide automobile assets based on factors like each spouse’s transportation needs and ability to afford future car payments.
• Jewelry – High net worth divorces often involve valuable jewelry items like diamond rings, luxury watches, and rare gemstone pieces. Judges distribute jewelry between the parties or order sales with divided proceeds depending on such factors as which spouse originally purchased each piece or if they were a gift.
• Art – Wealthy couples commonly invest in art collections that include paintings, sculptures, antiques, and other valuable pieces. Family courts rely on independent valuations to decide how to allocate specific artworks between spouses or divide sale proceeds from auctioned pieces.
• Stock Options – If one or both spouses receive stock options or restricted stock from an employer, these assets often become part of the marital estate. Michigan family law judges aim to divide stock benefits earned during the marriage in an equitable manner.
• Retirement Assets – Retirement accounts like 401(k)s, IRAs, and pensions represent significant marital assets for many affluent couples. Courts calculate the value of contributions made during the marriage and fairly divide those assets, often by splitting balances or transferring funds.

Other high net worth assets include investment portfolios, yachts, private planes, and insurance policies.

Contact Our Grand Haven, MI, Family Law Attorneys Today

If you are struggling with a family law matter, don’t try to go it alone. Kraayeveld Family Law can protect your rights throughout the legal process. Take the first step now by scheduling a consultation with a Grand Haven, MI, family lawyer from our firm. We’ll discuss the details of your situation and how we can increase your chances of a favorable outcome.