Divorce Attorney in Wyoming

Although divorce represents the end of one chapter, it is also the beginning of a new one. If you need help turning the page with confidence, Kraayeveld Family Law is here to support and advocate for you. Our lawyers will guide you through how to get a divorce in Michigan and provide you with the legal representation you need to protect your rights and interests.

In our 30-plus years, our law firm has earned a reputation in the Michigan legal community. We are known for our sole allegiance and zealous advocacy to our clients during the challenging divorce process. Each of us strives to offer responsive, individualized attention throughout your case.

Contact Kraayeveld Family Law today to schedule a consultation with a Wyoming, MI, divorce lawyer. We’re here to fight for the results you desire so you can move forward with your life.

Why You Need an Attorney for Your Wyoming, MI, Divorce Case

You need an experienced, tenacious advocate to look out for your rights and interests during your divorce. Let a Michigan divorce attorney with Kraayeveld Family Law guide you through the legal process by:

• Conducting a thorough investigation and review of your family’s circumstances to gather the records, information, and evidence we need for your case, such as financial records and witness testimony
• Sitting down with you to discuss your needs, goals, and concerns so we can prepare and follow a tailored case strategy
• Explaining your legal options and preparing you for what to expect at each stage of your case
• Advising you during settlement negotiations or mediation
• Going to court and trial, if necessary, to fight for the best possible result for you

We know that any divorce case can feel all-consuming for the parties involved. There is plenty at stake, from your children to your assets. You have real concerns and pressing questions that need immediate answers. So, our lawyers and legal support staff make it a priority to respond to your calls and emails promptly. With our one-business-day guarantee, you will not need to wait longer than necessary for us.

What Are the Differences Between Contested Divorce and Noncontested Divorce?

Michigan has a no-fault divorce system, which means that a spouse who files for divorce does not need to prove that the other spouse bears “fault” for the end of the marriage, such as due to abuse or infidelity. Instead, a no-fault divorce means couples can seek divorce due to an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.

No-fault divorces in Michigan come in two forms: contested and uncontested. A contested divorce means that spouses disagree over one or more outstanding issues, such as property division or child custody. A divorce becomes uncontested once a couple has agreed on all the issues in their case.

What Are Common Issues in Getting a Divorce?

The Michigan divorce process can be a complicated one. At Kraayeveld Family Law, we help clients resolve issues involving the following:

• Child Custody – We help clients determine a child custody arrangement and parenting time schedule. Our firm also helps clients with post-divorce custody issues, such as custody modifications or motions to enforce court orders.
• Visitation – Our firm can resolve disputes over visitation and parenting time, including cases involving court-ordered supervised visitation or denials of scheduled parenting time.
• Child Support – We advocate for parents seeking to ensure their children receive reasonable financial support. Our firm represents families in child support cases involving high-income parents, modification requests, and efforts to collect arrears.
• Parental Relocation – When parents propose to relocate more than 100 miles or out of state, our firm can help them obtain consent or court approval for the move and related legal issues, such as modifying custody arrangements or alternatively oppose the move.
• School Choice – We assist parents who disagree about educational choices for their children, including public vs. private school choice or dividing up educational and extracurricular expenses.
• Spousal Support – Our firm helps spouses resolve conflicts over alimony, including litigation during divorce over spousal support awards or post-divorce motions to modify, terminate, or enforce alimony obligations. We also assist clients with claims for alimony pendente lite or other temporary relief during divorce.
• Grandparent Rights – We have experience handling intrafamily disputes over grandparent visitation rights, including grandparent custody petitions or obtaining court-ordered visitation.
• Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements – Our lawyers can help with prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, including negotiating, drafting, and executing agreements or resolving their enforceability during divorce proceedings. These agreements are common in marriages involving high net worth as well as later-in-life second marriages.
  • Property/Asset Division – We advocate for the rights of spouses undertaking asset division in divorce, including in high net worth divorces that involve complex issues like valuation, indivisibility of assets, and concealment of assets.
• Parental Alienation – Sometimes, parents attempt to undermine the relationships their children have with their other parent. Our firm can defend our clients’ rights and preserve their relationship with their children.
• Annulment – Michigan allows for the annulment of marriages in limited circumstances, such as duress/coercion, lack of capacity to consent to marriage, or bigamy. Annulments have the legal effect of making it so that a marriage never occurred.
• Appeals – If a family court judge commits a procedural or legal error that influenced the outcome of the divorce, parties could have grounds to appeal the ruling. Among the matters that may be considered for appeal include divorce, parental alienation, and child custody.

What Does a High Net Worth Divorce Involve?

A high net worth divorce refers to a divorce where one or both spouses earn substantial income or own considerable or complex assets. High net worth divorces may involve assets such as:

Due to the value and complexity of these assets, high net worth divorces can involve unique challenges. These include:

• Obtaining appraisals for high-value or unique assets
• Dividing marital and separate portions of assets’ values
• Achieving an equitable division when indivisible assets like business ownership interests are involved
• Allegations that a spouse has concealed or misappropriated marital assets

Are There Residential Requirements When Filing for a Michigan Divorce?

When considering how to file/apply for divorce, one of the top questions that people have is whether Michigan imposes residency requirements for divorce filings.

Under Michigan law, a spouse may file for dissolution of marriage in Michigan if either spouse has resided in the state for at least 180 days immediately preceding the filing date. A spouse may file in any county in Michigan where either spouse resided for at least 10 days immediately preceding the filing date.

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

Although Michigan has a no-fault divorce system, family courts may consider a spouse’s “fault” for causing the end of the marriage when resolving issues like property division, alimony, and child custody. Examples of fault that a trial judge might consider when formulating a divorce judgment include:

• Spousal Abuse – This can take the form of physical abuse, such as battery or sexual assault, or emotional abuse, such as manipulation/gaslighting, harassment, or constant berating and belittling.
• Adultery/Infidelity – A court might consider a spouse’s infidelity during the marriage when determining alimony or property division, especially if the spouse used marital assets to facilitate their infidelity. Infidelity can also affect child custody determinations if a couple’s children learned of their parent’s infidelity.
• Desertion/Abandonment – Desertion or failure to provide financial support may entitle a spouse to a larger share of property or more alimony in divorce.
• Criminal Matters – A spouse’s incarceration or pending criminal prosecution may affect the court’s property division, alimony, and child custody or support decisions.

At Kraayeveld Family Law, our attorneys can assess your situation and determine how fault in the divorce procedure in Michigan may apply.

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

In Michigan, couples must observe mandatory waiting periods before the court can issue a final decree in their divorce case. Couples without a child must wait 60 days before the court can schedule a hearing to finalize the divorce. However, divorces of couples with a minor child take longer — at least six months and up to a year — because courts must resolve issues like child custody that require an analysis of the child’s best interests.

Various factors can affect the timeline of a divorce, such as:

• Whether one or both spouses contest issues in the divorce
• Whether the couple has a prenuptial/postnuptial agreement or divorce settlement
• Whether a couple pursues mediation to negotiate a settlement
• Whether a couple has children
• The size and complexity of a couple’s marital estate
• Whether either spouse engaged in any misconduct during the marriage, such as domestic violence or adultery
• Whether either spouse suffers from behavioral or substance abuse issues

By speaking with a divorce lawyer in Wyoming, MI, you can get a better sense of how long your situation could take.

Can I Have My Divorce Decree Modified?

Your divorce decree may include provisions that govern your family for many years to come, such as alimony, child custody, and child support. However, your family’s circumstances may change over time, causing them to outgrow the original divorce decree. Fortunately, you can typically petition the court after divorce to modify alimony, child custody, and child support by demonstrating changed circumstances since the entry of the decree that warrants modification.

What Divorce Situations Would Necessitate an Appeal?

An appeal of a divorce decree or family court order does not mean you get to reargue your case to another court in hopes of a more favorable outcome. Instead, an appeal requires you to demonstrate that the family court made a procedural or legal error that affected the outcome of your divorce case. You might have grounds to appeal your case if:

• The court overlooked or refused to consider material evidence or witness testimony
• The court applied the wrong legal precedent or misapplied the law to the facts of the case
• The court improperly admitted or excluded evidence
• The court violated a party’s right to due process
• The court misapplied procedural rules

How Much Does a Divorce Cost

The cost of a divorce in Michigan depends in part on the circumstances of the case. First, couples must pay filing fees to file their pleadings with the court. Next, sometimes couples may have to hire various experts and professionals, including appraisers, forensic accountants, psychologists/psychiatrists, family therapists, guardians ad litem, social workers, and parenting coordinators. Furthermore, there is the cost of hiring a Wyoming, MI, divorce attorney. Still, while these expenses can add up, the cost of an avoidable mistake is far greater than that of a lawyer who can get things right the first time.

Contact Our Wyoming, MI, Divorce Attorneys Today

Are you going through a divorce in Wyoming, MI? Then get the legal help you need to prepare for the next stage of your life. At Kraayeveld Family Law, our attorneys have dedicated their careers to providing zealous advocacy for our clients. We offer individualized attention and responsive communication, so you’ll never have to go through divorce alone.

Contact us today for a confidential consultation with an experienced Michigan divorce lawyer to discuss your next steps.