Divorce

Question:
How is alimony and spousal support determined?

Answer:
There are several factors that are considered by a Michigan judge when determining whether alimony and/or spousal support should be awarded in a Michigan divorce, or a Michigan separate maintenance case. The factors that will be considered, evaluated, and determined by the judge are:

• The past relations and conduct of the parties.
• The length of the marriage.
• The ability of the parties to work.
• The source and amount of the property awarded to the parties.
• The age of the parties.
• The ability of the parties to pay alimony.
• The present situation of the parties.
• The needs of the parties.
• The health of the parties.
• The prior standard of living of the parties.
• General Principals of equity.

Question:
Do you provide services for annulments?

Answer:
Yes, but in order to get an annulment in Michigan, specific requirements must be met in order to show that no valid marriage took place. The grounds for marriage annulment may vary according to the area of jurisdiction, but generally include marriages that involve under age parties, blood relationship, or the absence of mental or physical capacity including the following:

• Either spouse was already married to someone else at the time of the marriage in question;
• Either spouse was too young to be married, or too young without required court or parental consent. (In some cases, such a marriage is still valid if it continues well beyond the younger spouse's reaching marriageable age.)
• Either spouse was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the marriage;
• Either spouse was mentally incompetent at the time of the marriage;
• The consent to the marriage was based on fraud or force;
• Either spouse was physically incapable to be married (typically, chronically unable to have sexual intercourse) at the time of the marriage;
• The marriage is prohibited by law due to the relationship between the parties. This is the "prohibited degree of consanguinity", or blood relationship between the parties. The most common legal relationship is second cousins; the legality of such relationship between 1st cousins varies around the world.
• Prisoners sentenced to a term of life imprisonment may not marry.
• Concealment (e.g. one of the parties concealed a drug addiction, prior criminal record or having a sexually transmitted disease)