Domestic violence affects Michigan custody cases more broadly than most parents realize — courts consider it whether the violence was directed at the other parent, at the child, or simply witnessed by the child. It is one of the most heavily weighted of the twelve best interest factors, and a significant history can effectively determine the custody outcome on its own. Here's how courts evaluate domestic violence evidence, how it affects parenting time, and what both sides of a domestic violence custody dispute need to know before going to court.

Unlike child support, which is calculated using a specific formula, spousal support in Michigan is left entirely to the judge's discretion. There is no automatic entitlement based on the length of the marriage or the income gap between the spouses, and no formula that produces a predictable number. Here's what factors courts actually consider, what the different types of spousal support look like, and what every divorcing spouse needs to know before they negotiate a settlement.

Michigan courts consider a child's custodial preference — but there is no magic age at which that preference becomes controlling, and the weight it carries depends heavily on the child's maturity and the reasons behind it. A preference based on fewer rules and more screen time is treated very differently than one based on stability, school connections, and genuine relationships. Here's how Michigan courts hear a child's preference, what makes it reasonable, and what parents should avoid doing when custody is contested.

Every August, parents across Michigan realize their parenting time schedule no longer fits the upcoming school year — and wonder if there is time to change it before September. An agreed modification can sometimes be turned around quickly. A contested one almost certainly cannot. Here's what the process requires, how long it realistically takes, and what to do right now if you need a change before school starts.

Every parent in Michigan is presumed to have a right to parenting time with their child — but what a court considers reasonable varies significantly based on the child's age, the parents' circumstances, and a specific set of statutory factors. The Friend of the Court publishes recommended schedules that serve as a baseline, but that baseline is a starting point, not a ceiling. Here's how Michigan determines reasonable parenting time, what courts consider, and what your options are when the other parent denies it.

If you have a Michigan OWI on your record and have assumed it is there forever, it is worth revisiting that assumption. Since 2022, a single first-offense OWI conviction can be expunged after a five-year waiting period. Here's who qualifies, what the application process looks like, and what stays on your record even after expungement is granted.

When parents separate in Michigan, custody is almost always the first and most emotionally charged issue on the table — and one of the first points of confusion is the terminology. Legal custody covers who makes major decisions about the child's life. Physical custody covers where the child lives. Here's what each type means, how courts decide when parents cannot agree, and why the arrangement you accept at the beginning of the case matters more than most parents realize.

If you have been charged with drunk driving in Michigan, the paperwork says OWI — not DUI. Michigan's Operating While Intoxicated statute is broader than most people expect, covering not just the .08 BAC threshold but also visible impairment, controlled substances, and a separate enhanced charge for BAC levels of .17 or higher. Here's what the charge actually means, how it is proven, and why the decisions made immediately after an arrest matter most.

The Fourth Amendment protects your home more strongly than almost any other space — but the exceptions to the warrant requirement are broader than most people expect. Consent, exigent circumstances, hot pursuit, and plain view are among the situations where police can enter without a warrant. Here's what Michigan residents need to know about their rights before law enforcement shows up at the door.

Michigan law does not require you to hire an attorney to get a divorce — but that does not mean going without one is always a good idea. The circumstances where pro se divorce is genuinely safe are limited, and the mistakes made in self-represented cases have a way of causing significant problems years down the road. Here's an honest assessment of when self-representation is realistic, where it goes wrong, and what is actually at stake when you go it alone.

One of the most common misconceptions about Michigan divorce is that everything gets split 50/50. In reality, the court first has to determine what counts as marital property — and that distinction alone can be worth tens of thousands of dollars. Here's how Michigan defines marital and separate property, what commingling does to separate assets, and how courts divide the marital estate when spouses cannot agree.

For most couples, the family home is the largest asset in a Michigan divorce — and the most emotionally charged. Michigan follows equitable distribution, which means the home is divided fairly but not necessarily equally. Here's what your options are, how courts decide when spouses disagree, and the mortgage mistake that causes problems years after the divorce is final.

Few things create more urgency in a family law case than learning the other parent wants to move out of state with your children. Michigan law requires court approval or your written consent before a parent can relocate a child more than 100 miles — even if they have primary custody. Here's how courts evaluate relocation requests and what to do if your ex is already planning to leave.

If you are involved in a custody dispute in Michigan, a guardian ad litem may be one of the most important people in your case — and one of the least understood. A GAL is appointed by the court to represent your child's best interests independently of either parent's position. Here's when courts appoint one, what their investigation involves, and how to work with one effectively.

Spring break is supposed to be a good week. For a lot of divorced and separated parents in Michigan, it turns into one of the most stressful. Here's what your parenting time order controls, when you can and cannot withhold parenting time, and what to do if the other parent is not following the schedule.

Who gets to claim the children on taxes after a Michigan divorce? The answer depends on your divorce judgment, IRS Form 8332, and — if neither addresses it — a federal default rule most parents don't know exists. Here's what Mid-Michigan parents need to know before they file.

Michigan doesn't calculate child support as a flat percentage of income. Learn how the income shares formula actually works — and what parents across Mid-Michigan need to know before they agree to anything.

What should you do if the other parent doesn’t show up for parenting time? Missed exchanges are frustrating, but how you respond can affect what happens next in court. Learn how Michigan courts handle missed parenting time and what steps parents should take.

Can a parent take a child out of state without permission in Michigan? Short trips are often allowed, but moving a child out of state usually requires court approval. Learn how travel affects parenting time and when disputes become legal issues.

Can criminal charges be dropped if the victim doesn’t want to press charges? In Michigan, the answer often surprises people. Learn who actually controls criminal cases, when charges may still move forward, and what defendants should expect once prosecutors get involved.