Separate Property in Michigan: Eating Jello With Chopsticks
Michigan is the only state with no comprehensive statutory definition of martial and separate property. Our courts have struggled to weave whole cloth out of four distinct statutes, passed at four separate times. The lack of a comprehensive update by the legislature of this patchwork statutory scheme is an obstacle to effective and efficient resolution of many divorce cases. Click here to read more
How to Resolve Disputes Before They Get Out of Control
Some people say that the greatest human tragedy that we sustain is the death of a close family member. Yes, it is certainly true that losing a loved one causes significant pain and grief. But, other then the death of a child, which can never have a logical explanation, divorce and custody battles may cause a greater and longer lasting loss then any other human tragedy. Click here to read more
Neither Harm Nor Clear & Convincing Evidence
The debate over what the United States Supreme Court held regarding grandparent visitation in its 2000 ruling in the Case of Troxel v Granville, appears to finally be over. Grandparents advocates, such as the Grandparents Rights Organization, have argued that the high court never intended laws in each state to require such strict prerequisites, as that there would have to be harm to a child before a grandparent would be entitled to see their grandchild... Click here to read m
Sensitivity to Culture in Divorce
Twenty years ago, the majority of people I represented in family law matters were people who had been born in American. There were extremely few cases involving people who had not lived in the United States for a least one or two generations. Times have changed enormously, however, and so has the cultural population of people experiencing divorce in the Detroit area. Click here to read more
The Initial Consultation
Few people truly want to consult with a matrimonial attorney relative to a divorce. When confronted with the possibility of a divorce and the potential need for a matrimonial attorney, most people have no idea what to expect during their initial contact and consultation. Click here to read more
Marriage in the 21st Century: The Death of "'Till Death Do Us Part"
For the first time in human history, divorce has replaced death as the most common endpoint of mariage. This unprecedented shift in patterns of human coupling and uncoupling requires a new paradigm, that is, a more humane approach for social policy, family law, and martial therapy. Click here to read more