Michigan is a no-fault divorce state. In order to file for divorce, a party only needs to allege that there has been a break down of the marriage relationship to the extent that the bonds of matrimony cannot be preserved.

The cost of a divorce in Michigan will vary greatly depending on the county you are in, how contested your divorce is, and the Michigan divorce attorneys involved.

Yes, but only under limited circumstances. An annulment is a declaration that a marriage never took place. In Michigan, an annulment can be granted for marriages that are void from the beginning, such as in the case of bigamy, a marriage between closely related relatives, or a marriage to a person who is unable to enter a contract of marriage.

An annulment can also be granted for a voidable marriage, which includes a marriage by a person under the age of consent or if the consent to marry was obtained by fraud or force.

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The Michigan Child Custody Act presumes it is in the best interests of a child to have a strong relationship with both parents. Courts in Michigan use twelve factors called the best interest factors to determine what custody arrangement is in the best interests of the child/children involved.

The court must look at the parenting situation before the divorce or custody case was filed. The court has to make a determination if there is an established custodial environment with either parent or both parents. An established custodial environment is a physical and a psychological environment that develops over an appreciable time and significant duration.

If there is an established custodial environment, the party petitioning the court to change it has to prove that the change is in the child’s best interests by clear and convincing evidence.

No. Visitation and child support are separate entities. If you have not received a child support payment you should contact the Michigan Friend of the Court for the county where your child support order was entered. The Friend of the Court has the ability to garnish wages to help collect child support.

If visitation or parenting time was established under a court order, you could be held in contempt for not allowing the visitation.

If the parents cannot agree on a custody arrangement the court will hold a trial. At the trial, each party can present evidence regarding why their proposed custody arrangement is in the best interests of the child. The court can adopt one party’s proposed custody arrangement or order any custody arrangement it feels is in the child’s best interests.

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