Lake Leelanau Divorce Lawyers

Divorce and Child Custody Lawyers in Lake Leelanau, Michigan

If you’re thinking of filing for divorce, reach out to the Lake Leelanau divorce lawyers at the Neumann Law Group. Our divorce law firm is here to help you navigate all aspects of the divorce process—from filing to finalizing your divorce. If you have minor children, our child custody lawyers can also help you navigate important child custody questions that can arise and help you and your partner develop a parenting plan that works for your family.

Divorce can be a challenging time for any family and couple, but you don’t have to go through the legal process alone. The decisions you make during your divorce can impact your children and your financial life for years to come. It’s important to get this right. The divorce lawyers in Lake Leelanau, Michigan at the Neumann Law Group are here to help. We can help you split assets and develop a parenting plan that works for your family. Contact our Lake Leelanau, Michigan divorce law firm today.

What is “No Fault” Divorce?

In Michigan, you can file for “no fault” divorce. With a “no fault” divorce, you don’t need to blame your partner for anything. You just need to tell the court that your marriage is “irretrievably broken.” Fault-based divorce comes from an era where one partner had to prove that the other partner did something wrong to successfully file for divorce. There were different things that could result in a divorce, including one partner’s infidelity, desertion, mental insanity, imprisonment, abuse, cruelty, substance misuse, impotence, and sometimes other factors. These days, you don’t need to prove to the court that your partner is “at fault.” Though, if your partner did engage in bad behavior, the judge may take this into account when dividing assets and debts.

How Might Fault Impact Division of Assets, Debts, and Child Custody?

Fault can impact how a judge might decide to divide assets, debts, and how a judge handles child custody matters. While you don’t need to use fault as a basis to file for divorce, sometimes issues of fault can arise in divorce, especially if a partner’s transgressions damaged the couple financially, or if a partner’s violence or criminal activity put you or your children in danger. Let’s explore how fault might impact your divorce.

When judges make decisions about dividing assets and debts, they are required to divide property, assets, and debts, equitably. This means they can divide assets and debts in a way they see is fair. It doesn’t have to be equal. The judge can consider a range of factors when dividing assets and debts, including how long a couple has been married, each partner’s earning capacity, each partner’s independent financial situation, each partner’s age, and each partner’s behavior in the marriage.

Let’s explore how behavior can impact the division of property or debts in your divorce.

• Infidelity. Infidelity alone might not impact a judge’s decision about how to divide property and debts, but if you or your partner used marital assets or got into marital debt to pay for your boyfriend or girlfriend’s living expenses, or to have fancy dinners, or to go on vacations, then the court might take this into account when dividing assets and debts. The innocent partner might be entitled to receive compensatory assets, or the court may require that only the partner responsible for debts related to the infidelity be responsible for those debts.
• Substance Abuse or Gambling Issues. Again, a partner’s issues with addiction or gambling may not directly impact the divorce, but could impact how assets and debts are distributed, especially if one spouse’s drinking or gambling resulted in lost marital assets or debts.
• Abuse or Violence. If your partner was abusive or made you feel unsafe, you might need to take steps to protect you and your children’s safety. A history of domestic violence or abuse could impact child custody matters. If you need to pay for a home of your own separate from your abusive partner, the courts may reserve marital funds to pay for these living expenses. The time when a person is most at risk of increasing violence is when leaving an abusive situation. Seek help and create a safety plan. The National Domestic Violence Hotline has resources.
• Imprisonment. If your partner committed a crime or is facing jail time, the judge may divide assets in debts in such a way that you don’t end up responsible for your partner’s court fees, legal fees, and more.

These are just some situations where a partner’s misbehavior may impact the divorce settlement. If you have questions about how your partner’s bad behavior might impact your divorce, reach out to the divorce lawyers in Lake Leelanau, Michigan at the Neumann Law Group today. Or, if you’re concerned about how your indiscretions might impact your divorce settlement, you need a lawyer on your side. The divorce law firm in Lake Leelanau, Michigan at the Neumann Law Group is here to help.

Child Custody Lawyers in Lake Leelanau, Michigan

If you’re getting divorced and have minor children, you’ll need to submit a parenting plan to the court. Many couples can work out a parenting plan together without involving a judge. In many situations, this is the best option. Parents are usually the people best able to decide what parenting arrangement and visitation schedule is in their children’s best interests. When couples take a child custody battle to the court, there’s always a risk that they might end up with a parenting plan neither parent wants.

A child custody lawyer in Lake Leelanau, Michigan at the Neumann Law Group can work with you and your former partner to help you create a custody plan that works. Some important questions that must be addressed in a parenting plan include deciding how you’ll split time with your children (including holidays), deciding how major decisions will be made, outlining how children will be transported between visitations, and deciding how you’ll address disagreements, if they were to arise.

Yet, there are some situations where a couple might need to fight custody in court. If you are concerned about your children’s safety with your former partner, you might want to speak to a child custody lawyer in Lake Leelanau, Michigan at the Neumann Law Group. Our child custody attorneys can help you navigate the next steps, seek a restraining order, and take steps to protect your children.

The child custody lawyers in Lake Leelanau, Michigan at the Neumann Law Group can also help parents who are separating or parents who have never been married, but who now want to live apart. We can assist with paternity questions, child support, and help you put a parenting plan in place, to address custody issues before they become a problem. If you are a co-parent, you’ll likely want a parenting plan, even if one might not be legally required. This protects you and your children.

How to Contact a Divorce Lawyer or Child Custody Lawyer in Lake Leelanau, Michigan

The divorce lawyers and child custody lawyers in Lake Leelanau, Michigan at the Neumann Law Group can be reached by calling 800-525-6386. We have someone available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call and answer any questions you might have. Divorce can be stressful, but you don’t have to navigate the legal aspects of your divorce on your own. Contact our divorce law firm in Lake Leelanau, Michigan at the Neumann Law Group today.