When clients in Washtenaw County, Michigan, are facing an end to their marriage, there is a lot to consider. It is important to have a team of legal professionals on your side to help you navigate every step of the divorce process. The experienced legal team at Collis, Griffor & Hendra has over 30 years of combined experience representing clients throughout the Washtenaw County area, including Ann Arbor, Saline, Canton, Bellville, Romulus, and all of Wayne County, from our office in Ypsilanti. If you need a compassionate, knowledgeable Washtenaw County divorce attorney to effectively represent the interests of yourself and your family, contact Collis, Griffor & Hendra today to learn how we can help.
Our Divorce & Family Law Services
At Collis, Griffor & Hendra, our firm is committed to helping clients navigate every step of the divorce process, as well as any complexities unique to your divorce. When you need guidance from a skilled legal team, you can count on our firm to protect your interests. Some of the many areas of divorce and family law our firm can assist in include the following:
- Alimony: Whether you are seeking spousal support or may be required to pay it, we work to ensure that alimony arrangements reflect the financial realities of your marriage, your earning capacity, and your future needs, while advocating for a fair and sustainable outcome.
- Business Valuations: When a closely held business or professional practice is involved in a divorce, accurately determining its value is critical. We work with trusted financial professionals to assess assets, analyze income streams, and ensure that business interests are properly addressed in any settlement or court order.
- Child Custody: Child custody matters are often the most emotionally challenging part of a divorce. Our firm helps parents pursue custody arrangements that prioritize the best interests of the child while also protecting your parental rights and fostering a stable, supportive environment moving forward.
- Child Support: We assist clients in establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support orders in accordance with Michigan guidelines. Our team takes into account income, parenting time, and the needs of the child to help ensure that financial support arrangements are both fair and appropriate.
- Domestic Violence: If domestic violence is a factor in your case, we act quickly to help secure protective orders and ensure your safety. We also provide strong legal representation in related divorce and custody proceedings, where allegations of abuse can significantly impact the outcome.
- High Net Worth Divorces: Divorces involving substantial assets require careful planning and attention to detail. We handle financial issues such as multiple properties, investments, retirement accounts, and business interests, working to protect your wealth and secure a fair division of assets.
- Parenting Time: Establishing a workable parenting time schedule is essential for both parents and children. We help clients develop clear, practical arrangements that reflect the realities of daily life, while also addressing holidays, school schedules, and long-term considerations.
- Property Distribution: Michigan follows an equitable distribution approach, which does not always mean equal. We help identify, value, and divide marital property in a way that is fair under the circumstances, including real estate, retirement accounts, personal property, and debts.
- Relocation: When one parent seeks to move with a child, it can significantly impact custody and parenting time. We guide clients through Michigan’s legal requirements for relocation, helping you present a strong case or challenge a proposed move that may not be in your child’s best interests.
- Divorce Mediation: For many couples, mediation offers a more cooperative and cost-effective alternative to litigation. We represent clients throughout the mediation process, helping you negotiate terms, resolve disputes, and reach agreements that can be formalized into a binding settlement.
The Divorce Process in Michigan
All divorce matters in Michigan are required to go through a number of steps before they can be finalized. While each case is unique, some of these steps may need to be taken or addressed in your divorce. It is essential to speak with a knowledgeable divorce attorney at Collis, Griffor & Hendra about how we can help you and your family with your specific case. The divorce process is as follows:
- Summons. This is a one-page document issued by the court that notifies the other spouse that a divorce action has been filed. The spouse served typically has 21 days to respond if personally served (or 28 days if served by mail or outside of Michigan), and if they do not, then a default may be entered against them.
- Complaint. The complaint is the actual document that is filed to begin the process. It includes the names of the spouses and other information about the marriage, such as whether there are minor children and how long the marriage has been.
- Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) affidavit. This document explains where the children have lived over the previous five years and provides information about any other custody cases or individuals who may have custody or parenting-time rights.
- Domestic Relations Verified Financial Information Form. In many cases, each party must complete and serve this form (rather than filing it with the court) to provide information about income, assets, debts, and expenses, unless the parties agree in writing not to exchange it or the case is resolved at filing.
- Verified statement to the friend of the court. This document gives the friend of the court the names, addresses, Social Security numbers, etc., of the parties involved. If the parties properly opt out of friend of the court services with court approval, then this is not required.
- Ex parte orders. Motions to maintain the status quo are sometimes filed to make sure that the children’s home is not changed prior to entry of a temporary order. A temporary order may also be issued to prevent a party from selling, disposing of, or dissipating assets. A party generally has 14 days to object to or request modification of an ex parte order.
- Residency and waiting period requirements. At least one spouse must have lived in Michigan for 180 days and in the county of filing for 10 days before filing (with limited exceptions). After filing, there is typically a minimum waiting period of 60 days for divorces without minor children and 180 days for divorces involving minor children, although the longer period may sometimes be shortened, but not below 60 days.
Contact a Ypsilanti Divorce Attorney
If you are facing the end of your marriage, it is critical that you retain the services of an experienced divorce and family law attorney who can put your best interests first. Clients in Ypsilanti and throughout Washtenaw County can count on the legal team at Collis, Griffor & Hendra to represent them in their divorce. If you are ready to take the first step in starting the next chapter of your life, contact a divorce attorney from Collis, Griffor & Hendra today to schedule a consultation.
