PROTECTING YOUR RIGHTS AT A CRUCIAL TIME:
In times of personal upheaval, it is often difficult to know where to turn! Events in life, often beyond our control, can affect us forever. Separation, or divorce, domestic abuse, custody disputes, child support, spousal support, property division are all emotionally traumatic events which can, and often do, leave us feeling emotionally devastated and alone. If you are unsure of rights, Corriveau Law can help! Our lawyers will take immediate steps to insure your rights are protected and your interests are secured.
PROTECTING YOUR RIGHTS IN DIVORCE:
At Corriveau Law, our lawyers don't talk people into divorce. Regardless of what we think morally or religiously about divorce, we focus on helping our clients rebuild their lives after they have made that decision.
Going through a divorce is an emotional and traumatic experience. To avoid putting yourself into a difficult financial and legal situation, you need an attorney you can trust and feel comfortable with. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case.
Even if you are not sure what to do, it's best to consult an attorney early in the process and get an overview of the law and learn what you can do to protect your interests on issues like division of marital assets, child custody, visitation, child support, spousal support, etc.
Bad things can happen if you don't do anything and naively wait by. People can do things like hide assets, and make damaging accusations while the other party stands by, hoping things will work out. You could be in a vulnerable situation and you should be warned.
PUSHING ISSUES AS FAR AS THEY NEED TO GO:
At Corriveau Law, we have been handling family law matters for a long time. Few attorneys have as much experience as we do in practicing in the area of family law. This provides a critical advantage to you as our client.
Our clients work with experts in various fields including Certified Public Accountants, Forensic Accountants, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Medical Doctors, Parenting Time Coordinators, etc., who will help advise you and also help to prove your case if it comes to Trial.
Ultimately you need a family law attorney who is willing to represent your rights all the way up to and through Trial. We are lawyers who can be aggressive as we need to be to protect your interests. We are lawyers who can help you resolve your case amicably through Mediation, or corroborative law process, if the other side decides to be reasonable.
MARITAL ASSETS AND DEBTS:
If your divorce is a complicated one, as far as assets and liabilities, we associate with other professionals who will assist you in valuation and distribution of marital assets, including closely held businesses and corporations, modifications to child support, spousal support, etc.
FAMILY LAWYERS FOR CHILD CUSTODY ISSUES:
Child custody and parenting time plans don't have to be combative issues in divorce. At Corriveau Law our lawyers will work corroboratively to achieve an agreement that is in the best interest of your child(ren). We represent both married clients, divorced parties, and single parents and clients who need to obtain support and custody agreements for children born both within and outside the marriage.
One of the advantages we offer at Corriveau Law is that we too are a family who practice law together. We understand the importance of family in your life. We just don't see it as an other area of law.
LEGAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT:
We are both attorneys and counselors. One of our attorneys has a degree in psychology in addition to a law degree. We are also able to call on a number of experts in virtually any area to provide you and your children the emotional support you need.
These experts can do more to help you and your children meet the needs and difficulties you are going through now. They can also articulate to the Court, in an objective way the child custody and visitation arrangements that would be in the best interest of your child(ren). Michigan law outlines a number of factors that the Court uses to grade each child custody decision. We will counsel you on those factors so you can be prepared.
It is important to formulize your parenting time arrangement into an enforceable Court Order. A parenting time agreement that spells out these visitation rights is the way to avoid future arguments, stress, and legal disputes.
CHILD CUSTODY AND PATERNITY CASES:
When you are married you don't need a custody order to take your child to a ball game, or to Cedar Point, etc. The law assumes that both parents have legal custody. However, if you have a child born out of wedlock, you might find that the co-parent suddenly wishes to deny you parenting time. On the other hand, if you are the parent with custody, there may be valid reasons for you to deny the other party visitation rights, at least on a temporary basis. However, whether you are the custodial, or non-custodial parent, you may find you have little rights unless you have a custody/parenting time order in place with the Court. Did you know that, without an order in place, it may be possible for one parent to relocate several hundred miles away, to another State, even across the country? In addition, if you are the parent relocating, or even if you choose not to relocate, that without a Court order in place, you may not have a legal right to child support.
Our lawyers help unmarried parents establish paternity informally, through an Affidavit of Parentage and/or if necessary, we will file legal papers in order to insure custody, support, and parenting time.
FAMILY LAWYERS FOR CHILD AND SPOUSAL SUPPORT ISSUES:
Child and spousal support are complex issues and can create a great deal of confusion and resentment in divorce. To avoid putting yourself into a difficult financial situation, you need an attorney who understands the law and the requirements of the law.
At Corriveau Law, our lawyers will insured that rights and financial interests are protected in the areas such as child support, spousal support, and marital property division.
Michigan Spousal Support Factors:
A mother who spends years in raising her family and not pursuing her own education, or career, should not have to pay a financial penalty in divorce. For this reason, Michigan Courts may order spousal support (also known as alimony or spousal maintenance), while the divorce is in process and after.
Family Court Judges use factors such as age, health, financial need, ability to pay, fault, length of marriage, and marital asset division in determining whether temporary or permanent alimony should be paid, how much it should be, and how long it should continue. Because there are not strict guidelines as there is for child support, it takes a particularly skilled and experienced attorney to make a strong argument in support of your position.
MICHIGAN CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES:
Child support in Michigan is determined by a formula such as your income, your soon-to-be-ex's income, the number of children you have, and/or the other party supports, and the parenting time arrangement to determine how much child support you are entitled to receive or are obligated to pay. It is important to note that, as of October 1, 2008, the law has been changed as to this issue. You need our experienced attorneys to assist you in applying this new law.
PERSONAL PROTECTION ORDERS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:
Personal Protection Orders are a helpful benefit to those who are abused. However, these orders can be used as a sword against someone else for threats of abuse that don't exist. If you are a petitioner or respondent as to a Personal Protection Order you should take it seriously and speak to a lawyer immediately.
What is Personal Protection Order?
A Personal Protection Order, also known as a Restraining Order, can be used for very important purposes. If you are a victim of domestic violence, or spousal abuse, this Order can legally prevent the abuser from contacting you or coming into close proximity to you. On the other hand, if the other party has falsely accused you, you need to prepare and mount a defense. A person who has a Personal Protection Order entered against them often times is not aware that their name, etc. is listed on-line, available to law enforcement networks.
PRE-NUPTIAL AND POST-NUPTIAL AGREEMENTS:
Will you marriage be one of half the marriages that end in divorce? Divorce has a high cost, both emotionally and financially. While a pre-nuptial agreement can't stop the heartbreak of a failed marriage, it can take the stress and financial cost out of issues such as property division and alimony.
If yours is one of half the marriage that end in divorce, it's best to be in a position where you know how property issues will be resolved. At Corriveau Law we offer a free initial consultation to discuss pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements.
What is involved in drafting a pre-nuptial agreement?
Our lawyers assist you in drafting a pre-nuptial (before marriage), and a post-nuptial (after marriage) agreement. To draft a competent agreement, you need more than a lawyer. You need a lawyer in conjunction with a financial planner, an accountant, and even possibly a probate advisor to create an agreement that fits your needs and your assets.
We suggest you seriously consider a pre-nuptial agreement if you have been married before, if you have significant assets, or you expect to have significant assets in the future.
SECOND MARRIAGE, LATE-IN-LIFE MARRIAGES AND BLENDED FAMILIES:
If you have children from a prior marriage, then a pre-nuptial and estate plan can help preserve family peace and assure that your assets go to the person you want to receive them after you die.
Sadly, our lawyers have seen many families torn apart when a parent dies and the deceased spouse's children are disinherited in favor of the children and the surviving spouse. Our lawyers can draft documents that will both reassure and protect your children and your heirs.
For a free initial consultation about family law with an attorney at our Northville firm, call 248-782-5202 (877-701-4991 toll free) or fill out the contact form on this site.
