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Family Law

Chapman And Associates is dedicated to  reducing the pain, time and expense involved in  the divorce process.  For over twenty years we have vigorously worked to protect and defend the interests of our clients in a caring, understanding and compassionate environment. 

In addition to divorce, we offer advice and legal representation in a wide range of family law matters, including child custody and parenting time, child and spousal support, paternity, division of marital property and debt, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, modifications of custody and support agreements when circumstances change post-divorce. 

Divorce

Divorce is one of the most difficult decisions a family will have to make. Our goal is to help      clients resolve issues through mediation, facilitation and negotiation to limit the difficulties and complexities involved with divorce. 

Although Michigan is a no-fault state, fault is an important factor in deciding alimony, child custody and property distribution issues. You can trust the experienced attorneys at Chapman And Associates to handle this most difficult and emotional time with confidence, skill, and tenacity.

Alimony

Alimony or spousal support refers to support paid by one spouse or former spouse to the other. The purpose is to meet the financial support needs of a party who is unable to fully provide for his or her own support.  Much depends on the discrepancy in income between the parties, the needs of one spouse, and the other’s ability to pay. These payments can either be temporary, periodic, or permanent, and most often are taxable to the recipient and a deduction to the payor.

Child Custody

There are two types of child custody a party can obtain. The first is “legal custody.”  Michigan is a state that  encourages judges to award joint custody to parents. Joint custody means both parents have a right to make decisions concerning such things as their child’s education, medical treatment, religious training or enrichment activities.  The second is “physical custody.” This refers to a decision the Court makes, after reviewing all the facts of the case, regarding where a child or children will primarily live, based on what the Court determines is in the best interest of the child.

Michigan has adopted child support guidelines based on federal legislation that establishes the method for calculating child support. These guidelines are designed to ensure consistency and predictability in child support amounts. The Courts may increase or decrease the amount of support as long as they give specific reasons for doing so. Primarily, the Courts seek to balance the financial needs of the child with the non-custodial parent’s ability to pay. Income of both parents is used to determine the appropriate amount of support. Child support generally ends when the child turns 18 or graduates from high school.

Premarital Planning
Post Divorce Issues
Conflict Resolution
Guardianship
Adoptions

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