Michigan Divorce Attorney Jannelle Zawaideh

A charter township, Lyon Township contains several major communities that, while they are part of the township, they maintain their own distinctive characteristics. They are the city of South Lyon, and the unincorporated towns of Kensington and New Hudson. Census data puts the population of Lyon Township at 14,545 with slightly less than 4,000 households containing just over 3,000 families.

Divorce Rates for Michigan

Like many states in the country, Michigan sees a number of divorces each year. Oakland County, according to data provided by the Michigan Department of Community Health, had 3,858 divorces during 2012, the last year that statistics were available. Divorce raises many complicated issues that are best handled by a lawyer.

Child Custody: A Thorny Issue

If there are children involved in the marriage, their fate, and the related issue of child support, are likely to be the issues that cause a great deal of the disagreements between the couple who are divorcing. In some cases, it may be necessary to establish paternity if there was adultery during the marriage or there is a question of the validity of a claim of paternity. In order to ensure that your interests are protected, it is necessary to secure the services of an attorney who handles family law cases.

Division of Property

Whether there are children from the marriage or not, the issue of property division is often a thorny one as well. Depending on the longevity of the marriage, there could be significant assets that must be divided between the divorcing parties. Unless there was a prenuptial agreement signed between the couple prior to their marriage, there could be a great deal of negotiation when it comes to getting the property you want and feel is rightfully yours.

Spousal Support

Another sticking point that often pops up in the midst of divorce proceedings is the matter of spousal support. This issue is particularly poignant if you have been the spouse staying at home, ensuring that everything is kept running smoothly while your former spouse was advancing in their career. Being expected to be able to support yourself after years out of the job market can lead to a rocky road. Spousal support can provide the safety net you need to enjoy the standard of living you are used to while you are looking for gainful employment.

Could Annulment be an Option?

There are many couples who wonder if they can just wipe the slate clean on their marriage and start over like they have never even made that particular mistake. As tempting as it can be, though, an annulment is not easy to obtain. The state of Michigan allows an annulment only in very limited cases. These tend to be when either party is guilty of fraud or when either party is barred legally from being married. An example of this could be if your spouse was already married when you two tied the knot or if your spouse was not mentally capable of making this type of decision. Janelle Zawadieh provides Legal Counsel for Lyon Township, Michigan. Contact her today for your Family Law FREE consultation.