Family Law

Understanding what the discipline of family law covers is the first step in determining whether you need a Michigan family law attorney. At the Law Offices of Robbins & Licavoli, PLLC, we specialize in family law matters and offer personalized services to clients throughout the state.

Most people think about family law as involving highly contentious legal battles in the courtroom, but there are a number of issues that can be resolved without a long, drawn-out, and expensive court battle. However, you need an attorney who is prepared to fight if the other side is digging in their heels.

Who We Help

Our team at Robbins & Licavoli understands that every family is going through a situation. We’re dedicated to providing you with the support and advocacy that you need during this time. We can assist you if:

• You are thinking about divorce or separation, or you have been served with court papers. Maybe you need to understand your next legal steps. Your situation might involve ending the marriage, living apart, deciding what happens to the family home, dividing property and debts, arranging financial support, or making choices about your children. Often these decisions connect to one another.
• You need clear terms for children. Parents and other involved family members sometimes need firm legal answers about parentage, decision-making, parenting time, child support, relocation, or a child’s care. This applies whether parents are married, separated, divorced, or were never married.
• Your case affects your money and property. A family law matter can touch a home, a business, a professional practice, income, real estate, investments, retirement accounts, debts, or ongoing support. It may also affect your ability to stand on your own financially. We work to protect what you have built.
• An existing order no longer works. As life goes on, parenting, support, property, or divorce orders might no longer match your reality because of shifts in income, employment, where you live, health, or a child’s needs. Sometimes the problem is simpler: another person is refusing to follow terms already in place.
• An urgent or unsafe situation requires court action. Abuse, threats, stalking, intimidation, controlling behavior, or interference with parenting can make informal resolution unsafe or impractical. When that happens, quick court involvement may be the right move, and we can act fast.

If you’re dealing with a different situation, such as paternity or a prenuptial agreement, our team can assist with that as well. Simply contact our team, and we’ll see how we can help you.

The Family Law Process in Michigan

Every case is different, but most Michigan family law cases follow a familiar path. Knowing the steps ahead of time makes the road less confusing. Here’s what you can usually expect:

1. Filing and Response

One party files a petition or complaint with the county circuit court. The other party receives the papers and has a set window of time to respond. In a divorce, Michigan requires a waiting period before the case can finalize: 60 days for cases without minor children and 6 months for cases with minor children.

2. Temporary Orders

Cases often take time to resolve, so the court can put temporary orders in place early. These orders might cover:

• Who lives in the home
• Temporary parenting time and decision-making
• Temporary child or spousal support
• Protection from harassment or contact

3. Information Exchange

Both sides will gather and share financial and personal information. This can include income records, account statements, property values, and details about the children. Honest, complete exchange keeps the case moving and builds a fair foundation for any agreement.

4. Negotiation and Mediation

Many Michigan courts encourage or require mediation, where a neutral person helps both parties reach an agreement. A large share of family law cases settle here, which saves time, money, and stress. We prepare hard for these sessions so you never bargain from a weak position.

5. Settlement or Trial

If both parties agree on all terms, the court reviews the agreement and enters a final order. If key issues remain unresolved, the case goes to trial, where a judge decides. We are ready for either outcome and will tell you honestly which path serves you best.

6. Final Judgment

The court issues a final judgment that spells out property division, support, custody, and parenting time. This document becomes the legal roadmap for your family going forward.

7. Changes After the Order

Orders are not always permanent. When circumstances change in a real and lasting way, you can ask to modify custody, support, or parenting time. You can also ask the court to step in when the other party ignores the order.

Why Choose Robbins & Licavoli

Family law matters are personal and often contentious, especially when property division and/or child support are involved. Our family law attorneys can help in a variety of ways, including:

• Listening to Your Needs: What good is an attorney if they do not listen to you and learn the specifics about your particular case and current legal needs? We understand that every case is unique, and therefore a single approach does not work for every legal issue.
• Strong Negotiators: We have a team of strong negotiators. That is an important skill to help resolve any outstanding issues in an attempt to avoid a long drawn out legal battle in court.
• We Are Assertive: In situations in which you need to have court intervention, we are not afraid to stand our ground. We work to protect our clients’ rights and will fight for you in every aspect of your legal dispute.
• We Put Children First: If you have children, we make them our priority. We know the best interests of your children are of the utmost importance.
• Establish Attainable Goals: It is important to set reasonable goals and stay on track. Having an unbiased third party is important, as coming to long-term decisions can be difficult.

Our team will walk you through the entire process, so you can have peace of mind. Reach out today to see how we can help.

Talk With Us About Your Family’s Future

Family law attorneys need to be well-versed in state laws and understand how the family law courts work. Retaining the wrong attorney could mean you lose everything, including assets and custody of your children, and you could be ordered to pay spousal support in addition. Contact the Law Offices of Robbins & Licavoli, PLLC to schedule a consultation. Let our team of experienced attorneys help resolve your family law matters.

FAQs About Michigan Family Law