Our family law attorneys at Kendricks Bordeau, P.C. understand the importance, sensitivity, and urgency of legal concerns affecting your family. We treat every case with the high level of attention these personal matters deserve and draw on our extensive experience in helping clients navigate and resolve family issues, while providing excellent client service.

Family Law Legal Services

Our attorneys handle a full range of family law concerns, including:

  • Divorce
  • Child custody
  • Child support
  • Spousal support
  • Prenuptial Agreements
  • Cohabitation Agreements

Divorce

Michigan is a no-fault divorce state, which means wrongdoing is not required as grounds for a divorce. A divorce complaint must only claim that the marital relationship has broken down to the extent that there remains no reasonable likelihood of preserving the marriage.

There is a residency requirement for getting a divorce in Michigan. To obtain a divorce in the state, one of the parties must have resided in Michigan for at least 180 days (six months) and in the county where divorce is filed for at least ten days prior to filing.

As part of a divorce, Michigan requires “equitable distribution” of marital property and debt. Parties may agree how to divide property and debt, but if they cannot agree, a judge will decide how to divide the property. In many cases, division is equal, but a judge can determine that fairness requires a different division.

State law does not require a person to have legal representation in a divorce proceeding. However, a person considering divorce should talk with a knowledgeable attorney to make certain they fully understand their legal rights and the Michigan divorce process. An attorney can help in navigating the divorce process and also in negotiating terms of the divorce relating to property division, custody, and other matters.

Child Custody

Child custody issues can be very difficult to resolve, either as part of a divorce case or in a separate custody proceeding. Michigan law includes complex provisions governing custody. Legal custody, which is the ability to make decisions about the child, and physical custody, which refers to the child’s residence, are separate components of child custody. Parenting time is an important aspect of a custody decision.

The overarching legal concern in custody decisions is always what is in the best interest of the child. There are 12 detailed factors that enter into a court’s determination in this regard. For a parent involved in a custody matter, representation by legal counsel is especially important. Gathering evidence to support the parent’s position, presenting the evidence to the court, and urging the court to reach a favorable result all require professional experience and skill. It is not advisable for a parent to attempt to represent themselves in a custody case.

Child Support

In Michigan, child support is based on a mathematical formula calculated from each parent’s income and other factors relating to care of the child. While the result of the formula is presumed to be appropriate, the law allows the court to deviate from the formula if it believes the result is unjust or inappropriate.

In order for a court to deviate, the judge must state the reasons why the result is unjust or inappropriate. A parent wishing to obtain a deviation must present evidence to support the unjust or inappropriate nature of the formula result. Representation by legal counsel is crucial in a child support deviation request.

Spousal Support

Unlike child support, Michigan does not have a formula for determining spousal support, known in other states as alimony. The courts decide spousal support on a case-by-case basis. Either party in a divorce case may be able to establish entitlement to spousal support.

Spousal support may be part of the property settlement in a divorce case, or a party may ask the court to determine the amount of spousal support. The judge takes into account a wide range of factors in determining a spousal support award. If a party requests spousal support, the court must make findings on each relevant factor. A party wishing to make a spousal support request should discuss the matter with an experienced attorney before proceeding.

Other Family Law Services

Our attorneys also help clients with many other family law matters, such as pre-marital planning and prenuptial agreements. Parties who are not married but co-own property or have children together may also benefit from a cohabitation agreement. If you have any legal concerns relating to family issues, we encourage you to reach out to us to discuss the matter.

For all family law concerns, we strive for exceptional client satisfaction, in addition to delivering top quality legal services. As one of the largest and oldest firms in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Kendricks Bordeau has served clients for over 100 years. We built a reputation as a highly-respected firm based on our unmatched experience and knowledge, as well as on the high level of personal attention we provide to every client.

Connect With Our Local U.P. Family Law Attorneys

Kendricks Bordeau, P.C. is a full-service Upper Peninsula law firm serving clients from our primary office in Marquette and an additional office in Hancock. Our family law attorneys are available to meet with clients in person, by phone, or virtually using platforms like Zoom or Teams. We encourage you to contact us to schedule a consultation to talk about your family law or other legal needs.