Filing for Divorce with Children

Read this article to learn about getting a divorce in Michigan when you have minor children.

This article provides a summary of how the Do-It-Yourself Divorce tool works, and lists information you need to complete it. You will save time if you know what to expect and have the information you need.

Has your spouse or the other party in your family court case been emotionally, verbally or physically abusive to you? Domestic violence is serious and can affect many issues in your case. This article explains how.

If you filed for divorce, you must have copies of your court papers served on (given to) your spouse.

A custody and parenting time order may be granted as part of a divorce case, custody case, or other type of family court case. Custody and parenting time are important decisions that affect where your children live, how often they see each parent, and who makes important decisions for them. Read this article to learn how custody and parenting time decisions are made.

There are 12 factors for judges to use when deciding what custody arrangements are in the best interests of the child. These factors are called the "best interests of the child" factors. Judges use these factors to decide who children live with, who makes decisions for children, and how much time children spend with each parent.

Child support is a parent’s court-ordered payment to help with the costs of raising a child. Child support normally includes a base amount, plus amounts for health and child care costs. Child support can be ordered in a paternity or custody case (if the parents were never married), in a divorce case, or as a support case.

Do you have children and are getting a divorce? Or are you involved in a child support, paternity, or custody case with your child’s other parent? If so, you will probably be involved with the Friend of the Court. This article explains what the Friend of the Court is, when it may become involved in your case, and what to expect when it does.

A non-marital child is a child whose biological parents weren’t married to each other when that child was born or conceived. This includes a child born to a woman who is married but whose husband is not the biological father. This article talks about what to do if you are getting a divorce, and a non-marital child was born or conceived during your marriage.

This article distinguishes real property from personal property and explains how real property gets divided in divorce.

An important part of your divorce is dividing your property and debt between you and your spouse. This article gives an overview of that process.

While child support is calculated using a formula, spousal support (alimony) is decided on a case-by-case basis. The judge considers many factors to determine whether spousal support is appropriate.

Mediation is a settlement process that can help you resolve “contested” issues (things you and the other party don’t agree on) in your court case.

One of the most important steps in the divorce process is completing your final documents and finalizing your divorce. This article provides an overview of that process.

Print this script to use when you testify at your final divorce hearing. Some judges ask you all of the necessary questions. Other judges require you to put on your own "proofs" (testimony). This script will help you do that.

If your ex-spouse doesn’t obey the property terms of your Judgment of Divorce (JOD), you can file a motion asking the judge to enforce the JOD. This article talks about JOD enforcement issues you might face. It also talks about how to ask for a change in spousal support.

Read this article if you or your ex-spouse got a house, land, or other real property in your divorce or separate maintenance. You may need a quitclaim deed to transfer the property. This is true if both of your names are on the current deed or if the current deed is not in the name of the person keeping the property. Where this article mentions divorce and a Judgment of Divorce, assume that the information also applies to separate maintenance and a Judgment of Separate Maintenance.