Seeking Uniformity: Premarital and Marital Agreements
This following article was published in the January 2023 edition of the Michigan Bar Journal Seeking Uniformity: Premarital and Marital Agreements by Anne Argiroff and James W. Chryssikos | Michigan Bar Journal This article provides an overview of the complicated history of premarital and marital agreements and recent efforts made by the State Bar of […]
One Piece of Advice
I was recently asked, “what’s the one piece of advice you would give a person considering the divorce process?” Frankly, this space isn’t big enough to discuss all the answers that I considered. But ultimately, I keep coming back to this one important point: Make sure you have good communication with your lawyer. That may […]
Separation Date’s Impact on Property Division
Many divorce clients (or prospective divorce clients) who are already separated ask how/if their date of separation can impact the division of their assets. If a couple has been living separately for 1 year, 5 years, or even 10+ years, will the court really divide the assets as of their value on the date […]
Parenting Time During COVID-19 Epidemic
On Monday, March 23, 2020, Governor Whitmer issued an Executive Order to \”Stay Home, Stay Safe\”. This order has raised questions among parents who share custody of minor children with another parent. My clients and former clients have reached out to me to ask, \”do we still follow the custody and parenting time order for […]
ALIMONY: TO MODIFY OR NOT TO MODIFY
On February 21, 2019, the Michigan Court of Appeals reviewed a case stemming from an Oakland County Circuit Court divorce case, Gallagher v. Gallagher, in which alimony was granted 37 years after the parties’ divorce was final. The trial court awarded the wife $2,500 per month in alimony, but the Court of Appeals reversed and […]
An End To Child Marriage?
On January 9, 2019, a bill was introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives to modify existing Michigan law to establish the minimum age to marry at 18 without exceptions effective January 1, 2020. Below is an article by James W. Chryssikos as appeared in the August/September issue of the Michigan Family Law Journal. An […]
5 Reasons You Should File First
Probably the most frequently asked question I hear from divorce clients and prospective clients is “should I file first or let my spouse file for divorce?” Some people ask because they’re undecided about filing for divorce, but fear being put at a strategic disadvantage if their spouse beats them to the courthouse. Others have made […]
Marriage Equality & The Road Ahead
With the United States Supreme Court recently hearing arguments on the legality of same-sex marriage bans (including Michigan’s), it’s important to remember that a victory for marriage equality advocates in the Supreme Court will signify the beginning, not the end of legislation, litigation and political maneuvering over the rights of same-sex couples and religious rights […]
Divorce & The Family Business
Many people confronting a divorce face complex questions. Those who own a business that serves as the family’s primary source of income have unique challenges in reaching a fair and equitable outcome. Often, the business is the most significant asset in a marital estate, causing concern over how to determine and divide the value, without […]
A New Child Custody Law On The Horizon?
On February 5, 2015, a group of 21 lawmakers in Lansing introduced House Bill 4141 to the State Legislature. If passed, this bill will modify Michigan’s existing Child Custody Act of 1970 by making it effectively automatic that parents in a divorce or child custody dispute will share joint custody and have substantially equal parenting […]