Michigan Divorce Attorney Jannelle Zawaideh

Family law encompasses a specific area of law involving familial disputes. Common areas of family law include divorce, child custody, property division, spousal support, prenuptials, child support, annulment and paternity.

Brighton is a suburban region of Detroit that has a small population of about 8,000 residents. 38.2 percent of the households in Brighton are married couples in this suburban region, which includes some of the more prosperous places in the Michigan area. In fact, the townships of Brighton and Genoa have median household incomes of over $90,000.

Any time high net worth households are involved, it becomes important to involve prenuptial agreements. Prenuptial agreements are for the protection of both spouses, and make divorce much easier. Those that are going through a divorce, with or without a prenuptial, will want to procure the aid of a family law attorney to ensure that child custody issues, spousal support, child support and property division are all handled correctly. Family law attorneys may also help with annulments and issues of paternity.

Residents of Brighton should be aware that the area has "no fault divorce," which means that divorce can be initiated, with the help of a family law attorney, as long as the marriage has broken down and cannot be repaired. The divorce does not have to be the fault of anyone. A 60 day period is usually instituted before the divorce as a waiting period.

However, it's important to note that though Brighton is a "no fault" area, issues of "fault" may still be considered when the marital property is being split. A family law attorney will be able to give their client information on what constitutes fault and the information that would be required to be documented.

Apart from divorce, child custody and child support may also become important. Courts in Brighton favor arrangements that are best for the children rather than for either of the parents; thus decisions are usually made regarding a comprehensive "parenting plan" that is based around the best options for the child. Child custody and child support therefore goes to the parent that can create a more stable life for their child.

Throughout the child custody process, a parent may be called upon to show that they have a good relationship with their child and know everything about their child's social life, their medical car and their education. Often, the parent that is more involved in their child's daily life is the parent that will be awarded custody, and joint custody arrangements that move the child around often are not considered preferable.

In general, any time a dispute arises between family members or between spouses, it's important to get a family law attorney involved as soon as possible. A Brighton family law attorney will be able to educate you on your options and give you specific things that you should be doing immediately to ensure a favorable outcome for both yourself and your family. The law offices of Jannelle Zawadieh provides free Family Law consultations for Brighton residents. Contact us today.