Michigan Divorce Attorney Jannelle Zawaideh

With more than 480,000 households in Oakland County, chances are you may be one of the thousands of people annually who need the services of a family attorney. Not everyone understands the wide range of issues a family attorney can assist them with. Here is a brief description of some of the services available.

Family Law for Singles

You may think if you are single that family law attorneys cannot be of assistance to you. However, if you live in one of the more than 1,400 singles who are responsible for a child, you may need the services of an attorney. A Michigan family law attorney can help with: 

Paternity testing - whether the father is denying paternity or the mother is denying a father his rights, a paternity test may be necessary. Children have the right to know who their biological father is and the father has an obligation to provide support as wel as a right to be part of the child's life

Prenuptial agreements - while those who are marrying for the first time may not consider a prenup, there are cases when it makes a great deal of sense. If you have a number of assets, come from a family where you anticipate a substantial inheritance or you are concerned about debt, a prenuptial agreement may be warranted. Other cases where a prenuptial agreement may be warranted is when one partner has been married before and there are children from that marriage

When Marriages Go Wrong

Unfortunately, not all marriages turn out the way we anticipate. In Michigan, more than six percent of all marriages end in divorce. That means couples must deal with a while range of issues including:

Child custody and support - one of the more problematic issues couples face during a divorce is child custody and support. An agreement will have to be reached between the spouses or the court will decide based on what is best for the child

Property division - couples with a home, retirement accounts or other assets will have to reach an agreement regarding splitting assets or liquidating them and splitting the proceeds equitably. Agreements must also be reached regarding debts the couple owes when the marriage dissolves

Spousal support - depending on a number of factors, one spouse may be required to pay spousal support. While the initial support order may be set at the time the divorce is granted, there may come a time when a modification of spousal support must be considered. A family law attorney can help with both of these items

Special cases: Annulment - while Michigan law is very strict regarding annulment, there are cases where it may be warranted. If you are considering whether an annulment is possible it is imperative to speak with an attorney

While it is easy to think you do not need the help of a family attorney, there are several cases where your interests will be best served by contacting someone who has full knowledge of Michigan family law. Contact the law offices of Jannelle Zawadieh today for a FREE consultation.