Spousal support, sometimes called alimony, is not automatically awarded in every Michigan divorce. Unlike child support, there is not one mandatory formula that determines whether spousal support will be awarded or the amount of an award. Courts consider the circumstances of the marriage and a number of relevant factors.

Retirement benefits accumulated during the marriage may be part of the marital estate. This can include pensions, 401(k)s, and other retirement accounts. Depending on the type of plan, a separate court order such as a Qualified Domestic Relations Order may be required to divide the benefit.

A business interest can create additional financial and valuation issues in a divorce. Depending on when and how the business was acquired or developed, some or all of its value may be considered part of the marital estate. A divorce does not automatically mean that a business must be sold.

Debts acquired during a marriage may need to be allocated as part of the divorce. These can include mortgages, credit cards, vehicle loans, tax obligations, and other liabilities. The Judgment of Divorce can determine which spouse is responsible for a particular debt as between the spouses. However, a divorce judgment does not necessarily eliminate a spouse’s contractual obligation to a creditor.

Yes. Mediation can be used to help divorcing spouses work toward agreements on contested issues rather than having a judge decide every issue for them. Depending on the case, mediation may address property division, custody, parenting time, support, debt, and other issues.

Michigan law does not require every person filing for divorce to hire an attorney. However, working with an experienced Michigan divorce lawyer can be particularly important when a divorce involves children, custody disputes, significant property, retirement accounts, businesses, spousal support, complicated finances, or substantial disagreement between the spouses.