Alimony Attorney in Ypsilanti, Michigan

Divorce or legal separation often has significant, long-term implications on the family, finances, assets, and children of the spouses involved. In Michigan, alimony – court-ordered financial support – may be awarded to one spouse to mitigate any unfair economic impact of the marital dissolution. If you are considering a divorce and want to understand your rights regarding alimony, it is vital that you consult with an experienced Michigan family law attorney for detailed guidance.

For over 30 years, Attorney John Bailey has been offering outstanding legal services and reliable advocacy to clients in family law matters, including divorce and alimony. He's available to discuss your unique situation, determine your eligibility for spouse support, and enlighten you about the types, amount, and duration of alimony. Also, Attorney John Bailey can walk you through the legal process involved in establishing or modifying alimony agreements and help you navigate crucial decisions.

The Law Offices of John R. Bailey is proud to serve clients across Ypsilanti, Belleville, Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor, and Portage, Michigan.

Overview of Alimony in Michigan

Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a court-ordered financial payment that is often awarded to one of the spouses in a legal separation or divorce. It is financial support or periodic payment from the higher-earning spouse to the unemployed or lower-earning spouse for a period during or after the divorce proceedings.

In the state of Michigan, the family courts may award alimony if one party needs financial assistance and the other party has the ability to pay. The spouse who makes the support payments is the "paying spouse," while the spouse who receives the alimony payment is known as the "supported spouse." A knowledgeable divorce attorney can help you understand various kinds of alimony in Michigan.

Types of Alimony

The different types of spousal support that may be awarded in a Michigan divorce include:

Periodic Alimony

Periodic alimony is the most common support in Michigan. The Michigan court may award periodic alimony for a short term or long term until the supported spouse completes their education, gains a job skill, secures employment to become self-supporting, or after a specified amount has been paid. Periodic alimony may be temporary or permanent.

Temporary Alimony:

Temporary or rehabilitative alimony may be awarded in divorce cases where the supported spouses need time to complete their education, learn a job skill, or gain employment to become self-supporting.

Permanent Alimony:

Permanent or long-term support may be awarded in exceptional divorce cases where the couples have been married for a long time, there is a great disparity in earning power, or the supported spouse can't become self-supporting due to a disability, health condition, or old age.

Lump-Sum Alimony

Lump-sum support or alimony in gross requires the paying spouse to pay the full alimony amount in a single payment. It may be arranged through the transfer of personal or real property instead of monetary payments.

An experienced Michigan alimony attorney can determine whether you are eligible and explore the type of support to pursue in your unique situation.

Who Is Entitled To Alimony?

Alimony isn't ordered in every divorce case. Likewise, spousal support isn't awarded based on gender. In a Michigan divorce, the family court may award financial support if it believes that:

• One spouse needs financial assistance, and

• The other spouse can afford to pay.

A skilled divorce attorney can help determine your eligibility for alimony and enlighten you about the amount, type, and duration of spousal support is determined.

Determination of Type, Amount,
and Duration of Alimony

Furthermore, the Michigan court will consider the following factors to determine the type, amount, and duration of alimony:

• The duration of the marriage

• Each spouse's ability to work

• Each party's needs and financial situation

• Each spouse's earning abilities

• The age and health condition of each spouse

• The parties' past relations and conduct

• The amount of property either spouse is getting in the divorce

• How each spouse behaved during the marriage

• The contribution of each spouse to the marital estate

• Whether either party can pay spousal support.

• The prior standard of living established by the spouses during the marriage

• Any other general principles of equity.

A knowledgeable attorney can review your personal situation and walk you through the process of establishing or modifying alimony arrangements.

Changes to Current Alimony Agreements

Spousal support arrangement may be modified provided that there is no provision in the divorce agreement stating that alimony is binding and non-modifiable. In order to change an alimony agreement, the requesting party must show that there has been "a significant change in circumstance" since the existing order. Examples of such circumstances include:

• A change in need of either spouse.

• The loss of a job or home

• Remarriage or cohabiting with a new partner

• Severe illness

• Significant decrease in the paying spouse's income

• A difference in the paying spouse's ability to pay.

• Unexpected expenses or financial needs

• Fraud and unilateral mistake

Furthermore, the obligation to pay alimony will end following the death of either party or as agreed in the alimony order. A knowledgeable alimony attorney can fight compassionately on your side to protect your best interests and help you navigate key decisions.

How Legal Counsel Can Help

Filing for divorce in Michigan usually involves several complex processes. Establishing a fair divorce settlement and alimony arrangements with your estranged spouse can make the entire process even more complicated and stressful. Therefore, when considering a divorce, consulting with a knowledgeable family law attorney is paramount for proper guidance and to enlighten you about your possible legal options regarding alimony.

At The Law Offices of John R. Bailey, Attorney John Bailey has the diligence, skill, and resources to advise and guide clients in the legal matters of divorce and alimony. As your legal counsel, he can evaluate your unique circumstances and explore the various alimony options that may be available to you. Whether you want to establish an alimony arrangement or you need to change an existing spousal support decree, Attorney John Bailey will work intelligently with both parties.