Michigan Divorce: A Farmington Hills Divorce Lawyer
Last updated on May 28, 2025
Divorce is often ranked as one of the most stressful life events, in part due to the strenuous and sometimes frustrating legal process. In addition, the level of emotional upheaval will often depend on how much progress a couple has made in disentangling themselves from one another and how peacefully (or not) each one is accepting the separation and division of assets that go along with the divorce.
Our Farmington Hills divorce lawyer, Sara Gorman Rajan, at Brown Borkowski & Morrow provides legal guidance and advice to families throughout the Detroit metro area who are getting divorced. She can help you disentangle through divorce by guiding you through the legal and financial decisions that you need to make. Our legal team will listen to you, answer your questions and explain your legal options. We will work hard to protect your parental rights, property interests and keep you safe from domestic violence if a personal protection order is required. We are committed to pursuing a positive outcome for you and your children in an otherwise difficult situation.
Comprehensive Representation For Divorce
At Brown Borkowski & Morrow, we guide clients through the divorce process as smoothly and cost-effectively as possible. If you need a family law or divorce attorney, we help clients with:
- Divorce: In a contested divorce, we help clients divide property according to the Michigan no-fault divorce laws and establish fair spousal support or alimony. In an uncontested divorce, we can help couples file the appropriate paperwork.
- Child custody and parenting time: In a paternity action or divorce, we help clients resolve custody disputes, establish visitation and parenting time schedules, secure child support, negotiate health expenses and insurance and even negotiate agreements for college tuition.
- Legal separation: Sometimes, a legal separation can be an alternative to divorce for religious purposes, tax reasons or for health insurance purposes.
- Modifications: When circumstances change, such as a relocation opportunity, we help parents renegotiate their custody and parenting agreements in a post-decree modification.
Our Michigan divorce lawyer helps clients who are navigating legal challenges related to their family or divorce. This includes interstate support and custody issues, international adoption and family law matters and even parental kidnapping concerns. No matter what legal issues you are facing in your divorce, we can help.
Do You Need To Have A Reason To Get Divorced In Michigan?
Michigan is a no-fault divorce state. This means that you do not need to prove that your spouse did something wrong, such as adultery or abuse, to get a divorce. In Michigan, the court will grant a divorce if it finds that there has been a breakdown in the marriage relationship to the extent that the objects of matrimony have been destroyed, and there is no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved.
As a result, when filing for a divorce, you can simply cite “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for your divorce and eliminate the need for blame or accusations. The state of Michigan also allows for annulments and legal separation. An experienced divorce lawyer can help you understand the options and determine what is best for your situation.
Michigan’s Requirements For Getting A Divorce
In the state of Michigan, there is a residency requirement for divorce. This means that you or your spouse must have lived in the state for at least 180 days before you can file for a divorce in Michigan. Additionally, you must file your divorce petition in the county where you or your spouse lives. There is a 60-day waiting period after filing before the court can finalize your divorce. However, if you have minor children, the waiting period is typically 180 days. The length of time it takes to get divorced in Michigan can vary depending on the complexity of your case and the court’s schedule.
Understanding The Difference Between A Contested Divorce And An Uncontested Divorce
A contested divorce occurs when you and your spouse cannot agree on one or more issues, such as property division, spousal support or child custody. In a contested divorce, the court will make decisions on these issues, and the process can be lengthy and costly.
In an uncontested divorce, you and your spouse can reach an agreement on all issues and work together to reach a settlement. This type of divorce is typically faster and less expensive. Even if you and your spouse agree on most issues, but not all, you may still need to go to court to resolve the remaining disputes. An experienced divorce attorney can help you navigate both contested and uncontested divorces and work towards a resolution that meets your needs.
How Is Property Divided In A Michigan Divorce?
In Michigan, marital property is divided fairly and reasonably, but not necessarily equally. Marital property includes assets acquired during the marriage, such as real estate, vehicles and retirement accounts. When deciding how to divide these assets, the court considers various factors, including:
- The length of the marriage
- Each spouse’s income and earning capacity
- The contributions each spouse made to the acquisition of property
The court may also consider each spouse’s debt and liabilities. In addition, the court can also take into account marital fault. In other words, while the parties do not need to prove that someone was at fault for the divorce, the court can consider fault when dividing marital property. The goal is to divide property in a way that is fair and reasonable, taking into account the unique circumstances of your case.
The Complexity Of Dividing Significant Assets In A Divorce
Having significant assets, such as multiple properties, businesses or investments, can make a divorce more complicated. These assets may be difficult to value and divide and disputes can easily arise over who should receive what. Additionally, the tax implications of dividing these assets can be complex and may require the assistance of financial experts. Furthermore, if one spouse has a significant income or earning capacity, the other spouse may be entitled to spousal support, which can also be a contentious issue. An experienced divorce attorney can help you navigate these complex issues and work towards a fair and reasonable resolution.
The Timeline And Costs Of A Michigan Divorce
The cost of a divorce is influenced by many factors, including the likelihood of negotiating a settlement and how long it takes for couples to resolve their disagreements. In general, the more willing spouses are to work together, the less a divorce will cost and the quicker the timeline will be. Going to court can be very costly, but there are strategies to avoid it and resolve issues amicably, including mediation. The longer a divorce takes, the higher the costs will be.
An Experienced Michigan Divorce Attorney You Can Trust
At Brown Borkowski & Morrow, Ms. Rajan, our divorce lawyer, is a domestic relations mediator and a certified Collaborative Family Law Attorney. Ms. Rajan is AV peer-review rated* through Martindale-Hubbell, was deemed a Rising Star by Super Lawyers from 2012-2015, and was honored by Michigan Lawyers Weekly in 2009 as an Up and Coming Lawyer. We know that every divorce scenario is unique. Our legal team is passionate about providing our clients with one-on-one personalized attention as they untangle from their marriage. We want to help you move forward toward a new life with confidence.
Consult Our Farmington Hills Divorce Attorney Today!
No matter what legal challenges are affecting your family, our Farmington Hills divorce attorney is prepared to provide legal guidance and advice. At Brown Borkowski & Morrow, we serve clients throughout Metro Detroit and offer a confidential, initial consultation for free. To schedule your free appointment with an experienced divorce lawyer, call 888-757-1681 or send us a message using our online form.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.