Aaron Larson

Attorney at Law

Michigan Family Law

"Someday, maybe, there will exist a well informed, well considered, and yet fervent public conviction that the most deadly of all possible sins is the mutilation of a child's spirit."

- Erik Erikson

Family law issues usually arise in the context of divorce proceedings, child custody disputes, and child protective proceedings. Child protective proceedings arise when the state, usually alleging neglect or abuse against minor children, attempts to place children into foster care, or to terminate parental rights and to place the children for adoption.

Overview
Grandparents Rights

Overview

When you are filing for divorce, or if a divorce has been filed againt you, you will find that there are a wide range of attorneys who practice family law, and that the fees can vary enormously between law offices. The cheapest attorney is rarely the best, but in an amicable divorce you may find that all you really need is an attorney who won't stand in your way while you negotiate a settlement. You don't need to spend a lot on an attorney, if you are in agreement on custody and property issues.

When there are disagreements, choose your attorney carefully. If possible, get references from people you know who have recently divorced. As family law is very stressful, a great many attorneys do not practice in the area, and as a consequence it is relatively easy for attorneys with little skill or experience to develop a family law practice. While the most expensive option is not necessarily the best, when faced with contested divorce or custody litigation there is some truth to the old saying, "You get what you pay for." If you try to save money by hiring the cheapest attorney you can find, you may well learn that you gave up more in property, spousal support, or rights to retirement benefits than you "saved" by hiring the wrong lawyer for your case.

Most people do not need to hire the "best" divorce attorneys, or the most expensive. However, if you have a large marital estate, if you have issues of domestic violence, if the marital estate includes a family business, stock options, or shares in a "closely held" corporation, or if there are other factors which will complicate the evaluation of your fair share of the marital estate, you should consider a specialist. Also, if false accusations of child abuse have been made against you, or if your spouse has accused you of making false allegations, you should consider selecting an attorney with experience with that type of allegation.

Grandparents Rights

Michigan has enacted legislation providing granparents with the opportunity to seek court-ordered grandparenting time with their grandchildren. However the circumstances where grandparenting time may be ordered are narrow.

If you are a grandparent and are taking care of your grandchildren, or are concerned about your future ability to spend time with your grandchildren, it is a very good idea to speak with an attorney before a conflict arises with the parent or parents. Depending upon the circumstances, a lawyer may be able to help you protect your rights in advance of the conflict. However, if you wait until you are denied the right to visit your grandchildren, it may be too late for the attorney to act.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this web site is provided as a public service. While the information on this site is about legal issues, it is not legal advice or legal representation and should not be relied upon as legal advice. Because of the rapidly changing nature of the law, we make no warranty or guarantee of the accuracy or reliability of information contained herein or at other sites to which we link. As legal advice must be tailored to the specific facts and circumstances of your case, information cannot substitute for the advice of competent legal counsel.

Nothing presented on this site establishes or should be construed as establishing an attorney-client relationship between you and Mr. Larson. No attorney-client relationship exists between you and Mr. Larson until Mr. Larson has been formally retained, or has acknowledged an attorney-client relationship in writing. You should not send any confidential information to Mr. Larson until you have received written acceptance from the firm of any legal services you may request. The content of any correspondence that you send via the Internet will not be considered confidential unless you have received such written confirmation.