Clinton Township Divorce Law Blog

More mothers are paying spousal support and alimony than ever before. At least 47 percent of family law attorneys nationwide have noted an increase in mothers paying alimony during the recent years and as many have seen 56 percent of women paying child support.

This is a reflection of what is occurring across Michigan and the country. More women are graduating from college and applying for positions in corporations that were formerly reserved only for men. Women are also making more money while men are now taking on caretaking roles in the family instead of simply being the primary breadwinner.

Divorce and child custody matters concerning Michigan couples is already too complicated, but now certain spouses going through divorce are using spy gadgets to get the upper hand. Such technology has become so sophisticated that many spouses are planting cameras in their children's teddy bears or having recorders sewed to their child's jeans.

Such practices are legal in 38 states so long as such practices do not spill over to wiretapping of telephone conversations or invade private communications on computers. The problem with such technology is not just that it is a means of finding out what the other spouse is doing. It also can result in the recording of private conversations between spouses and their attorneys, family members or friends.

Whatever else Michigan residents imagine marriage to be, it is in truth a financial partnership with a number of contractual obligations. Each spouse has its own particular obligations concerning this partnership, and each has contributed a proportional share when getting married.

Because most married individuals do not understand this particular aspect of marriage, they are often forced to deal with the shock when it comes to division of property and marital assets during a divorce. Too often, such individuals are under the assumption that some sort of marital agreement would be necessary concerning the division of assets because: (a) they do not contemplate every getting divorced; or (b) they are under the faulty assumption that what they bring into the marriage will remain theirs if the marriage ends.

There is a misconception that child support disputes concern only single parents or poorer individuals. However, a recent out-of-court settlement concerning a Congressman from a neighboring state of Michigan demonstrates how this is not the case. This particular Congressman finally paid back approximately $117,000 in child support including interest.

Not surprisingly, the Congressman resolved the claim at the same time he was seeking reelection to the House. This individual had been married for 17-years and had three children through the marriage. It probably wouldn't look good to his constituents to make the case that he owed more than six figures in back child support.