Rochester Hills Family Law Attorney 

We work in 9 counties across Michigan: Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, Washtenaw, Livingston, Monroe, Genesee, Lapeer and St. Clair

At The Law Firm Of Victoria, family law matters are handled with care. The firm proudly serves clients throughout the greater Rochester Hills, MI area . Do not trust just any lawyer, trust one who will educate you so you can make informed decisions that will leave you with peace of mind and a solid position for your future.

If your family is in crisis or in need of legal help, call The Law Firm of Victoria. Our firm provides solid yet compassionate representation in Rochester Hills. 

We are ready to advocate for you in court if necessary. Our firm’s divorce attorneys promise to advocate for your interests in your family law case. Call us today. 

Do You Need a Rochester Hills Lawyer?

Family law matters tend to be complex and highly contested, especially when significant assets and custody of children or spousal support are involved. The firm understands the emotions behind most divorce cases in Rochester Hills, MI and the need to find solutions that are sensitive to your needs yet effective in the long term. 

When you hire The Law Firm of Victoria, you will receive tailored and creative solutions to suit your case.

When Can I File for Divorce?

In Michigan, you can file for divorce as soon as you meet the residency requirements. This means that either spouse must have lived in the state for at least six months before filing the petition. Also, either one of the spouses must have lived in the county in which you are planning on filing for divorce for at least ten days before filing.

How Does the Divorce Process Work?

File The Complaint

The family law divorce process begins as soon as you file the complaint. 

Service The Process

The person who files the complaint is known as the plaintiff, and they must put the defendant on legal notice of the complaint for divorce. The court will define a process through which you must serve your spouse, generally through a process server.

Receive An Answer To The Complaint

The defendant has 21 days after being served to respond to the complaint. The answer must specifically admit or deny the lawsuit. Failure to answer the complaint on time has consequences such as loss of property, child custody, or other family law rights.

Discovery

Discovery is the formal process of exchanging information under oath between both parties. Both attorneys will verify all facts and discover any new information. They may make use of interrogatories, which are questions submitted under oath; subpoenas, which are court orders that compel the production of documents; and depositions, which are testimonies taken under oath.

Court Appearance

This court appearance is generally called a status or case management conference. It includes a schedule of the dates required to conclude the case. When there are children in the picture, your first conference will be an Early Intervention Conference where issues such as custody, support, and parenting time will be given dates for resolution. Your divorce attorneys will be able to help you with this and every other step in your divorce process.

Mediation, Arbitration, and Settlement

In a mediation process, a neutral third party will listen to what the spouses have to say and attempt to facilitate a resolution. This is not a mandatory step but can yield promising results. Couples may also try arbitration; if neither is successful, the court will schedule a trial to settle the case. The judge will then decide on any issues still unresolved through family law.

What Issues Are Involved in Divorce?

There are several issues involved in a divorce. The major ones are:

Prenuptial Agreements

If there is a prenuptial agreement, many terms of the split will already be spelled out and the divorce can be much easier to execute. If you feel that the terms in your prenup are not in your favor any longer, contact our divorce lawyer right away.

Division of Property and Assets

During the divorce, any assets or property in the marriage will have to be divided between the spouses. Give your lawyer a complete list of the assets, their origin, and their value.

Child Support and Custody

One of the hardest issues to resolve when a couple separates is what happens to young children. Once a custody agreement is reached, both parents will have to live with the terms specified within it. 

Legal custody refers to the rights of each parent regarding major decisions in their child´s life, such as schooling, religion, and/or medical decisions. 

Physical custody is about where the children will live and how much time they will spend with each parent. 

Support refers to which parent will be responsible for what expenses.