tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72067315864496108762024-03-17T22:03:30.159-05:00GENESEE FLINT . COMLegal rights brand identity campaign in Family Law ( Divorce, Custody, support), community resource consumption and rights. " See Whats Legal"Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1024125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-14740612589852691682020-02-08T14:40:00.000-05:002020-02-08T14:41:57.544-05:00DO YOU WANT TO MOVE YOUR KIDS OUT OF STATE? CALL ATTORNEY BANKERT (810) 235-1970<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">HOW DOES THE COURT MAKE THIS DECISION?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">WHAT ISSUES ARE INVOLVED IN THIS DECISION?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The issues are:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">1.Custody; </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">2.Motion to change children’s domicile; MCL 722.31(4); </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Rains v. Rains</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Brown v. Loveman</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Gagnon v. Glowacki</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">;</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">3. Whether the proposed change would alter the children’s established custodial environment;</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> 4.Modification of the parenting-time schedule; MCL 722.27a(1); </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Shade v. Wright</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">; MCL 722.27(1)(c); </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Yachcik v. Yachcik</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Summary of a recent case.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">1.The parties judgement awarded them 50/50 parenting time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">2.The defendant proposed a parenting time schedule whereby the children would live primarily with him and plaintiff would have the children on weekends, most school breaks, and throughout the week in the summer.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">3. This proposal would have reduced plaintiff’s parenting time by 26 overnights and resulted in a “43/57” split.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">4. Plaintiff opposed defendant’s motion for change of domicile and requested that his proposed schedule be “flip flopped” when defendant moved to Indiana.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Deciding a motion for a change of domicile is a four-step process:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> First, a trial court must determine whether the moving party has established by a preponderance of the evidence that the factors enumerated in MCL 722.31(4), the so-called D’Onofrio factors, support a motion for a change of domicile.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Second, if the factors support a change in domicile, then the trial court must then determine whether an established custodial environment exists. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Third, if an established custodial environment exists, the trial court must then determine whether the change of domicile would modify or alter that established custodial environment. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Fourth and Finally, if, and only if, the trial court finds that a change of domicile would modify or alter the child’s established custodial environment must the trial court determine whether the change in domicile would be in the child’s best interests by considering whether the best-interest factors in MCL 722.23 have been established by clear and convincing evidence. [Rains v Rains, 301 Mich App 313, 325; 836 NW2d 709 (2013).]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Presented here by Terry Bankert A Flint / Genesee County Family Law Attorney . Initial Consultation free. </span><a href="http://www.attorneybankert.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">www.attorneybankert.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> (810) 235-1970</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">e-Journal #: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">72186</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Case: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Grayer v. Grayer, unpublished 1/21/2020</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Court: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Michigan Court of Appeals ( Unpublished Opinion )</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Judges: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Per Curiam – Cameron, Shapiro, and Swartzle</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The text has been modified for presentation</span></div>
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Daily internet new from Flint MI USA</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-89426215227431454832020-02-01T13:01:00.001-05:002020-02-01T13:01:43.826-05:00Divorce Basics Jurisdiction.<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ir-oWGGcCv8" width="480"></iframe><br />
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Daily internet new from Flint MI USAUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-1721383136328171812019-11-29T11:14:00.000-05:002019-11-29T11:14:31.558-05:00CHILD CUSTODY Presented By Terry Bankert Flint Family Law (810) 235-1970<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-3f4735d4-7fff-d399-8a80-b7699c120dca"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HOW WILL A COURT MAKE A CHILD CUSTODY DECISION CONCERNING YOUR CHILDREN . Presented here by Flint Family Law Attorney Terry Bankert (810)-235-1970,</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.attorneybankert.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.AttorneyBankert.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ANALYSIS </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Before any decision as to the custody of a child is made, the court must determine whether an established custodial environment exists. Mogle v Scriver, 241 Mich App 192, 197; 614 NW2d 696 (2000).”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “The custodial environment of a child is established if over an appreciable time the child naturally looks to the custodian in that environment for guidance, discipline, the necessities of life, and parental comfort.” MCL 722.27(1)(c).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The trial court “shall not . . . issue a new order so as to change the established custodial environment of a child unless there is presented clear and convincing evidence that it is in the best interest of the child.” MCL 722.27(1)(c).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[Source. E-journal UnPublished Michigan Court of Appeals, 9-11-02018 NO.341025] </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“ Here, the trial court determined that an established custodial environment existed with plaintiff and defendant does not challenge that finding on appeal. “</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Therefore, going forward, defendant had the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that modification of the established custodial environment was in the children’s best interests.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “To determine the best interests of the children in child custody cases, a trial court must consider all the factors delineated in [MCL 722.23] applying the proper burden of proof.” Foskett v Foskett, 247 Mich App 1, 9; 634 NW2d 363 (2001).”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“ A trial court’s findings with regard to each factor “should be affirmed unless the evidence clearly preponderates in the opposite direction.” Berger, 277 Mich App at 705.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “This Court will defer to the trial court’s credibility determinations, and the trial court has discretion to accord differing weight to the best-interest factors.” Id. -3- MCL 722.23 cites 12 factors to be considered, evaluated, and determined by the court to decide a child’s best interests.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“ (a) The love, affection, and other emotional ties existing between the parties involved and the child.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (b) The capacity and disposition of the parties involved to give the child love, affection, and guidance and to continue the education and raising of the child in his or her religion or creed, if any. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(c) The capacity and disposition of the parties involved to provide the child with food, clothing, medical care or other remedial care recognized and permitted under the laws of this state in place of medical care, and other material needs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (d) The length of time the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment, and the desirability of maintaining continuity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (e) The permanence, as a family unit, of the existing or proposed custodial home or homes. (f) The moral fitness of the parties involved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (g) The mental and physical health of the parties involved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (h) The home, school, and community record of the child. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(i) The reasonable preference of the child, if the court considers the child to be of sufficient age to express preference.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (j) The willingness and ability of each of the parties to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-child relationship between the child and the other parent or the child and the parents. A court may not consider negatively for the purposes of this factor any reasonable action taken by a parent to protect a child or that parent from sexual assault or domestic violence by the child's other parent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(k) Domestic violence, regardless of whether the violence was directed against or witnessed by the child. (l) Any other factor considered by the court to be relevant to a particular child custody dispute. [MCL 722.23].”</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you have additional questions feel free to make a no cost appointment. Terry Bankert Family Law Attorney Flint and Genesee County (810) 235-1970)</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-75224956897962926782019-11-27T15:53:00.000-05:002019-11-27T15:54:16.990-05:00CHANGE IN CUSTODY BY TERRY BANKERT 235-1970<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
DID YOU KNOW.<br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
MCL
722.27(1)(c) provides that in a custody dispute, a trial court, for the best interests of the child at
the center of the dispute, may “modify or amend its previous judgments or orders for proper
cause shown or because of change of circumstances.” </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
[Principle source e-journal #71713, Unpublished 11/14/19.No.349021. ]</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
But the court is not permitted to “modify
or amend its previous judgments or orders or issue a new order so as to change the established
custodial environment of a child unless there is presented clear and convincing evidence that it is
in the best interest of the child.” MCL 722.27(1)(c).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
“These initial steps to changing custody—
finding a change of circumstance or proper cause and not changing an established custodial
environment without clear and convincing evidence—are intended to erect a barrier against
removal of a child from an established custodial environment and to minimize unwarranted and
disruptive changes of custody orders.” Vodvarka v Grasmeyer, 259 Mich App 499, 509; 675
NW2d 847 (2003) (quotation marks omitted). </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
The first step in the analysis is to determine whether the moving party has established
proper cause or a change of circumstances by a preponderance of the evidence. Id. at 508-509.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
In McRoberts v Ferguson, 322 Mich App 125, 131-132; 910 NW2d 721 (2017), this Court
explained:
Proper cause means one or more appropriate grounds that have or could
have a significant effect on the child’s life to the extent that a reevaluation of the
child’s custodial situation should be undertaken. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
In order to establish a change
of circumstances, a movant must prove that, since the entry of the last custody
order, the conditions surrounding custody of the child, which have or could have a
significant effect on the child’s well-being, have materially changed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To constitute
a change of circumstances under MCL 722.27(1)(c), the evidence must
demonstrate something more than the normal life changes (both good and bad)
that occur during the life of a child, and there must be at least some evidence that
the material changes have had or will almost certainly have an effect on the child.
[Citations, quotation marks, and alterations omitted.] </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With respect to the issue of “proper cause,” the criteria outlined in the statutory best</div>
<div>
interest factors, MCL 722.23, “should be relied on by a trial court in deciding if a particular fact
raised by a party is a ‘proper’ or ‘appropriate’ ground to revisit custody orders.” Vodvarka, 259
Mich App at 512. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In regard to “change of circumstances,” the relevance of facts presented
should also “be[] gauged by the statutory best interest factors.” Id. at 514.
“Although the threshold consideration of whether there was proper cause or a change of
circumstances might be fact-intensive, the court need not necessarily conduct an evidentiary
hearing on the topic.” Corporan, 282 Mich App at 605. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In Vodvarka, 259 Mich App at 512, this
Court, addressing the threshold issue, observed:
Obviously, trial courts must make this factual determination case by case.
Although these decisions will be based on the facts particular to each case, we do
not suggest that an evidentiary hearing is necessary to resolve this initial question. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Often times, the facts alleged to constitute proper cause or a change of
circumstances will be undisputed, or the court can accept as true the facts
allegedly comprising proper cause or a change of circumstances, and then decide
if they are legally sufficient to satisfy the standard.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
MCR 3.210(C)(8) provides:
In deciding whether an evidentiary hearing is necessary with regard to a
postjudgment motion to change custody, the court must determine, by requiring
an offer of proof or otherwise, whether there are contested factual issues that must
be resolved in order for the court to make an informed decision on the motion.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It is clear to us, and was effectively accepted by the trial court, that if the allegations set
forth in plaintiff’s motion to modify custody are true, they would easily establish a change of
circumstances and proper cause for purposes of revisiting the issue of custody under the statutory
best-interest factors.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But the trial court found it problematic that plaintiff had not submitted any
statements, affidavits, reports, or other documentary evidence to support the allegations, let alone
evidence that was current and relevant. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The motion to modify custody was not verified, nor did plaintiff supply her own affidavit. MCR 3.210(C)(8) allowed the trial court to require “an offer
of proof or otherwise” in relation to deciding whether to order an evidentiary hearing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Under the
circumstances of the case and given the remarks made by the trial court when ruling on the
motion, the court’s hesitation and resistance at giving any weight to the allegations in plaintiff’s
motion was plainly driven by the four CPS investigations instigated by plaintiff that resulted in
determinations that allegations of abuse by defendant could not be substantiated.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The lack of
substantiation, again and again, could reasonably call into question plaintiff’s motives and
credibility on all matters.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The trial court appeared more than open to further considering a
motion to modify custody if plaintiff would come forward with supporting documentary
evidence, explaining why the court took the unusual step of denying the motion without
prejudice.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Indeed, the record and the CPS history support the trial court’s decision to deny the
motion to modify custody simply on the-1970 basis that plaintiff did not provide supporting
documentation on the threshold issue of change of circumstances or proper cause."</div>
<div>
Presented here by Terry Bankert Flint Divorce Attorney 810-235-1970 FlintFamilyLaw.com</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-38384275561226991432019-11-23T11:09:00.000-05:002019-11-23T11:09:41.920-05:00CHILD SUPPORT MODIFICATION. ATTORNEY BANKERT <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">MODIFICATION OF CHILD SUPPORT</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-fb34030b-7fff-7906-5e36-62b9a2a61a81" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">In this economically hard time parents may need to modify their child support. Sometimes the original order called for no child support by agreement of the parties. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">www.attorneybankert.com</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“ While it is true that a court can generally only modify orders for child support upon a showing of a change in circumstances justifying the modification, see MCL 552.17; Aussie v Aussie, 182 Mich App 454, 463; 452 NW2d 859 (1990), “[w]hen a court order does not provide for child support, such maintenance may later be provided by the court and does not depend upon a change of circumstances,” Johns v Johns, 178 Mich App 101, 106; 443 NW2d 446 (1989).”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“When properly motioned for a change in child support the Court may deny the motion. The question then is has “...trial court correctly decided that it should not modify its previous child support order and that the parties should be held to their agreement that defendant not pay child support. MCL 552.605(3) states that a court is not prohibited “from entering a child support order that is agreed to by the parties and that deviates from the child support formula, if the requirements of subsection (2) are met.” (Emphasis added.)”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“ MCL 552.605(2) states: (2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the court shall order child support in an amount determined by application of the child support formula developed by the state friend of the court bureau as required in section 19 of the friend of the court act, MCL 552.519.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“ The court may enter an order that deviates from the formula if the court determines from the facts of the case that application of the child support formula would be unjust or inappropriate and sets forth in writing or on the record all of the following:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> (a) The child support amount determined by application of the child support formula.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> (b) How the child support order deviates from the child support formula. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">(c) The value of property or other support awarded instead of the payment of child support, if applicable.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> (d) The reasons why application of the child support formula would be unjust or inappropriate in the case.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“In Burba v Burba, 461 Mich 637, 644; 610 NW2d 873 (2000), our Supreme Court held that “the criteria [in MCL 552.605(2)(a)-(d)] for deviating from the formula are mandatory.” 4 The Burba Court emphasized that “[t]he importance the Legislature attached to courts carefully articulating these factors when deviating from the formula cannot be underestimated, for the Legislature prescribed their use when courts deviate from the formula in no less than eight different sections of the Michigan Compiled Laws.” Id. “To impress upon the courts the gravity of deviating from the formula, the Legislature has required them to meticulously set forth these factors when deviating.” Id. at 645-646. “</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“Thus, as required by MCL 552.605(2), when deviating from the formula, the trial court fulfills its statutory duty only when the court has articulated its rationale in accordance with subsection 2(a) through (d).” Peterson, 272 Mich App at 517. “ [Source and Unpoublished Michigan Court of Appeals,11/14/19, case e-journal, #71700 Ncheugium v Tegadjourfrom Saginaw Circuit Court.]</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;">5-1970</b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">If you have additional questions about Divorce, child support or other Family Court Issues Please call Terry R. Bankert, Flint and Genesee County Attorney, 810-235-1970</span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-37387494234999945782019-06-24T14:17:00.001-05:002019-06-24T14:17:57.783-05:00CHANGING CHILD CUSTODY. Attorney Terry Bankert (810) 235-1970<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"type":104,"tn":"*N"}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/flint?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="_5afx" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="font-family: inherit;">FLINT</span></span></a>, <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"type":104,"tn":"*N"}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/genesee?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="_5afx" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="font-family: inherit;">GENESEE</span></span></a>, <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"type":104,"tn":"*N"}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/michigan?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="_5afx" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="font-family: inherit;">Michigan</span></span></a> ISSUE- CHANGING CUSTODY</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
"Where a current order governs the custody of a minor child, the party moving to modify that order must prove “either proper cause or a change of circumstances sufficient to warrant<br />reconsideration of the custody decision.” Gerstenschalger v Gerstenschalger, 292 Mich App.654, 657; 808 NW2d 811 (2011)."</div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Presented here by Terry Bankert Flint Family Law Lawyer, (810 235-1970 <a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.attorneybankert.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2D25taP1-ZVSPwwki-0BPSk2Ir0pOLUtg7BY7mCF_nmjrVxGzOa8EPEek&h=AT10qMmaQ7RlDCOpVAjEN5IOU095H4JYD0sf4QgAlk5MEkyIQm414EteV-UhO9dUscgY-4imqWJk26IljKtpcU1jJIZFEa2xThwgXOAUMee5vwtQ7-tlGk2s5-o-tJDEHER8Y4oqXRZIHWqAfL7LzRm1k9zk" href="http://www.attorneybankert.com/?fbclid=IwAR2D25taP1-ZVSPwwki-0BPSk2Ir0pOLUtg7BY7mCF_nmjrVxGzOa8EPEek" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">www.attorneybankert.com</a></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
"[T]o establish “proper cause” necessary to revisit a custody order, a movant must prove by a preponderance of the evidence the existence of an appropriate ground for legal action to be taken by the trial court. The appropriate ground(s) should be<br />relevant to at least one of the twelve statutory best interest factors, and must be of such magnitude to have a significant effect on the child’s well-being. . . . "</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
" * * *[T]o establish a “change of circumstances,” a movant must prove that, since the entry of the last custody order, the conditions surrounding custody of the child,<br />which have or could have a significant effect on the child’s well-being, have materially changed. . . ."</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
" [T]he evidence must demonstrate something more than<br />the normal life changes (both good and bad) that occur during the life of a child, and there must be at least some evidence that the material changes have had or will almost certainly have an effect on the child. This too will be a determination<br />made on the basis of the facts of each case, with the relevance of the facts presented being gauged by the statutory best interest factors. [Vodvarka v<br />Grasmeyer, 259 Mich App 499, 512-514; 675 NW2d 847 (2003)."</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
"If the movant establishes proper cause or a change in circumstances, the court may modify an established custody order if the court determines that the modification is in the child’s<br />best interests. MCL 722.27(c); Dailey v Kloenhamer, 291 Mich App 660, 665; 811 NW2d 501<br />(2011)."</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
“When a modification would change the established custodial environment of a child, the moving party must show by clear and convincing evidence that it is in the child’s best<br />interest.” Shade v Wright, 291 Mich App 17, 23; 805 NW2d 1 (2010)."</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
“If the proposed change does not change the established custodial environment, however, the burden is on the parent<br />proposing the change to establish, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the change is in the child’s best interests.” Id."</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
" If the movant does not establish proper cause or a change in<br />circumstances, the trial court may not revisit the current custody order. Dailey, 291 Mich App at<br />666-667."</div>
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(Source; Unpublished Michigan Court Of Appeals 6/11/19, No 346335)</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-49093006579910022342019-06-12T08:42:00.000-05:002019-06-12T08:42:48.728-05:00CHANGING CUSTODIAL ENVIRONMENT. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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MAY A COURT AMEND A CUSTODY OR PARENTING TIME ORDER?</div>
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A trial court may modify or amend its previous judgments or orders, including those addressing custody or parenting-time issues, “for proper cause shown or because of a change of circumstances.” MCL 722.27(1)(c). Before doing so, a trial court “must first consider whether the proposed change would modify the established custodial environment.” Pierron v Pierron, 486 Mich 81, 85; 782 NW2d 480 (2010). “</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
WHAT IS THE ESTABLISHE<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">D CUSTODIAL ENVIRONMENT.</span></div>
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<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
“The established custodial environment is the environment in which over an appreciable time the child naturally looks to the custodian in that environment for guidance, discipline, the necessities of life, and parental comfort.” Id. (quotation marks omitted), citing MCL 722.27(1)(c). “<br />EXAMPLE OF WHEN THIS ENVIRONMENT NOT CHANGED.</div>
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“Whereas minor modifications that leave a party’s parenting time essentially intact do not change a child’s established custodial environment, significant changes do.” Lieberman, 319 Mich App at 89-90 (cleaned up). If parenting-time adjustments “will not change whom the child naturally looks to for guidance, discipline, the necessities of life, and parental comfort, then the established custodial environment will not have changed.” Pierron, 486 Mich at 86. “<br />EVIDENCE NEED TO CHANGE CUSTODIAL ENVIRONMENT</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
“The trial court “shall not modify or amend its previous judgments or orders or issue a new order so as to change the established custodial environment of a child unless there is presented clear and convincing evidence that it is in the best interest of the child.” MCL 722.27(1)(c). “</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
“It is presumed to be in the best interests of a child for the child to have a strong relationship with both of his or her parents.” MCL 722.27a(1).”</div>
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“Whereas the primary concern in child custody determinations is the stability of the child’s environment and avoidance of unwarranted and disruptive custody changes, the focus of parenting time is to foster a strong relationship between the child and the child’s parents.” Shade v Wright, 291 Mich App 17, 28-29; 805 NW2d 1 (2010).” (Source, e-journal #70586, Michigan Court of Appeals unpublished 5/21/19, no.346025.)<br />Presented here by Flint Divorce Lawyer Terry Bankert Attorney practicing Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody, Parenting time, Support and other Family issues. 1-(810- 235-1970, <a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.attorneybankert.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0ubY2zL-eStqT6X_em0u1ffJqeJmcf1a2btve9krjQdz9qspIwp4dHxh0&h=AT2IoyY3RcAPvzkLJxR6WilpBGaZrXqL4ateRdc1nIn55J6Ff1aZeGtHFRayyrGo2f0mYoR2Pq_zo6eaTBxmU0x3bHSlRwJp_DYrvyDYUDNvQdMCIwUZ34XUAIc1zLx4ZFz4gTzTHMQaMLIH_gZlmPIyEtsi" href="http://www.attorneybankert.com/?fbclid=IwAR0ubY2zL-eStqT6X_em0u1ffJqeJmcf1a2btve9krjQdz9qspIwp4dHxh0" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">www.attorneybankert.com</a> No charge for initial appointment.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-69804434766040194482019-06-07T10:32:00.000-05:002019-06-07T10:33:40.048-05:00Mentally Ill Parent and Child Custody. Terry Bankert (810) 235-1970<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Will mental illness cause a loss of custody?</div>
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"... while mental illnesses may create unfortunate barriers for parents in child custody cases, it is the best interests of the child that must guide a trial court in making custody and parenting time decisions."</div>
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"Unlike cases involving the termination of parental rights, in which courts must balance
the best interests of minors against the constitutional rights of their parents, a trial court’s
singular focus in cases brought under the Child Custody Act, MCL 722.21 et seq., is “ ‘to
promote the best interests of the child and to provide a stable environment for children that is
free of unwarranted custody changes.’ ” Lieberman v Orr, 319 Mich App 68, 78; 900 NW2d
130 (2017), quoting Pierron v Pierron, 282 Mich App 222, 243; 765 NW2d 345 (2009). With
respect to parenting time decisions in particular, MCL 722.27a(1) provides, in pertinent part:
(1) Parenting time shall be granted in accordance with the best interests of the
child. It is presumed to be in the best interests of a child for the child to have a
strong relationship with both of his or her parents. Except as otherwise provided
in this section, parenting time shall be granted to a parent in frequency, duration,
and type reasonably calculated to promote a strong relationship between the child
and the parent granted parenting time.
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However, if “it is shown on the record by clear and convincing evidence that it would endanger
the child’s physical, mental, or emotional health,” parenting time need not be ordered.
MCL 722.27a(3); Luna v Regnier, 326 Mich App 173, ___; ___ NW2d ___ (2018) (Docket No.
343382); slip op at 3. "<br />
(e-journal 70441, Jackson v Appling Mich. App. Unpublished 5/7/19.No. 345488.<br />
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Presented here by Flint Family Law ,Divorce, Attorney Terry Bankert. www.attorneybankert.com .</div>
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Call Lawyer Terry Bankert (810) 235-1970</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-26194110198389779232019-06-07T09:53:00.000-05:002019-06-07T09:53:21.592-05:00Spousal Support Modification<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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What will you need to do to change a spousal support order.</div>
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“A divorce judgment entered upon the settlement of the parties
represents a contract, which, if unambiguous, is to be interpreted as a question of law.” Holmes
v Holmes, 281 Mich App 575, 587; 760 NW2d 300 (2008). A trial court may modify spousal
support based on new facts or different circumstances arising after entry of the divorce judgment.
Ackerman v Ackerman, 197 Mich App 300, 301; 495 NW2d 173 (1992). The burden is on the
party seeking modification to establish that the facts warrant modification. Id"</div>
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Presented here by Attorney Terry Bankert, 810-235-1970, Flint Family Law , Divorce, Lawyer.</div>
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www.attorneybankert.com</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-44953882040045457772019-05-21T13:05:00.000-05:002019-05-21T13:06:49.782-05:00UNFOUNDED CPS COMPLAINTS TO STOP VISITATION . (810) 235-1970<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">WILL UNFOUNDED CPS CALLS CHANGE CHILD CUSTODY?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> In a recent Unpublished Michigan Court of Appeals direction , not controlling, was given on this question. On Appeal “ ... defendant suggests that plaintiff’s alleged use of innocent agents to file multiple CPS reports against him was not given sufficient weight and should have warranted a change in custody, we disagree.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">( source: Unpublished M.A. Case 5/2/19 No. 345501, Alger County Family Division LC 14-007383-DC)</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">AN ALLEGATION DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE TRUE.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> The Court stated “[a] court need not give equal weight to all the factors, but may consider the relative weight of the factors as appropriate to the circumstances.” Sinicropi, 273 Mich App at 184. The trial court did so here. “</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">FOUR CPS COMPLAINTS INCLUDING SEXUAL ABUSE BEFORE COURT DATES.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“At the hearing, defendant testified that at least four CPS complaints were filed against him, and that three of those complaints involved sexual abuse allegations related to the child. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">WAS PLAINTIFF JUST TRYING TO BLOCK DEFENDANTS PARENTING TIME?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Defendant’s counsel argued that CPS investigations were being filed before court hearings and being filed through agencies as part of plaintiff’s effort to keep the child from visitation. “</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">CLAIMS THAT NEW SPOUSE ABUSING TO CHILD.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Additionally, one of the CPS investigators charged with investigating an April 2018 complaint, which alleged that defendant’s wife struck the child 14 times, testified that she felt that there might have been some coaching occurring with the child because his answers were inconsistent.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“ A copy of that CPS investigation report was presented to the trial court. Plaintiff testified at the hearing that she had not made any of the claims to CPS. She indicated that the reports were made by the child’s primary care physician, an emergency room doctor, a police officer, the child’s psychologist, and an unknown person “downstate.” “</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Plaintiff acknowledged that she took the child to the medical appointments and spoke with the police officer. Plaintiff indicated that she was unaware of the psychologist’s report to CPS until the investigation was opened and CPS arrived at her home.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“ Plaintiff denied that she ever told the child what to say to CPS. In fact, plaintiff opined that the child was making allegations to avoid going to parenting time, and that “he was making some of the stuff up.” “</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Plaintiff also testified that she did not believe the child’s report that defendant’s wife struck him. The trial court informed the parties that it had read and considered the CPS report prior to rendering its decision.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">NONE OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE FOUND TO BE TRUE</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“ In its analysis of best-interest factor (l), the trial court noted that repeated CPS allegations “certainly” favored defendant because none were substantiated. The trial court showed concern for the minor’s dishonesty during his interview, and assigned “more responsibility” to plaintiff for triggering the investigations, but could not place responsibility on her for fabricating the information going into the investigations.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">BEST INTEREST FACTOR L</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“ Ultimately, the trial court concluded that for factor (l), “more things lean towards [defendant],” but there were also aspects that supported the child’s current home environment. Ultimately, the trial court concluded that the parties were equal “on almost all factors.” Plaintiff was favored in factor (d) and some aspects of factor (l), and defendant was slightly favored on factor (e) and some aspects of factor (l).”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“ The trial court indicated that after consideration of the factors, defendant ultimately failed to convince the court by clear and convincing evidence that a change in custody was in the child’s best interests. It is clear from the record that the trial court adequately considered and addressed the CPS allegations and investigations in reaching its conclusions.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Presently here as an example of how CPS complaints are handled. By Terry Bankert Flint Divorce Attorney (810) 235-1970 www.attorneybankert.com</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-83378227028760560802019-05-01T10:32:00.000-05:002019-05-01T10:32:03.970-05:00BEST INTEREST FACTORS <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span data-offset-key="168ge-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">BEST INTEREST OF CHILD FYI-“The best interests of the child are the controlling consideration in custody disputes between parents, between agencies, and between third persons. MCL 722.27a. The best interests factors are set forth at MCL 722.23 (see §3.8). “</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="93cd7-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">“Before granting primary physical custody to a party in a custody determination, the trial court must consider each of </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2hen8-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">the statutory factors and make specific findings on the record. Overall v Overall, 203 Mich App 450, 512 NW2d 851 (1994); Schubring v Schubring, 190 Mich App 468, 476 NW2d 434 (1991); Meyer v Meyer, 153 Mich App 419, 395 NW2d 65 (1986).”</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="b9b0p-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">“A court’s decision regarding custody must be based on “competent evidence adduced at trial.” DeBoe v DeBoe, No 246083 (Mich Ct App Sept 18, 2003) (unpublished).”</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="836d-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Presented here by Attorney Terry Bankert a Flint Family Law, Divorce, Lawyer. 810-235-1970. http://www.attorneybankert.com.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="4m973-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">722.23 “Best interests of the child” defined.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="363lc-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">“Sec. 3..Evaluation of the 12 best interests factors depends on the facts and circumstances of each case. Custody is not awarded on the basis of which parent “scores” the most points. Lustig v Lustig, 99 Mich App 716, 299 NW2d 375 (1980). If each parent “wins” on six of the factors, it does not mean that the party with the burden of proof cannot be awarded custody. Heid v AAASulewski, 209 Mich App 587, 532 NW2d 205 (1995).”</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="3l3ho-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">“Factors need not be given equal weight. The weight to be given any factor is ultimately left to the court’s discretion. Riemer v Johnson, 311 Mich App 632, 876 NW2d 279 (2015) (not error for court to order joint physical custody when more best interests factors favored father because court could value factors differently); McCain v McCain, 229 Mich App 123, 580 NW2d 485 (1998) (that father’s vindictiveness would probably act to destroy parent-child relationship with mother did not outweigh other factors so as to award custody to mother).”</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="cmiqh-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">“MCL 722.23 defines the “ ‘best interests of the child’ ” as “the sum total of the” factors set forth in MCL 722.23(a)-(l). “In child custody cases, the family court must consider all the factors delineated in MCL 722.23 and explicitly state its findings and conclusions with respect to each of them.” Spires v Bergman, 276 Mich App 432, 443; 741 NW2d 523 (2007). As a general rule, we defer to the trial court’s credibility determinations, “and the trial court has discretion to accord differing weight to the best-interest factors.” Berger v Berger, 277 Mich App 700, 705; 747 NW2d 336 (2008). ( Source Bogue v Swinson Unpublished Michigan Court of Appeals, 4/16/2019,e-journal #70283,No. Gladwin Circuit Court Family Division LC no. 16-008762-DM.)”.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-26989300583351425842019-04-09T08:07:00.000-05:002019-04-09T08:07:08.641-05:00Assets not distributed cause interest penalty. Terry Bankert 810-235-1970.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Can the court award interest on assets distributed in a judgement of divorce but not speedily transferred? Yes.</div>
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FYI- “The trial court possesses equitable powers to grant “interest on the amounts granted in thedivorce judgment.” Lawrence v Lawrence, 150 Mich App 29, 34; 388 NW2d 291 (1986).</div>
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Such power is within the trial court’s discretion. Id. “This discretion also applies to awards of intereston amounts to be paid pursuant to a property division when such amounts are overdue.” Id.</div>
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The purpose of awarding interest is not to compensate the party for lost use of such entitled topayments; rather, it is to “prevent[] the delinquent party from realizing a windfall and assuresprompt compliance with court orders.” Olson v Olson (On Remand), 273 Mich App 347, 354-355; 729 NW2d 908 (2006).”</div>
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SOURCE is Michigan Court of Appeasls Unpublished 3/21/19. Sicher No. 34141 Livinston County 12-005416 DM</div>
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Presented here by Flint Divorce Lawyer Terry Bankert if you have additional questions please call 810-235-1970. Or contactme through my web page at attorneybankert.com.</div>
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<a href="http://www.attorneybankert.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0087be; text-decoration-line: none;">http://www.AttorneyBankert.com</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-56781147521855072412019-04-05T14:55:00.001-05:002019-04-05T14:55:21.979-05:00FLINT DIVORCE LAWYER ,CHILD SUPPORT CUSTODY, FLINT ATTORNEY<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XVdbitYi3d4" width="459"></iframe><br />
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Daily internet new from Flint MI USAUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-82371196138876429752019-04-05T13:48:00.002-05:002019-04-05T13:48:40.717-05:00Spouse moving out of state with child. 235-1970 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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TOPIC</div>
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A PARENT WANTS TO MOVE OUT OF STATE. CAN THIS PARENT MOVE AND WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON CUSTODY PARENTING TIME AND CHILD SUPPORT?</div>
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HERE THE PARTIES HAVE JOINT LEGAL AND JOINT PHYSICAL CUSTODY IN A MICHIGAN ORDER.</div>
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Presented here by Terry Bankert Flint / Genesee County MI Family Law Lawyer (810) 235-1970, www.attorneybankert.com.</div>
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FACT SITUATION</div>
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The mother desires/plans to move more than 100 miles to another state.</div>
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Father is opposed to the child moving. On its surface the issues are </div>
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1. Change in domicile. </div>
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2. Change in parenting time and effectively custody. </div>
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How is father's position defended?</div>
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SUMMARY</div>
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In summary, in ruling on requests to modify previous judgments, or orders concerning custody, the court must consider three issues before modifying a custody order:</div>
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Has the petitioner carried the initial burden of establishing either “proper cause shown” or a “change of circumstances”? Father will argue that Mother has not met her burden.</div>
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Is there an established custodial environment? Father will argue that the established custodial environment is joint custody.</div>
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Is the modification in the best interests of the child? []MFL12] The best interest burden is clear and convincing evidence and will not be met. </div>
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This requires an analysis of the best interests factors of MCL 722.23.Google and review .</div>
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Presented here by Terry Bankert Flint / Genesee County MI Family Law Lawyer (810) 235-1970, www.attorneybankert.com</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-1360682888276489742019-04-02T15:40:00.003-05:002019-04-02T15:40:53.508-05:00Spousal Support 810-235-1970<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-1374c4ed-7fff-61e4-ae72-43e750ff7ad3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SPOUSAL SUPPORT REVIEW BY FLINT DIVORCE ATTORNEY TERRY BANKERT 810-235-1970. </span><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FWWW.ATTORNEYBANKERT.COM%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1hArL4xdv11xM4Gp_NZpmBefrvnSPviDHfDyqlhJduQY_ELgkzGotnD7I&h=AT25IDxbtXTSXo2YR_jVarb69uPs4PSxDtiWFA20AK-3TTj4dGib_9ZrNYHyfeRk83zPJsd0NBFUOlahQaPbmT1zs5UQCLc6aZSL3ttaOf-nQoxhUHcq_2doiUpyEuhzoOM-xhcJN22sw2JO-R2eTnsTo0AZ" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #365899; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WWW.ATTORNEYBANKERT.COM</span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The purpose of spousal support is to “balance the incomes and needs of the parties in a way that will not impoverish either party” based on that which is “just and reasonable under the circumstances of the case.” Myland v Myland, 290 Mich App 691, 695; 804 NW2d 124 (2010). [3/19/19 Csercse ]</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To assist the analysis, this Court has enumerated several factors for a court to consider: Factors to be considered are</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(1) the past relations and conduct of the parties,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(2) the length of the marriage,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(3) the abilities of the parties to work, </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(4) the source and amount of property awarded to the parties,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(5) the parties’ ages,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(6) the abilities of the parties to pay alimony,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(7) the present situation of the parties,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(8) the needs of the parties,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(9) the parties’ health,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(10) the prior standard of living of the parties and whether either is responsible for the support of others,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(11) contributions of the parties to the joint estate, and</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(12) general principles of equity. In addition, the court may consider a party’s fault in causing the divorce. [Thames v Thames, 191 Mich App 299, 308; 477 NW2d 496 (1991) . [3/19/19 Csercse ]</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“[T]he effect of cohabitation on a party’s financial status” is also relevant. Berger v Berger, 277 Mich App 700, 727; 747 NW2d 336 (2008). [3/19/19 Csercse ]</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The trial court should make specific findings of fact for factors that are relevant to the case. Myland, 290 Mich App at 695. [3/19/19 Csercse ]</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law on December 22, 2017, eliminates the alimony deduction (Section 71 payments) for agreements executed after December 31, 2018,[ICLE]</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Judgment of Divorce is required by MCR 3.211(B)(4) to contain a provision “reserving or denying spousal support.” If for some inexplicable reason, a Judgment of Divorce is silent regarding spousalsupport, under MCR 3.211(B)(4), the issue of spousal support is reserved. Prior to the enactment of MCR 3.211(B)(4), if a Judgment of Divorce was silent in regards to spousal support it was barred and, therefore, not modifiable. Mack v Mack, 283 Mich 365; 278 NW 99 (1938).[ICLE]</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SPOUSAL SUPPORT REVIEW BY FLINT DIVORCE ATTORNEY TERRY BANKERT 810-235-1970. </span><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FWWW.ATTORNEYBANKERT.COM%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2xlq57fo4WdJ3oohaAkycaDdH2_u5QS-wGMuGGsBsd1YAhCnO6rZ-UIxE&h=AT38BDkgWqLxiDzSX1UgY_ndcRYvDzKG8za752RxMw1j54-H59bus_khO64Mu7aqe1Ip2pG03HkIsvCNk6KjNhhz3o8BBF_fAavY6DFBYzXgG7G2wksXYC1AfbJbVGD-MhhIfNHjLlndsOs1zZv8EYUiHQwl" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; color: #365899; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WWW.ATTORNEYBANKERT.COM</span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PRINCIPAL SOURCE. S T A T E O F M I C H I G A N C O U R T O F A P P E A L S GREGORY ALLEN CSERCSE, Plaintiff/CounterdefendantAppellant, UNPUBLISHED March 19, 2019 v No. 342902 Gladwin Circuit Court SHARON ANN CSERCSE, LC No. 17-008899-DO Defendant/CounterplaintiffAppellee. Before: STEPHENS, P.J., and GLEICHER and BOONSTRA, JJ. PER CURIAM. CITED HERE [3/19/19 Csercse ]</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-20975075892362448432019-03-18T09:26:00.000-05:002019-03-18T12:18:00.576-05:00SEPARATE MAINTENANCE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-f99996d3-7fff-5572-ffcc-b8f339ff6711"></span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-f99996d3-7fff-5572-ffcc-b8f339ff6711"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SEPARATE MAINTENANCE</span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-f99996d3-7fff-5572-ffcc-b8f339ff6711"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FYI “Married persons may request separate maintenance because the parties have a religious objection to divorce, or want to stay married for other reasons.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Source Michigan Family Law Benchbook, Ch 2 , Icle 2nd ED 2006</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“ Separate maintenance may allow both parties to have continued health care coverage, but some employers and heath insurance providers treat an action for separate maintenance as a triggering event disqualifying a nonemployee spouse from continued health insurance coverage. This is not uniformly applied by either employers or health insurance providers.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Presented here by Terry Bankert Flint Divorce attorney (810)-235-1970, www.attorneybankert.com</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“An action for separate maintenance is filed in the same manner and on the same grounds as a divorce. </span><a href="https://www.icle.org/modules/repositories/probatesourcebook/CiteCheck.aspx?cite=552-7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002c77; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MCL 552.7</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Either the plaintiff or the defendant must have resided in the state for at least 180 days and in the county of filing for at least 10 days immediately preceding the filing of the complaint. </span><a href="https://www.icle.org/modules/repositories/probatesourcebook/CiteCheck.aspx?cite=552-7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002c77; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MCL 552.7(1)</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://www.icle.org/modules/repositories/probatesourcebook/CiteCheck.aspx?cite=552-9" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002c77; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.9(1)</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Both of these residency requirements are jurisdictional and must be met on the date of filing. If the requirements are not met, the action may be dismissed or the judgment set aside. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lewis v Lewis</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://www.icle.org/modules/mlo/cases/display.aspx?style=book&cite=153%20Mich%20App%20164" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002c77; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">153 Mich App 164</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 395 NW2d 44 (1986) (circuit court lacks jurisdiction in separate maintenance action if neither party met residency requirement before filing). See </span><a href="https://www.icle.org/Modules/Books/Chapter.aspx?lib=&book=2006553550&chapter=1#i2006553550-1-" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002c77; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">chapter 1</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for a complete discussion of the procedural requirements for a divorce.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“When the matter is concluded, the parties are still technically married, but the marital property may be divided, </span><a href="https://www.icle.org/modules/repositories/probatesourcebook/CiteCheck.aspx?cite=552-19" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002c77; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MCL 552.19</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and the court may order support for a spouse who requires it, </span><a href="https://www.icle.org/modules/repositories/probatesourcebook/CiteCheck.aspx?cite=552-23" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002c77; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MCL 552.23(1)</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“A separate maintenance action will result in a divorce judgment if the defendant files a counterclaim for divorce and the statutory grounds are established. </span><a href="https://www.icle.org/modules/repositories/probatesourcebook/CiteCheck.aspx?cite=552-7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002c77; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MCL 552.7(4)(b)</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“ If a party wishes to divorce after a final judgment has been issued in a separate maintenance action, the party should file an entirely new cause of action. Although many issues will already have been decided and are enforceable under the judgment, any remaining issues like dissolution of the marriage should occur under the new action.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“In </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kresnak v Kresnak</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://www.icle.org/modules/mlo/cases/display.aspx?style=book&cite=190%20Mich%20App%20643" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002c77; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">190 Mich App 643</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 476 NW2d 650 (1991), even though the husband died before the entry of the judgment, a property settlement agreement in a separate maintenance action was enforced where the parties had placed it on the record and it had been generally approved by the court. The general rule that the divorce court lacks jurisdiction to render a divorce after the death of one of the parties did not apply. The issue was not the severing of the relationship, but the enforcement of a contractually binding agreement. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Id. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">at 649–650.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><a href="https://www.icle.org/modules/repositories/probatesourcebook/CiteCheck.aspx?cite=700-2801" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002c77; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MCL 700.2801(1)</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of the Estates and Protected Individuals Code excludes an individual from surviving spouse status when that individual is divorced from the decedent or the marriage has been annulled. A decree of separation does not terminate the status of husband and wife and is not a divorce for purposes of </span><a href="https://www.icle.org/modules/repositories/probatesourcebook/CiteCheck.aspx?cite=700-2801" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002c77; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MCL 700.2801(1)</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. However, </span><a href="https://www.icle.org/modules/repositories/probatesourcebook/CiteCheck.aspx?cite=700-2801" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002c77; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MCL 700.2801(2)(c)</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> provides that a surviving spouse does not include “[a]n individual who was a party to a valid proceeding concluded by an order purporting to terminate all marital property rights.” Although a judgment of separate maintenance does not terminate the status of husband and wife, it is a court proceeding “purporting to terminate all marital property rights.” But see </span><a href="https://www.icle.org/Modules/Books/Chapter.aspx?lib=&book=2006553550&chapter=2#i2006553550-2-4" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002c77; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">§2.4</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(discussing same-sex marriage after </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Obergefell v Hodges</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 576 US ___, 135 S Ct 2584 (2015)).”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Unless it provides to the contrary, a waiver of “all rights” in the property or estate of a spouse or a complete property settlement entered into after the marriage</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-36919035470567347102019-01-23T14:01:00.001-05:002019-01-23T14:01:12.128-05:00Established Custodial Environment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Established Custodial Environment.<div>
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<a href="https://anchor.fm/terry-bankert8/episodes/1-23-19-Established-Custodial-Environment--MFLB-4-e30v83">https://anchor.fm/terry-bankert8/episodes/1-23-19-Established-Custodial-Environment--MFLB-4-e30v83</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-45513383148918706892019-01-23T11:56:00.001-05:002019-01-23T12:03:24.883-05:00UNBUNDLED SEERVICES<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I offer unbundled services at a fraction of the cost. Terry Bankert Family Law Attorney 810-235-1970</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-15337807002317595272016-12-06T17:51:00.001-05:002016-12-06T17:51:32.481-05:00BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD FACTORS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
#<span style="background-color: white; color: #3e4519; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;">Bestinterestsofthechild is the Standard used by your #Divorce #Attorney when advocating for your #ChildCustody in #Flint #Genesee or around the State </span><br />
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<span class="content-body" style="font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 21px;">The best interests of the child is the standard usedby #Lawyers in custody disputes between parents, agencies, and third parties.</span></div>
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<span class="content-body" style="font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 21px;">The court must consider each factor and make findings on the record.Contact attorneybankert.com for more information.</span></div>
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<span class="content-body" style="font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 21px;">The factors need not have equal weight; the court determines the weight of each factor.</span></div>
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Factors.</div>
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<li class="content-body" style="font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 21px;"><strong>(a) The love, affection, and other emotional ties existing between the parties involved and the child. </strong>This factor focuses on the emotional bond that already exists between the parent and the child.</li>
<li class="content-body" style="font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 21px;"><strong>(b) The capacity and disposition of the parties involved to give the child love, affection, and guidance and to continue the education and raising of the child in his or her religion or creed, if any. </strong>This factor tries to project the parent’s ability to foster an emotional bond in the future, and the parent’s impact on such matters as education, guidance, and religious training.</li>
<li class="content-body" style="font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 21px;"><strong>(c) The capacity and disposition of the parties involved to provide the child with food, clothing, medical care or other remedial care recognized and permitted under the laws of this state in place of medical care, and other material needs.</strong></li>
<li class="content-body" style="font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 21px;"><strong>(d) The length of time the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment, and the desirability of maintaining continuity.</strong></li>
<li class="content-body" style="font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 21px;"><strong>(e) The permanence, as a family unit, of the existing or proposed custodial home or homes.</strong>This factor focuses solely on the permanence of the family environment, not the acceptability of the home or child care arrangements.</li>
<li class="content-body" style="font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 21px;"><strong>(f) The moral fitness of the parties involved. </strong>This factor evaluates the parties’ moral fitness only as it relates to how they will function as a parent and not as to who is the morally superior adult.</li>
<li class="content-body" style="font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 21px;"><strong>(g) The mental and physical health of the parties involved. </strong>This factor should not impair or defeat the public policy goal of integrating disabled persons into the mainstream of society.</li>
<li class="content-body" style="font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 21px;"><strong>(h) The home, school, and community record of the child.</strong></li>
<li class="content-body" style="font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 21px;"><strong>(i) The reasonable preference of the child, if the court considers the child to be of sufficient age to express preference. </strong>The court must take the preference of the child into account if it decides that the child is old enough to express a preference. The court is not required to disclose the child’s preference. The child’s preference does not automatically outweigh other factors; it is only one element used to make the determination.</li>
<li class="content-body" style="font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 21px;"><strong>(j) The willingness and ability of each of the parties to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-child relationship between the child and the other parent or the child and the parents. A court may not consider negatively for the purposes of this factor any reasonable action taken by a parent to protect a child or that parent from sexual assault or domestic violence by the child’s other parent. [Amended by <a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2015-2016/publicact/pdf/2016-PA-0095.pdf" style="color: #002c77;" target="_blank">2016 PA 95</a> (eff. Aug 1, 2016).]</strong></li>
<li class="content-body" style="font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 21px;"><strong>(k) Domestic violence, regardless of whether the violence was directed against or witnessed by the child.</strong></li>
<li class="content-body" style="font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 21px;"><strong>(</strong> <strong><i>l</i> </strong><strong>) Any other factor considered by the court to be relevant to a particular child custody dispute. </strong>The court may not consider the race of a parent’s spouse in considering whether to change custody.@terrybankert posted here </li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0United States flint mi 41.713017061042883 -84.37516.190982561042883 -125.683594 67.23505156104288 -43.066406tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-4184127834960045632016-11-09T14:56:00.001-05:002019-03-18T12:13:16.828-05:00BASICS IN DIVORCE PROPERTY DIVISION<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">@terrybankert #divorce #spousalsupport #childsupport #Flint #Genesee</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BRIEF REVIEW OF LAW APPLIED IN SOME DIVORCE CASES </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Terry Bankert 810-235-1970 Flint/Genesee County Michigan</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In a recent Michigan Divorce Case The Wife Plaintiff appealed as of right the trial court’s judgment of divorce. Plaintiff challenges the trial court’s distribution of the marital property, the spousal support order, and the court’s order to impute income to plaintiff to calculate the amount of child support that defendant is required to pay to plaintiff. The Court of Appeals upheld the lower court decision. Here the case opinion has been modified to state some of the facts and the law applied. The court's analysis can be found in the case as cited below. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BACKGROUND</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The parties married in June 1990. Husband Defendant is 50 years old;wife plaintiff is 46. Defendant is employed with the State of Michigan.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in biology a short time before the marriage and thereafter worked in a laboratory for ten months.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WIFE AGREED TO BE A STAY AT HOME MOM.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plaintiff explained that she and defendant decided to start a family and that they agreed that she would stay home and raise the children. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FOUR CHILDREN ONE WAS A MINOR MINOR </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The parties have four children, the first of which was born in September 1992.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> At the time of the trial, only one of the children remained a minor and was 16 years old.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WIFE WENT BACK TO WORK</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In September 2004, plaintiff began working as a substitute teacher in the same school district that all four children attended.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff explained that she began this job because she wanted to help defendant out by “bringing in some money,” while still remaining a stay-at-home mom.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff testified that it was her job to pay the family bills and that the parties had equal access to their funds during the marriage.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff testified that defendant’s income decreased at one point during their marriage, so they used credit cards to support the family.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> She admitted that the parties were in debt.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WIFE WENT BACK TO SCHOOL</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> When the debt became overwhelming, plaintiff explained, she decided to go back to school so that she could further her education and get a higher paying job. Plaintiff enrolled in an accelerated nursing program.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HUSBAND BEGAN A SECOND JOB</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Defendant stated that he began working a second job when he learned that the -2- parties were “upside down in [their] bills.” He also claimed that he asked plaintiff to obtain employment to help remedy the situation. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HUSBAND ASKED WIFE TO RETURN TO WORK</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plaintiff claimed that defendant never asked her to get a job until she was already enrolled in nursing school and had already accumulated student loans. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PROPERTY</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition to the marital home, the parties owned a vacant lot. An appraiser testified that the marital home is worth $175,000 and the lot is worth $20,000. Defendant testified that a similar empty lot in their neighborhood has been listed for sale for $10,000, yet it has not sold, despite being on the market for ten years. The marital home is subject to two mortgages, with $138,674.04 still due on the first mortgage and $30,727.96 still due on the second mortgage. Defendant stated that he believes that the house is worth less than what he owes on the mortgages. Plaintiff testified that she filed for bankruptcy in September 2014. Plaintiff acknowledged that, on the bankruptcy petition, she listed the marital home as having a $160,000 value and the parties’ empty lot as having an $8,000 value. Over $28,000 in credit-card debt was discharged, plaintiff testified.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CREDIT CARD</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Defendant testified that there is still credit-card debt in his name, totaling $18,202.38, which was accrued during the marriage.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">AUTOMOBILE</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff testified that she drives a Town and Country van. She initially leased the vehicle and, in February 2014, the lease expired. She then borrowed $14,500 from her father to purchase the vehicle.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LOAN LISTED IN BANKRUPTCY</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff acknowledged that she listed this loan in her bankruptcy petition and that the loan was discharged.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">STUDENT LOANS USED TO PAY FAMILY BILLS</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plaintiff testified that she owes approximately $30,000 in student loans. She explained that in 2012 and 2013 she received “excess aid” checks for $4,550 and $4,245. Plaintiff said that she used this money to help pay the family bills.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PROPERTY INTENDED AS A GIFT</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> She also admitted that she purchased a riding lawnmower with that money, explaining that it was intended to be a gift for defendant for Father’s Day. Defendant said that he told plaintiff, before she purchased the lawnmower, that she should not purchase it because they could not afford it, but that he nevertheless accepted the gift and used it during the marriage.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TEMPORARY SPOUSAL SUPPORT</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Before trial, the court ordered defendant to pay $1,229 a month in temporary spousal support and $1,271 a month in temporary child support.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MODIFIABILITY</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff requested $1,900 in non modifiable spousal support until July 2016, $2,700 in non-modifiable spousal support for 36 months thereafter (to assist with student-loan payments), and $1,200 in modifiable spousal support for 60 months thereafter.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SUPPORT OF ADULT CHILDREN</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff testified that she financially supports the parties’ adult children and that those expenses were included in her expectations for spousal support. Defendant requested that if any spousal support were ordered, “it should be modifiable, of a minimal amount and for a very short duration.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUES DECIDED BY THE COURT WITH A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE LAW</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FAULT</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In an oral opinion, the court stated that it was not finding fault in this case.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HOME</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It awarded defendant the marital home, along with full responsibility for the mortgages and outstanding taxes. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CREDIT CARD</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The court further ordered that defendant was responsible for the debt attributable to the credit cards and line of credit in his name.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">AUTOMOBILE</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Defendant also received a 2007 Chevy Aveo and a motorcycle, although the court noted that there was no evidence of the value of these vehicles. The court awarded plaintiff the Town and Country van, finding that its value was $14,500 because “that was the price she, as a willing buyer, actually paid to pay off that lease when it -3- came due.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PERSONAL PROPERTY</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Further, each party received the personal property in their possession, although the court awarded defendant the lawnmower and a few other miscellaneous items. The court also attributed plaintiff’s student-loan debt to her. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SPOUSAL SUPPORT</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The court ordered that the spousal support be reduced to $800 a month effective February 2015 and continue through September 2015. The court noted that plaintiff was expecting to complete her nursing-school program in June 2015 and that this order would result in her receiving spousal support for two full years.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CHILD SUPPORT</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Finally, the court ordered that child support be recalculated by the Friend of the Court. To calculate the child support, the court imputed income to plaintiff for 20 hours of work a week at minimum wage. Defendant was ultimately ordered to pay plaintiff $860 a month for child support.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PLAINTIFF WIFE APPEALED THE LOCAL COURT DIVORCE RULING</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff first argues that the trial court’s distribution of the marital property was not equitable. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LAW</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE PROPERTY MUST BE FAIR AND EQUITABLE</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When reviewing a trial court’s divorce disposition, an “appellate court must first review the trial court’s findings of fact under the clearly erroneous standard. If the findings of fact are upheld, the appellate court must decide whether the dispositive ruling was fair and equitable in light of those facts.” Sparks v Sparks, 440 Mich 141, 151-152; 485 NW2d 893 (1992).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE THE COURT MUST HAVE A FIRM CONVICTION THE DISPOSITION INEQUITABLE</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Sparks Court stated, “[B]ecause the dispositional ruling is an exercise of discretion and . . . appellate courts are often reluctant to reverse such rulings, we hold that the ruling should be affirmed unless the appellate court is left with the firm conviction that the division was inequitable.” Id. at 152 (citations omitted).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE THE PROPERTY MUST NOT HAVE TO BE DIVIDED EQUITABLY</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A reviewing court must defer to a trial court’s factual findings regarding credibility. Richards v Richards, 310 Mich App 683, 694; 874 NW2d 704 (2015). “The goal in distributing marital assets in a divorce proceeding is to reach an equitable distribution of property in light of all the circumstances.” Gates v Gates, 256 Mich App 420, 423; 664 NW2d 231 (2003).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE PROPERTY DOES NOT HAVE TO BE DIVIDED EQUALLY</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The court does not need to divide the property equally, but it must divide it equitably considering the parties’ contributions, faults, and needs. Richards, 310 Mich App at 694.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE PROPERTY DIVISION AND SPARKS FACTORS</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The Supreme Court has held that the trial court must consider the following factors, when relevant: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(1) duration of the marriage, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(2) contributions of the parties to the marital estate, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(3) age of the parties, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(4) health of the parties, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(5) life status of the parties, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(6) necessities and circumstances of the parties, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(7) earning abilities of the parties, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(8) past relations and conduct of the parties, and </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(9) general principles of equity. [Sparks, 440 Mich at 159-160.] </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE OTHER FACTORS LIKE SCHOOLING</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The court may consider additional relevant factors, including “the interruption of the personal career or education of either party.” Id. at 160. The court may not give disproportionate weight to one factor. See id. at 163. Plaintiff argues that several of the trial court’s factual findings were erroneous. Plaintiff argues that the court should have attributed $8,795 of her student loans to the marital estate. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE DISCHARGED DEBTS NOT PART OF MARITAL DEBT</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The trial court’s decision not to consider this discharged debt as marital debt attributable to plaintiff was not clearly erroneous.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE VALUE OF PROPERTY AND BANKRUPTCY VALUATION</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Next, plaintiff claims that the court erred by valuing the parties’ vacant lot at $8,000, despite an appraiser’s testimony that it was worth $20,000. However, plaintiff listed the value of the lot on her bankruptcy petition as $8,000. Also, the trial court noted that the appraiser used lots in different areas to determine the value, while defendant testified that a similar lot in the area had been listed for sale at $10,000 for years but had not yet sold. In its opinion, the trial court considered the appraiser’s testimony but noted that it found defendant’s valuation more credible. The court acted within its discretion to credit one valuation over another, especially in light of plaintiff’s bankruptcy petition. No error has been shown. The record indicates that the trial court considered the factors relevant to this case.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE LONG TERM MARRIAGE</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Consistent with the parties’ testimony, the court found that this was a 24-year marriage. The court noted that defendant makes approximately $72,000 a year and plaintiff remained home to raise the parties’ children. Plaintiff has a bachelor’s degree that she claims is unmarketable, and, as of the date of trial, she had enrolled in a nursing program and plans on looking for a job once she obtains her degree.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE OF NO FAULT</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The court attributed no fault to either party. While plaintiff contests the court’s finding of “no fault” on appeal, this, again, was a credibility determination, and given the contradictory evidence contained in the record, we defer to that finding. Richards, 310 Mich App at 694. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Defendant’s total distribution resulted in a negative net value. Plaintiff’s awarded net value, on the other hand, was nearly $15,000 because she received a valuable asset, but was not ordered responsible for any marital debt. Given these circumstances, we are not “left with the firm conviction that the division was inequitable.” Sparks, 440 Mich at 152.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff also argues that the trial court abused its discretion by awarding spousal support of $800 a month for a total of eight months, beginning in February 2015.5</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LAW ON SPOUSAL SUPPORT</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “The object in awarding spousal support is to balance the incomes and needs of the parties so that neither will be impoverished; spousal support is to be based on what is just and reasonable under the circumstances of the case.” Berger v Berger, 277 Mich App 700, 726; 747 NW2d 336 (2008).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SPOUSAL SUPPORT FACTORS</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In making this determination, the trial court should consider the following factors: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(1) the past relations and conduct of the parties,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (2) the length of the marriage,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (3) the abilities of the parties to work,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (4) the source and amount of property awarded to the parties,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (5) the parties’ ages,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (6) the abilities of the parties to pay alimony,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (7) the present situation of the parties,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (8) the needs of the parties, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(9) the parties’ health, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(10) the prior standard of living of the parties and whether either is responsible for the support of others, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(11) contributions of the parties to the joint estate, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(12) a party’s fault in causing the divorce, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(13) the effect of cohabitation on a party’s financial status, and </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(14) general principles of equity. [Olson v Olson, 256 Mich App 619, 631; 671 NW2d 64 (2003).] </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A review of the record shows that the trial court did consider the relevant factors. Again, the court found that neither party was at fault. Further, the court acknowledged that plaintiff removed herself from the workforce to raise the parties’ children and could not at the time of the divorce work full-time until at least June 2015, when she expec</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, the court reasonably weighed those factors against other relevant factors.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE CHILD SUPPORT</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally, plaintiff argues that the trial court clearly erred by imputing income to her to calculate the child-support order. When determining a child-support award, the court must first determine each parent’s net income. Stallworth v Stallworth, 275 Mich App 282, 284; 738 NW2d 264 (2007).</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “A trial court has the discretion to impute income when a parent voluntarily reduces or eliminates income or when it finds that the parent has a voluntarily unexercised ability to earn.” Id. at 286-287.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FACTORS REQUIRED FOR IMPUTED INCOME. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The court’s decision to impute income to a party must be “supported by adequate fact-finding that the parent has an actual ability and likelihood of earning the imputed income.” Id. at 285. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The court must consider the following factors:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (a) Prior employment experience and history, including reasons for any termination or changes in employment.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (b) Educational level and any special skills or training. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(c) Physical and mental disabilities that may affect a parent’s ability to obtain or maintain gainful employment.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (d) Availability for work (exclude periods when a parent could not work or seek work, e.g., hospitalization, incarceration, debilitating illness, etc.). </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(e) Availability of opportunities to work in the local geographical area.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (f) The prevailing wage rates in the local geographical area.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (g) Diligence exercised in seeking appropriate employment.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (h) Evidence that the parent in question is able to earn the imputed income.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (i) Personal history, including present marital status and present means of support. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(j) The presence of the parties’ children in the parent’s home and its impact on that parent’s earnings.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (k) Whether there has been a significant reduction in income compared to the period that preceded the filing of the initial complaint or the motion for modification. [2013 MCSF 2.01(G)(2).]</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The court noted that while plaintiff is enrolled in nursing school, “it would really be almost impractical for her to have any sort of job other than . . . a minimum wage, part-time job.” Impliedly, the court found that plaintiff had an unexercised ability to earn what was practical, i.e., a part-time minimum-wage income.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It also acknowledged plaintiff’s availability to work by finding that only a part-time, minimum-wage job was practical, given her school schedule. Further, the court stated that both parties were healthy and able to work. Plaintiff challenges the court’s finding that she was available to work twenty hours a week. She argues that her nursing-school program precluded her from seeking employment, asserting that her schedule required her attention “six days a week for at least eight hours each day.” She testified about further obligations in the program. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The trial court considered plaintiff’s testimony when it found that it was impractical for plaintiff to work more than parttime. Clearly, plaintiff had a demanding schedule. However, her schedule was not such that she would have no time to hold a part-time job. The issue of childcare could be a complication, but would be mitigated at least somewhat by the fact that the minor child is 16 years old. The trial court’s factual finding on the matter was not clearly erroneous.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff also argues that there was no evidence presented regarding several of the relevant factors that need to be considered to impute income. However, defendant is correct that these factors, such as availability of work in the area and ability to earn the imputed level of income, were either not relevant or impliedly considered, because plaintiff testified that she would be qualified to work several common, minimum-wage positions—the same type of work imputed to her. While plaintiff testified that she tried to obtain employment at least once during the marriage, she acknowledged that the sought jobs required a relevant degree, which she lacked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">THE COURT OF APPEAL FINDING</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The court’s factual findings were not clearly erroneous. The court did not impute the amount of income that a full-time job would generate. It did not impute the expected income of a college graduate. Instead, it considered plaintiff’s nursing-school commitment and imputed income available from a minimum-wage, part-time position. Reversal is unwarranted. Affirmed. /s/ Michael J. Riordan /s/ Patrick M. Meter /s/ Donald S. Owens </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[BROWN]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">STATE OF MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS SEANNEEN BROWN, Plaintiff-Appellant, UNPUBLISHED October 20, 2016 v No. 327826 Clinton Circuit Court Family Division LAWRENCE HERMAN BROWN, LC No. 13-024784-DM Defendant-Appellee. Before: RIORDAN, P.J., and METER and OWENS, JJ. PER CURIAM. [BROWN]</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-16838909797523651812016-11-09T14:56:00.000-05:002016-11-09T14:58:47.468-05:00BASICS IN DIVORCE PROPERTY DIVISION<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">@terrybankert #divorce #spousalsupport #childsupport #Flint #Genesee</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BRIEF REVIEW OF LAW APPLIED IN SOME DIVORCE CASES </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Terry Bankert 810-235-1970 Flint/Genesee County Michigan</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In a recent Michigan Divorce Case The Wife Plaintiff appealed as of right the trial court’s judgment of divorce. Plaintiff challenges the trial court’s distribution of the marital property, the spousal support order, and the court’s order to impute income to plaintiff to calculate the amount of child support that defendant is required to pay to plaintiff. The Court of Appeals upheld the lower court decision. Here the case opinion has been modified to state some of the facts and the law applied. The court's analysis can be found in the case as cited below. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BACKGROUND</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The parties married in June 1990. Husband Defendant is 50 years old;wife plaintiff is 46. Defendant is employed with the State of Michigan.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in biology a short time before the marriage and thereafter worked in a laboratory for ten months.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WIFE AGREED TO BE A STAY AT HOME MOM.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plaintiff explained that she and defendant decided to start a family and that they agreed that she would stay home and raise the children. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FOUR CHILDREN ONE WAS A MINOR MINOR </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The parties have four children, the first of which was born in September 1992.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> At the time of the trial, only one of the children remained a minor and was 16 years old.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WIFE WENT BACK TO WORK</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In September 2004, plaintiff began working as a substitute teacher in the same school district that all four children attended.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff explained that she began this job because she wanted to help defendant out by “bringing in some money,” while still remaining a stay-at-home mom.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff testified that it was her job to pay the family bills and that the parties had equal access to their funds during the marriage.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff testified that defendant’s income decreased at one point during their marriage, so they used credit cards to support the family.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> She admitted that the parties were in debt.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WIFE WENT BACK TO SCHOOL</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> When the debt became overwhelming, plaintiff explained, she decided to go back to school so that she could further her education and get a higher paying job. Plaintiff enrolled in an accelerated nursing program.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HUSBAND BEGAN A SECOND JOB</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Defendant stated that he began working a second job when he learned that the -2- parties were “upside down in [their] bills.” He also claimed that he asked plaintiff to obtain employment to help remedy the situation. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HUSBAND ASKED WIFE TO RETURN TO WORK</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plaintiff claimed that defendant never asked her to get a job until she was already enrolled in nursing school and had already accumulated student loans. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PROPERTY</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition to the marital home, the parties owned a vacant lot. An appraiser testified that the marital home is worth $175,000 and the lot is worth $20,000. Defendant testified that a similar empty lot in their neighborhood has been listed for sale for $10,000, yet it has not sold, despite being on the market for ten years. The marital home is subject to two mortgages, with $138,674.04 still due on the first mortgage and $30,727.96 still due on the second mortgage. Defendant stated that he believes that the house is worth less than what he owes on the mortgages. Plaintiff testified that she filed for bankruptcy in September 2014. Plaintiff acknowledged that, on the bankruptcy petition, she listed the marital home as having a $160,000 value and the parties’ empty lot as having an $8,000 value. Over $28,000 in credit-card debt was discharged, plaintiff testified.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CREDIT CARD</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Defendant testified that there is still credit-card debt in his name, totaling $18,202.38, which was accrued during the marriage.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">AUTOMOBILE</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff testified that she drives a Town and Country van. She initially leased the vehicle and, in February 2014, the lease expired. She then borrowed $14,500 from her father to purchase the vehicle.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LOAN LISTED IN BANKRUPTCY</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff acknowledged that she listed this loan in her bankruptcy petition and that the loan was discharged.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">STUDENT LOANS USED TO PAY FAMILY BILLS</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plaintiff testified that she owes approximately $30,000 in student loans. She explained that in 2012 and 2013 she received “excess aid” checks for $4,550 and $4,245. Plaintiff said that she used this money to help pay the family bills.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PROPERTY INTENDED AS A GIFT</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> She also admitted that she purchased a riding lawnmower with that money, explaining that it was intended to be a gift for defendant for Father’s Day. Defendant said that he told plaintiff, before she purchased the lawnmower, that she should not purchase it because they could not afford it, but that he nevertheless accepted the gift and used it during the marriage.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TEMPORARY SPOUSAL SUPPORT</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Before trial, the court ordered defendant to pay $1,229 a month in temporary spousal support and $1,271 a month in temporary child support.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MODIFIABILITY</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff requested $1,900 in non modifiable spousal support until July 2016, $2,700 in non-modifiable spousal support for 36 months thereafter (to assist with student-loan payments), and $1,200 in modifiable spousal support for 60 months thereafter.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SUPPORT OF ADULT CHILDREN</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff testified that she financially supports the parties’ adult children and that those expenses were included in her expectations for spousal support. Defendant requested that if any spousal support were ordered, “it should be modifiable, of a minimal amount and for a very short duration.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUES DECIDED BY THE COURT WITH A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE LAW</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FAULT</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In an oral opinion, the court stated that it was not finding fault in this case.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HOME</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It awarded defendant the marital home, along with full responsibility for the mortgages and outstanding taxes. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CREDIT CARD</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The court further ordered that defendant was responsible for the debt attributable to the credit cards and line of credit in his name.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">AUTOMOBILE</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Defendant also received a 2007 Chevy Aveo and a motorcycle, although the court noted that there was no evidence of the value of these vehicles. The court awarded plaintiff the Town and Country van, finding that its value was $14,500 because “that was the price she, as a willing buyer, actually paid to pay off that lease when it -3- came due.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PERSONAL PROPERTY</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Further, each party received the personal property in their possession, although the court awarded defendant the lawnmower and a few other miscellaneous items. The court also attributed plaintiff’s student-loan debt to her. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SPOUSAL SUPPORT</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The court ordered that the spousal support be reduced to $800 a month effective February 2015 and continue through September 2015. The court noted that plaintiff was expecting to complete her nursing-school program in June 2015 and that this order would result in her receiving spousal support for two full years.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CHILD SUPPORT</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Finally, the court ordered that child support be recalculated by the Friend of the Court. To calculate the child support, the court imputed income to plaintiff for 20 hours of work a week at minimum wage. Defendant was ultimately ordered to pay plaintiff $860 a month for child support.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PLAINTIFF WIFE APPEALED THE LOCAL COURT DIVORCE RULING</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff first argues that the trial court’s distribution of the marital property was not equitable. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LAW</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE PROPERTY MUST BE FAIR AND EQUITABLE</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When reviewing a trial court’s divorce disposition, an “appellate court must first review the trial court’s findings of fact under the clearly erroneous standard. If the findings of fact are upheld, the appellate court must decide whether the dispositive ruling was fair and equitable in light of those facts.” Sparks v Sparks, 440 Mich 141, 151-152; 485 NW2d 893 (1992).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE THE COURT MUST HAVE A FIRM CONVICTION THE DISPOSITION INEQUITABLE</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Sparks Court stated, “[B]ecause the dispositional ruling is an exercise of discretion and . . . appellate courts are often reluctant to reverse such rulings, we hold that the ruling should be affirmed unless the appellate court is left with the firm conviction that the division was inequitable.” Id. at 152 (citations omitted).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE THE PROPERTY MUST NOT HAVE TO BE DIVIDED EQUITABLY</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A reviewing court must defer to a trial court’s factual findings regarding credibility. Richards v Richards, 310 Mich App 683, 694; 874 NW2d 704 (2015). “The goal in distributing marital assets in a divorce proceeding is to reach an equitable distribution of property in light of all the circumstances.” Gates v Gates, 256 Mich App 420, 423; 664 NW2d 231 (2003).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE PROPERTY DOES NOT HAVE TO BE DIVIDED EQUALLY</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The court does not need to divide the property equally, but it must divide it equitably considering the parties’ contributions, faults, and needs. Richards, 310 Mich App at 694.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE PROPERTY DIVISION AND SPARKS FACTORS</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The Supreme Court has held that the trial court must consider the following factors, when relevant: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(1) duration of the marriage, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(2) contributions of the parties to the marital estate, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(3) age of the parties, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(4) health of the parties, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(5) life status of the parties, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(6) necessities and circumstances of the parties, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(7) earning abilities of the parties, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(8) past relations and conduct of the parties, and </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(9) general principles of equity. [Sparks, 440 Mich at 159-160.] </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE OTHER FACTORS LIKE SCHOOLING</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The court may consider additional relevant factors, including “the interruption of the personal career or education of either party.” Id. at 160. The court may not give disproportionate weight to one factor. See id. at 163. Plaintiff argues that several of the trial court’s factual findings were erroneous. Plaintiff argues that the court should have attributed $8,795 of her student loans to the marital estate. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE DISCHARGED DEBTS NOT PART OF MARITAL DEBT</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The trial court’s decision not to consider this discharged debt as marital debt attributable to plaintiff was not clearly erroneous.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE VALUE OF PROPERTY AND BANKRUPTCY VALUATION</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Next, plaintiff claims that the court erred by valuing the parties’ vacant lot at $8,000, despite an appraiser’s testimony that it was worth $20,000. However, plaintiff listed the value of the lot on her bankruptcy petition as $8,000. Also, the trial court noted that the appraiser used lots in different areas to determine the value, while defendant testified that a similar lot in the area had been listed for sale at $10,000 for years but had not yet sold. In its opinion, the trial court considered the appraiser’s testimony but noted that it found defendant’s valuation more credible. The court acted within its discretion to credit one valuation over another, especially in light of plaintiff’s bankruptcy petition. No error has been shown. The record indicates that the trial court considered the factors relevant to this case.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE LONG TERM MARRIAGE</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Consistent with the parties’ testimony, the court found that this was a 24-year marriage. The court noted that defendant makes approximately $72,000 a year and plaintiff remained home to raise the parties’ children. Plaintiff has a bachelor’s degree that she claims is unmarketable, and, as of the date of trial, she had enrolled in a nursing program and plans on looking for a job once she obtains her degree.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE OF NO FAULT</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The court attributed no fault to either party. While plaintiff contests the court’s finding of “no fault” on appeal, this, again, was a credibility determination, and given the contradictory evidence contained in the record, we defer to that finding. Richards, 310 Mich App at 694. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Defendant’s total distribution resulted in a negative net value. Plaintiff’s awarded net value, on the other hand, was nearly $15,000 because she received a valuable asset, but was not ordered responsible for any marital debt. Given these circumstances, we are not “left with the firm conviction that the division was inequitable.” Sparks, 440 Mich at 152.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff also argues that the trial court abused its discretion by awarding spousal support of $800 a month for a total of eight months, beginning in February 2015.5</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LAW ON SPOUSAL SUPPORT</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “The object in awarding spousal support is to balance the incomes and needs of the parties so that neither will be impoverished; spousal support is to be based on what is just and reasonable under the circumstances of the case.” Berger v Berger, 277 Mich App 700, 726; 747 NW2d 336 (2008).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SPOUSAL SUPPORT FACTORS</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In making this determination, the trial court should consider the following factors: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(1) the past relations and conduct of the parties,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (2) the length of the marriage,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (3) the abilities of the parties to work,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (4) the source and amount of property awarded to the parties,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (5) the parties’ ages,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (6) the abilities of the parties to pay alimony,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (7) the present situation of the parties,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (8) the needs of the parties, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(9) the parties’ health, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(10) the prior standard of living of the parties and whether either is responsible for the support of others, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(11) contributions of the parties to the joint estate, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(12) a party’s fault in causing the divorce, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(13) the effect of cohabitation on a party’s financial status, and </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(14) general principles of equity. [Olson v Olson, 256 Mich App 619, 631; 671 NW2d 64 (2003).] </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A review of the record shows that the trial court did consider the relevant factors. Again, the court found that neither party was at fault. Further, the court acknowledged that plaintiff removed herself from the workforce to raise the parties’ children and could not at the time of the divorce work full-time until at least June 2015, when she expec</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, the court reasonably weighed those factors against other relevant factors.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUE CHILD SUPPORT</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally, plaintiff argues that the trial court clearly erred by imputing income to her to calculate the child-support order. When determining a child-support award, the court must first determine each parent’s net income. Stallworth v Stallworth, 275 Mich App 282, 284; 738 NW2d 264 (2007).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “A trial court has the discretion to impute income when a parent voluntarily reduces or eliminates income or when it finds that the parent has a voluntarily unexercised ability to earn.” Id. at 286-287.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FACTORS REQUIRED FOR IMPUTED INCOME. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The court’s decision to impute income to a party must be “supported by adequate fact-finding that the parent has an actual ability and likelihood of earning the imputed income.” Id. at 285. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The court must consider the following factors:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (a) Prior employment experience and history, including reasons for any termination or changes in employment.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (b) Educational level and any special skills or training. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(c) Physical and mental disabilities that may affect a parent’s ability to obtain or maintain gainful employment.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (d) Availability for work (exclude periods when a parent could not work or seek work, e.g., hospitalization, incarceration, debilitating illness, etc.). </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(e) Availability of opportunities to work in the local geographical area.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (f) The prevailing wage rates in the local geographical area.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (g) Diligence exercised in seeking appropriate employment.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (h) Evidence that the parent in question is able to earn the imputed income.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (i) Personal history, including present marital status and present means of support. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(j) The presence of the parties’ children in the parent’s home and its impact on that parent’s earnings.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (k) Whether there has been a significant reduction in income compared to the period that preceded the filing of the initial complaint or the motion for modification. [2013 MCSF 2.01(G)(2).]</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The court noted that while plaintiff is enrolled in nursing school, “it would really be almost impractical for her to have any sort of job other than . . . a minimum wage, part-time job.” Impliedly, the court found that plaintiff had an unexercised ability to earn what was practical, i.e., a part-time minimum-wage income.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It also acknowledged plaintiff’s availability to work by finding that only a part-time, minimum-wage job was practical, given her school schedule. Further, the court stated that both parties were healthy and able to work. Plaintiff challenges the court’s finding that she was available to work twenty hours a week. She argues that her nursing-school program precluded her from seeking employment, asserting that her schedule required her attention “six days a week for at least eight hours each day.” She testified about further obligations in the program. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The trial court considered plaintiff’s testimony when it found that it was impractical for plaintiff to work more than parttime. Clearly, plaintiff had a demanding schedule. However, her schedule was not such that she would have no time to hold a part-time job. The issue of childcare could be a complication, but would be mitigated at least somewhat by the fact that the minor child is 16 years old. The trial court’s factual finding on the matter was not clearly erroneous.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Plaintiff also argues that there was no evidence presented regarding several of the relevant factors that need to be considered to impute income. However, defendant is correct that these factors, such as availability of work in the area and ability to earn the imputed level of income, were either not relevant or impliedly considered, because plaintiff testified that she would be qualified to work several common, minimum-wage positions—the same type of work imputed to her. While plaintiff testified that she tried to obtain employment at least once during the marriage, she acknowledged that the sought jobs required a relevant degree, which she lacked.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">THE COURT OF APPEAL FINDING</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The court’s factual findings were not clearly erroneous. The court did not impute the amount of income that a full-time job would generate. It did not impute the expected income of a college graduate. Instead, it considered plaintiff’s nursing-school commitment and imputed income available from a minimum-wage, part-time position. Reversal is unwarranted. Affirmed. /s/ Michael J. Riordan /s/ Patrick M. Meter /s/ Donald S. Owens </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[BROWN]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">STATE OF MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS SEANNEEN BROWN, Plaintiff-Appellant, UNPUBLISHED October 20, 2016 v No. 327826 Clinton Circuit Court Family Division LAWRENCE HERMAN BROWN, LC No. 13-024784-DM Defendant-Appellee. Before: RIORDAN, P.J., and METER and OWENS, JJ. PER CURIAM. [BROWN]</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-2226974610146868612015-02-16T16:38:00.000-05:002015-02-16T16:38:37.385-05:00SO YOU WANT CHANGE CHILD CUSTODY! WHAT DIO YOU DO?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">THE </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CHILD CUSTODY</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ORDER MUST BE CHANGED ! What do I do?</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-8ed93506-944b-9783-0475-27f2ab57364a" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A common theme clients come to me with after a divorce judgement is in place involves dissatisfaction with the award of physical and legal custody in their divorce. Usually I was not involved in the original action.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#Flint #Divorce</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am a Family Law </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Flint Divorce</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> child custody attorney. Call 235-1970 for Terry Bankert if you have additional questions. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHAT IS THE UNDERLYING ORDER CONCERNING</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> CHILD CUSTODY.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some judgements done with the best of intentions just will not work. The cause varies. Court want </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">child custody</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> decisions to be hard to change. My analysis usually begins by asking what is the current order of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">custody</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and what is different since that order was entered? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISSUES YOU NEED TO KNOW IN YOUR ATTEMPT TO </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CHANGE CUSTODY</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Under MCL 722.27(1)(c), before modifying a custody order, the court must consider three issues:</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.575; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YOU the moving party has met the initial burden of establishing either “proper cause” or a “change of circumstances;”</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.575; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whether there is an established custodial environment; which will establish the burden of proof or how hard your task will be and</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.575; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whether the modification is in the best interests of the child. [1]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHAT HAVE YOU SAID IS THE REASON TO CHANGE CUSTODY. WHAT IS YOUR PROPER CAUSE OR CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #3e4519; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">THE FIRST QUESTION THE JUDGE MUST ANSWER.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The threshold question in any change of custody is whether the moving party has established proper cause or change of circumstances. MCL 722.27(1)(c); </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vodvarka v. Grasmeyer</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 259 Mich App. 499, 675 NW2d 847 (2003).[1]</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #3e4519; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YOU WILL HAVE THE BURDEN OF PROOF IS YOU WANT TO CHANGE CHILD CUSTODY.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The moving party has the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to establish that either proper cause or a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">change of circumstances</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> exists. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vodvarka, supra. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">at 509. [1]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHAT REASONS FOR THE CHANGE IN CUSTODY WILL THE JUDGE THINK ARE PROPER CAUSE.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proper cause means one or more appropriate grounds that have or could have a significant effect on the child’s life to the extent that a reevaluation of the child’s custodial situation should be undertaken.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vodvarka, supra</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. at 511. [1]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">THE ATTORNEY OPPOSING YOUR CHANGE WILL ASK FOR A VODVARKA HEARING .</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.575; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vodvarka</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, the Court of Appeals held that grounds for proper cause should be relative to the twelve best interest factors contained in MCL 722.23(a)–(l). The grounds presented should be “legally sufficient,” i.e., they must be of a magnitude to have a significant effect on the child’s well-being to the extent that revisiting the custody order would be proper. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vodvarka, supra</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. at 512. [1]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #3e4519; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">EXAMPLES OF CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.575; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In order for there to be a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">change of circumstances</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, the moving party must show that, since the entry of the last custody order, the conditions surrounding custody of the child, which have or could have a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">significant </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">effect on the child’s well-being, have materially changed. Again, not just any change will suffice, for over time there will always be changes in a child’s environment, behavior and well-being. Instead, the evidence must demonstrate something more than the normal life changes (both good and bad) that occur in the life of a child, and there must be at least some evidence that material changes have had or will almost certainly have an effect on the child.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vodvarka, supra. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">at 513–514. [1]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Evidence of the circumstances existing at the time of and before the entry of the prior custody order will be relevant for comparison purposes, but</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the change of circumstances must have occurred </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">after </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">entry of the last custody order</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The moving party cannot rely on facts that existed before entry of the custody order to establish a “change” of circumstances. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vodvarka, supra. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">at 514. [1]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">change in economic circumstance</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">s, standing alone, is insufficient to warrant revisiting a previously entered child custody order. Further, those concerns are more appropriately addressed through an increase in the child support paid to the custodial parent following a properly filed motion to modify child support. A </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">decline in child’s grades was insufficient to constitute a change in circumstances</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> sufficient to warrant modification of parties’ joint custody arrangement to change sole physical custody from mother to father; child was not in danger of failing any subject, and the decline in child’s grades could have been attributable to child’s change in schools or the different educational materials. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Corporan v. Henton</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 282 Mich. App. 599, 766 N.W.2d 903 (2009). [1]</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.575; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The 2006 judgment of divorce (JOD) contained clause that purported to allow the parties child to be moved out of Michigan without court approval and that the provisions of MCL 722.31 do not apply as the plaintiff mother had sole legal custody. Shortly after the entry of the JOD, the mother moved to Toronto, Canada. The father was still afforded parenting time, although less frequently than before. Father filed a motion to modify legal custody and to restore his parenting time. The trial court held that the clauses in the JOD allowing movement out of the state of Michigan were unenforceable and that a change in legal custody and parenting time was in the best interest of the child claiming the father met this burden by clear and convincing evidence. The Court of Appeals reversed, holding that a mere change in residence is not enough to qualify as a change in circumstance or proper cause. Absent an alteration in an established custodial environment, changing residence is not enough. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brausch v. Brausch</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 283 Mich.App. 339; 770 NW2d 77 (2009).[1]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gerstenschlager v. Gerstenschlager</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 292 Mich App 654; 808 NW2d 811 (2011) the trial court found there was a change of circumstances existed where defendant had taken in boarders and the child was getting older. The Court of Appeals reversed and remanded to the Trial court, finding that the fact that a child is growing up, the fact that a child has started high school, and the fact that the child faces scheduling changes relating to school and extra-curricular activities “are the type of normal life changes that occur during a child’s life and that do not warrant a change in the child’s custodial environment.” The Court also found that the evidence suggested that the boarders’ presence in the house was a matter of minimal consequence to the child. [1]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHAT IS AN ESTABLISHED CUSTODIAL ENVIRONMENT </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.575; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> definition of an established custodial environment</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is found in MCL 722.27(1)(c), which states as follows:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The custodial environment of a child is established if over an appreciable time the child naturally looks to the custodian in that environment for guidance, discipline, the necessities of life, and parental comfort. The age of the child, the physical environment, and the inclination of the custodian and the child as to permanency of the relationship shall also be considered.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> [1]</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.575; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Court must determine whether an established </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">custodial environmen</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">t exists before it makes a determination regarding the child’s best interests in a custody proceeding. Whether an established custodial environment exists is a question of fact. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mogle v. Scriver</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 241 Mich App 192, 197; 614 NW2d 696 (2000).[1]</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.575; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An established custodial environment, for the purposes of determining an appropriate child custody arrangement, is one of significant duration in which the relationship between the custodian and child is marked by qualities of security, stability and permanence; however, an established custodial environment need not be limited to one household, it can exist in more than one home.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mogle, supra</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. at 197. See also MCL 722.27(1)(c).[1]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Custody orders</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, by themselves, do not establish a custodial environment. The court will look to the actual circumstances. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bowers v. Bowers</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 198 Mich App 320, 497 NW2d 602 (1993).[1]</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.575; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shann v. Shann</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 293 Mich App 302, 809 NW2d 435 (2011) the Court of Appeals held that the fact that CPS removed the child from the home is in and of itself sufficient evidence of a change in circumstances to warrant a trial court to consider a change of custody.[1]</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.575; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Trial Court granted Plaintiff a change of domicile from Plymouth to Windsor (less than 100 miles). The move would result in the loss of Defendant’s weeknight visits. The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s ruling that the established custodial environment would not change if Defendant were awarded additional weekend visitation, which would allow him to have the same number of overnights. The Court also noted that Defendant could attend the child’s school functions. Gagnon v. Glowacki, 295 Mich App 557, 815 NW2d 141 (2012).[1]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO PROVE AND BY HOW MUCH.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The court will take testimony and accept evidence that will be used in a Best Interest analysis concerning your case. The Best Interest REFERS TO A State Statute MCL 722.23 arranged by alphabetical letter a-l, The court will weigh and measure each element. But since the the system does not like to change custody your burden may be high. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #3e4519; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHAT IS THE STANDARD OF PROOF. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The court shall not modify or amend its previous judgments or orders or issue a new order so as to change the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">established custodial environment of a child unless there is presented clear and convincing evidence that it is in the best interest of the child</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. MCL 722.27(1)(c).</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> If no established custodial environment exists, custody may be modified by showing that a change would be in the best interests of the child by a preponderance of the evidence.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hall v. Hall</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 156 Mich App 286, 289; 401 NW2d 353 (1986).[1]</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The best interests of the child is defined in MCL 722.23, which states:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.575; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As used in this act, “best interests of the child” means the sum total of the following factors to be considered, evaluated, and determined by the court:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(a) The love, affection, and other emotional ties existing between the parties involved and the child.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(b) The capacity and disposition of the parties involved to give the child love, affection, and guidance and to continue the education and raising of the child in his or her religion or creed, if any.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(c) The capacity and disposition of the parties involved to provide the child with food, clothing, medical care or other remedial care recognized and permitted under the laws of this state in place of medical care, and other material needs.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(d) The length of time the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment, and the desirability of maintaining continuity.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(e) The permanence, as a family unit, of the existing or proposed custodial home or homes.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(f) The moral fitness of the parties involved.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(g) The mental and physical health of the parties involved.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(h) The home, school, and community record of the child.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(i) The reasonable preference of the child, if the court considers the child to be of sufficient age to express preference.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(j) The willingness and ability of each of the parties to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-child relationship between the child and the other parent or the child and the parents.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(k) Domestic violence, regardless of whether the violence was directed against or witnessed by the child.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(l) Any other factor considered by the court to be relevant to a particular child custody dispute.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is just an overview. I would not suggest doing this without an attorney.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Terry Bankert Flint Child Custody Lawyer 810-235-1970.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[1]</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.icle.org/MODULES/SEMINARS/topics.ASPX?SEMINARCODE=2014CR3524&TOPICCODE=20142D3524&LIVE=FALSE&TYPE=OD" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Handling Child Custody, Child Support & Parenting Time</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Modification of Custody </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.icle.org/modules/directories/contributors/bio.aspx?Pnumber=P28066" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #002c77; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hon. Linda S. Hallmark</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Oakland County Probate Court</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-22740830937531787862015-01-09T17:36:00.001-05:002015-01-09T17:36:07.353-05:00VICTEM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STUCK WITH ANTENUPTIAL AGREEMENT <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WIFE BEATER STILL GETS THE BENEFIT.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Discussed are Issues of Divorce, Validity of the parties' antenuptial agreement and "Change in circumstances" (COC)</span><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; Presented by</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> FLINT DIVORCE LAWYE</span><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">R Terry R. Bankert 235-1970 1/9/15.#flintdivorce</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Michigan Court of Appeals Decided 12/18/14, among other issues that the parties' antenuptial agreement was valid and enforceable, concluding that to invalidate it on the basis of one party's fault would contravene the agreement's clear and unambiguous language, and that as a matter of law, the defendant-wife failed to show that a change of circumstances [ COC] was sufficient to void it.[1] The claimed change in circumstances was the domestic violence inflicted on the wife by the husband.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The overriding principle is that “parties who negotiate and ratify antenuptial agreements should do so with the confidence that their expressed intent will be upheld and enforced by the courts.” </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Id.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at 145. [2]</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The definition of an #antenuptial . </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A prenuptial agreement, antenuptial agreement, or premarital agreement, commonly abbreviated to prenup or prenupt, is a</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b0080; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">contract</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> entered into prior to </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b0080; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">marriage</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_union" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b0080; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">civil union</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or any other agreement prior to the main agreement by the people intending to marry or contract with each other.[3]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The content of a prenuptial agreement can vary widely, but commonly includes provisions for </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_of_property" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b0080; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">division of property</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alimony" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b0080; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">spousal support</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in the event of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divorce" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b0080; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">divorce</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or breakup of marriage.[3]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They may also include terms for the forfeiture of assets as a result of divorce on the grounds of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adultery" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b0080; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">adultery</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; further conditions of guardianship may be included as well.[3]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It should not be confused with the historic </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_settlement" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b0080; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">marriage settlement</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> which was concerned not primarily with the effects of divorce but with the establishment and maintaining of dynastic families.[3]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In some countries, including </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b0080; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Belgium</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b0080; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Netherlands</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, the prenuptial agreement not only provides for the event of a divorce, but also to protect some property during the marriage, for instance in case of a bankruptcy.[3]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Postnuptial agreements are similar to prenuptial agreements, except that they are entered into after a couple is married.</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prenuptial_agreement#cite_note-1" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b0080; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">[1] </span></a><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> [3]</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Defendant wife in this case is trying to set aside the prenuptial agreement she signed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her argument is essential she could not foresee her husband would be a wife beater when she signed the prenuptial agreement. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Defendant here did not provide any case law supporting "her position that someone's 'fault' in a divorce can constitute an unforeseen" COC. Further, assuming that the alleged abuse "occurred and was unforeseeable," this COC was "not sufficient to void the parties' antenuptial agreement in this instance.[1]</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The types of changes of circumstances that may void an otherwise valid antenuptial agreement must relate </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to the issues addressed in the antenuptial agreement</span><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.[1]</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Since the primary focus of the antenuptial agreement addressed spousal support and the division of the parties' assets, any changes of circumstances must relate to these aspects, and here, the domestic abuse does not." The court found that </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hutchison </span><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">did not stand for the proposition that abuse, alone, can constitute a sufficient COC to void an otherwise valid antenuptial agreement.[1]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Defendant here appeals as of right a judgment of divorce entered by the trial court. We the Michigan COurt of Appeals affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings. [2]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The parties signed an antenuptial agreement on September 9, 1993, two days before their wedding on September 11, 1993. This case primarily deals with the validity and enforcement of that antenuptial agreement.[2]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">THE FOLLOWING ARE PARTS OF THAT AGREEMENT </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It said “ In the event that the marriage . . . terminate[s] as a result of divorce, then, in full satisfaction, settlement, and discharge of any and all rights or claims of alimony, support, property division, or other rights or claims of any kind, nature, or description incident to marriage and divorce (including any right to payment of legal fees incident to a divorce), under the present or future statutes and laws of common law of the state of Michigan or any other jurisdiction (all of which are hereby waived and released), the parties agree that all property acquired after the marriage between the parties shall be divided between the parties with each party receiving 50 percent of the said property”.[2]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> However, notwithstanding the above, the following property acquired after the marriage will remain the sole and separate property of the party acquiring the property and/or named on the property: [2]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a. As provided in paragraph Two and Three of this antenuptial agreement, any increase in the value of any property, rents, profits, or dividends arising from property previously owned by either party shall remain the sole and separate property of that party.[2]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">b. Any property acquired in either party’s individual capacity or name during the marriage, including any contributions to retirement plans (including but not limited to IRAs, 401(k) plans, SEP IRAs, IRA rollovers, and pension plans), shall remain the sole and separate property of the party named on the account or the party who acquired the property in his or her individual capacity or name.[2]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">* * *</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. Each party shall, without compensation, join as grantor in any and all conveyances of property made by the other party or by his or her heirs, devises, or personal representatives, thereby relinquishing all claim to the property so conveyed, including without limitation any dower or homestead rights, and each party shall further, upon the other’s request, take any and all steps and execute, acknowledge, and deliver to the other party any and all further instruments necessary or expedient to effectuate the purpose and intent of this agreement.[2]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">* * *</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10. Each party acknowledges that the other party has advised him or her of the other party’s means, resources, income, and the nature and extent of the other party’s properties and holdings (including, but not limited to, the financial information set forth in exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference) and that there is a likelihood for substantial appreciation of those assets subsequent to the marriage of the parties.[2]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Included with the agreement was plaintiff’s disclosure statement, which provided that he already had approximately $400,000 in net worth.[2]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because the antenuptial agreement prohibited the award of any spousal support, the trial court did not award any.[2]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YOU MAY BE INTERESTED TO KNOW. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Michigan, antenuptial agreements “may be voided (1) when obtained through fraud, duress, mistake, or misrepresentation or nondisclosure of a material fact, (2) if it was unconscionable when executed, or (3) when the facts and circumstances are so changed since the agreement was executed that its enforcement would be unfair and unreasonable.” </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reed v Reed</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="http://www.icle.org/modules/mlo/cases/display.aspx?style=book&cite=265%20Mich%20App%20131" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #002c77; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">265 Mich App 131</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 142-143; 693 NW2d 825 (2005). The party challenging the validity of an antenuptial agreement carries the burden of proof and persuasion. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Id.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at 143. [2]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“To determine if a prenuptial agreement is unenforceable because of a change in circumstances, the focus is on whether the changed circumstances were reasonably foreseeable either before or during the signing of the prenuptial agreement.” </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Woodington v Shokoohi</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="http://www.icle.org/modules/mlo/cases/display.aspx?style=book&cite=288%20Mich%20App%20352" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #002c77; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">288 Mich App 352</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 373;793 NW2d 63 (2010).[2]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">DID YOU KNOW THE FOLLOWING IS HOW THE COURTS DECIDE TO DIVIDE YOUR PRIOPERTY.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> However, generally, assets earned by one spouse during the marriage are nonetheless considered part of the marital estate. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Korth</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 256 Mich App at 291. When dividing the marital estate, trial courts may consider the following factors:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(1) the duration of the marriage, (2) the contributions of the parties to the marital estate, (3) the age of the parties, (4) the health of the parties, (5) the life situation of the parties, Prenuptial agreements . . . provide . . . people with the opportunity to ensure predictability, plan their future with more security, and, most importantly, decide their own destiny.[2]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The overriding principle is that “parties who negotiate and ratify antenuptial agreements should do so with the confidence that their expressed intent will be upheld and enforced by the courts.” </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Id.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at 145. [2]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this case, there is an antenuptial agreement that unambiguously provides that “[a]ny property acquired in either party’s individual capacity or name during the marriage . . . shall remain the sole and separate property of the party named on the account or the party who acquired the property in his or her individual capacity or name.” Nevertheless, defendant claims that the trial court incorrectly refused to consider dividing the property instead pursuant to MCL </span><a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&objectname=mcl-552-23" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #002c77; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">552.23(1)</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and MCL </span><a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&objectname=mcl-552-401" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #002c77; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">552.401</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. [2]</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Presented by</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> FLINT DIVORCE ATTORNEY</span><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Terry R. Bankert 235-1970 1/9/15.#flintdivorce</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SOURCE</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[1]</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Court: </span><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Michigan Court of Appeals (Published),</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Case Name: </span><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">AXXXXX v. AXXXXX</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">e-Journal Number: </span><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">58909,</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Judge(s): </span><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wilder, M.J. Kelly, and Fort Hood Decided 12/18/14</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[2]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #3e4519; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Decided December 18, 2014,</span><a href="http://www.icle.org/modules/mlo/home_michapp.aspx" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MI Court of Appeals Published Opinions & Orders</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ffff44; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">AXXXXX</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> v </span><span style="background-color: #ffff44; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">AXXXXX,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before: M.J. Kelly, P.J., and Wilder and Fort Hood, JJ.,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e4519; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Published Michigan Court of Appeals Opinion,Docket No(s) 308194</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #3e4519; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lower Court Docket No(s) 10-110358-DM,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wilder, J.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[3]</span></div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prenuptial_agreement" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prenuptial_agreement</span></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-82318299892065844532015-01-05T16:52:00.000-05:002015-01-05T16:52:24.529-05:00DO YOU WANT YOUR CHILDREN TO LIVE WITH YOU?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you feel your children would be better of living with you rather than your ex spouse who has child custody what can you do? #childcustody</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PROVE A PROPER CAUSE OR CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are several important steps the first discussed here is a court determination that a” change of circumstances exists.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Additional questions about change in custody can be found by contacting Flint Divorce Attorney Terry R. Bankert 1000 Beach St. Flint MI 810-235-1970 or </span><a href="mailto:terry@attorneybankert.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">terry@attorneybankert.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> #flintdivorce</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A RECENT DENIAL OF A FATHER'S MOTION TO CHANGE CUSTODY</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a recent Michigan Court of Appeals Case, looking at Kent Circuit Court,LC No. 12-005913-DM case Defendant father appeals as of right a May 13, 2014 order, with several other issues, denying his motion for change of custody in regard to the parties’ minor child, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TO DETERMINE CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRES IS WHAT IS COMMONLY CALLED A VODVARKA HEARING</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Child custody modification of a custody order the controlling state statute is; MCL 722.27(1)(c) while the controlling case law is Vodvarka v Grasmeyer, 259 Mich App 499, 509; 675 NW2d 847 (2003). “</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the Michigan Court of Appeals reviews a child custody modification of a County trial court decision, here </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kent Circuit Court,LC No. 12-005913-DM, to deny a motion for change in custody it determines whether the trial court's finding that there was no "change of circumstances" or "proper cause" was against the great weight of the evidence; MCL 722.28;[1]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Michigan Court of Appeals recently held that the trial court,Kent Circuit Court,LC No. 12-005913-DM</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> did not err by denying the defendant-father's motion for change of custody of the parties' minor child.[1]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Michigan Court of Appeals held that the trial court's, In the Kent case, finding that there was no change of circumstances or proper cause to support a change in custody was not against the great weight of the evidence.[1]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> "None of the allegations raised by father demonstrated the type of circumstances that would have had a significant effect on the child's life or well-being.[1]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> HOW A CHANGE OF CUSTODY DECISION IS MADE. THE FIRST HURDLE .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A child custody award may only be modified after there has been “proper cause</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">shown or because of change of circumstances . . . .” MCL 722.27(1)(c). “[1]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The movant, the parent that wants a change, of course has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that either proper cause or a change of circumstances exists . . . .” Vodvarka v Grasmeyer, 259 Mich App 499, 509; 675 NW2d 847 (2003). “ [1]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proper cause” sufficient to warrant revisiting a custody order “means one or</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">more appropriate grounds that have or could have a significant effect on the child’s life to the extent that a reevaluation of the child’s custodial situation should be undertaken.” Id. at 511.[1]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">THE COURT LOOKS AT FACTS THAT HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE ENTRY OF THE LAST ORDER THAT ARE IMPORTANT OR MATERIAL TO THE CHILDS BEST INTEREST</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To demonstrate a change of circumstances meriting consideration of a custody change, “a movant must prove that, since the entry of the last custody order, the conditions surrounding custody of the child, which have or could have a significant effect on the child’s well-being, have materially ]changed.” Id. at 513. [1]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“[T]he evidence must demonstrate something more than the normal life changes (both good and bad) that occur during the life of a child, and there must be at least some evidence that the material changes have had or will almost certainly have an effect on the child.” Id. at 513-514. [1]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the Kent Circuit Court,LC No. 12-005913-DM case the court did not find the required change in circumstances</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As stated above a child-custody award may only be modified after there has been “proper cause shown or because of change of circumstances . . . .” MCL 722.27(1)(c). [2]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The purpose of the proper cause or change-of-circumstances requirement is “to ‘erect a barrier against removal of a child from an established custodial environment and to minimize unwarranted and disruptive changes of custody orders.’” Vodvarka v Grasmeyer, 259 Mich App 499, 509; 675 NW2d 847 (2003), [2]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> None of the allegations raised by father demonstrated the type of circumstances that would have had a significant effect on the child’s life or well-being. See Vodvarka, 259 Mich App at 512-513.[1]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> At most, father’s allegations amount to nothing more than normal life changes for the child or minor inconveniences to father in his attempts to interact with mother. See id. at 512-514.[1]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While it is true that “a stipulation by the parties regarding a matter of law is not binding</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">on a court,” see Staff v Johnson, 242 Mich App 521, 529; 619 NW2d 57 (2000),the Michigan Court of Appeals cannot characterize the factually based change-of-circumstances issue as purely a “matter of law.” In Vodvarka, 259 Mich App at 512, the Court stated, “Often . . ., the facts alleged to constitute proper cause or a change of circumstances will be undisputed, or the court can accept as true the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">facts allegedly comprising proper cause or a change of circumstances, and then decide if they are legally sufficient to satisfy the standard.”[2]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Washtenaw Circuit Court LC No. 13-001155-DC the consent order did not reflect a clear temporary arrangement. Instead, it explicitly stated, “the parties stipulate that the parties minor child shall attend kindergarten in the State of Michigan until there is a determination of change of custody” (emphasis added).[2]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The parties stipulated on July 29, 2013, that there was, in fact, a change of circumstances, and the legal standard was satisfied. Vodvarka, 259 Mich App512.[2]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Under all the circumstances, the Michigan Court of Appeals found “we conclude that the Washtenaw Circuit Court LC No. 13-001155-DC ultimately erred in finding no change of circumstances sufficient to warrant a revisiting of the original custody order.[2]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you have additional questions about change in custody please contact Flint Divorce Lawyer Terry R. Bankert 1000 Beach ST. Flint MI 810-235-1970 or terry@attorneybankert.com</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Source [1]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">STATE OF MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS,Before: M.J. KELLY, P.J., and BECKERING and SHAPIRO, JJ.PER CURIAM.,UNPUBLISHED November 20, 2014</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">v No. 322082 Kent Circuit Court,LC No. 12-005913-DM</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Source [2]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">STATE OF MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">UNPUBLISHED November 18, 2014 v No. 320871</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Washtenaw Circuit Court LC No. 13-001155-DC</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">e-Journal Number: </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">58667</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7206731586449610876.post-29240213628509870742014-08-10T09:37:00.001-05:002014-08-10T09:37:40.419-05:00YOUR ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP " FLINT CITIZEN COMMITTEE ON GOVERNANCE"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FCCG update 8/10/14 10:30 am</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let's be the first Citizens Group to take a position on the #Flint City Charter related ballot questions announced to be on the November 2014 ballot .</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Join us in person 1714 Oklahoma Flint Mi or online at </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flinttalkradio.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.flinttalkradio.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHEN,On Wednesday 08/13/14 at 6 pm.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHERE in the basement studio of Flint Talk Radio 1714 Oklahoma Flint Mi or online at the link above.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHAT, the First meeting of the Facebook group "Flint Citizens Committee on Governance" (FCCG ) will meet live streamed in the studio. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHY, advocate master plan implementation, zoning changes to comport with the master plan, charter revision to comport with the master plan.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHO, those who choose to participate in person or online .</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One Mission I will propose is that a process is decided for FCCG to take a position on the November 2014 ballot Q's the the Flint City attorney on 8/12/14 or the day before our meetings has submitted.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I understand the issues from the City Attorney to be three; </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vote in November to form a Flint Charter Commission.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vote in November to eliminate the offices of civil service and </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vote in November to eliminate the Ombudsman by charter amendment.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FCCG may be the first organization to take a position on these issues. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An Opportunity for part of the community to voice its opinion.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If FCCG decides to take a position, how will it be done and when?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> If you like transparency it is the order of the day. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FLINT TRILOGY OF CHANGE</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At This meeting will also be a discussion concerning, if time permits,my concept of the Flint Trilogy of Change and what other actions can we collectively begin. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will run it as a GA unless those present decide otherwise.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">GA means general assembly or townhall.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Meeting .</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As facilitator I will run/chair the first meeting. The idea is to function by consensus. Total agreement of those present. Work groups create the action. We will let these objectives develop by the group.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The trilogy of change in Flint continues to come together. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Creation of a Master Plan.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2.Change the city zoning to match the priorities of the master plan. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3.By ballot form a charter commission some want it with the leaders of step 1 &2 . Use the charter commission to Write a new charter to reflect the values of the master plan and change Flints form of government from the failed strong mayor to city manager .</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My opinion is that By human nature those who gained power to do step 1 continue in 2. These same people will be organizing to elect themselves to control step three. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Again my opinion,All is being done in consort with the consent and direction of the emergency manager ,who answers to the Governor ,who is an friend of the Uptown Six a private corporation that effectively owns downtown and is re shaping it to match the vision of the Mott Foundation.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the use of scarce resources its the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Downtown vs Neighborhoods </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Downtown</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is having it’s way .</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trickle Down revitalization of Flint .</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What helps downtown will trickle down to the neighborhoods .</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The only way left to work for neighborhood revitalization is to back neighborhood candidates for the Flint Charter Commission.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will join with you and other members of the Flint Community to make sure an informed cross section of Flint is represented on the Charter Commission. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope FCCG provides a vehicle to do just that.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What should our plan be ?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What do you think?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Join us by watching the live stream .</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flinttalkradio.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.flinttalkradio.com/</span></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1