Divorce & Separation
No two divorces are the same, and yours deserves attorneys who understand the specifics, not a one-size-fits-all approach. DAWN brings decades of focused experience to divorce, annulment, same-sex dissolution, and domicile disputes.
Divorce in Michigan
Michigan is a no-fault divorce state, meaning you don't need to prove wrongdoing, only that the marriage has broken down. At least one spouse must have lived in Michigan for 180 days before filing. A mandatory waiting period applies before finalization: 60 days if there are no minor children, or six months if there are.
Divorce means more than just ending a marriage, it means dividing property, determining custody, and calculating support. The decisions made along the way can affect your family for years. DAWN's attorneys guide you through every step.
Annulment
An annulment declares that a marriage was never legally valid, rather than ending a valid one. Michigan law allows annulment in specific circumstances, including a prior undissolved marriage, fraud, force, underage marriage without consent, or a marriage that was never consummated.
Because annulment requires proving the marriage was invalid from the start, not every marriage someone wants to end will qualify. DAWN's attorneys can help you determine if annulment is the right path.
Same-Sex Divorce
Same-sex couples follow the same divorce process as any married couple, but often face added complexity, especially those together for years before marriage became legally available to them.
This history can raise unique questions around property acquired before the marriage was legally recognized, or parental rights for children born or adopted before both spouses had legal standing. These issues call for an attorney who understands that history.
DAWN's attorneys have direct experience with same-sex divorce and are here to protect your rights and your family's.
Change of Domicile Request
Domicile means a person's legal residence, where they intend to make their home. Under Michigan law, a parent cannot move a child's residence out of state, or more than 100 miles from their current legal residence, without the other parent's consent or a court order. This rule applies whenever parents share joint legal custody.
DAWN's attorneys help parents navigated change of domicile requests, whether seeking to relocate or opposing a move.
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