Law Blog

In a highly controversial ruling from the Iowa Supreme Court, same sex couples received a green-light for marriage when a state law banning such marriages was determined unconstitutional. In a 63 page decision (the first 6-pages of which listed a series of opposing amicus groups that had legal representation in the briefing of the case), the Iowa Supreme Court held that the state law banning gay marriage violated the Equal Protection clause of the U.S. Constitution by treating same-sex couples differently than other couples without a sufficient government interest justifying the classification.

One of the most significant (and often painful) events in divorce proceedings is when a parent seeks a change of domicile; a relocation of the children beyond the 100-miles allowed by the Legislature in the Child Custody Act.

Our firm was recently retained by a woman charged with leaving the scene of an injury accident resulting in death, a five-year felony.

Over the past six-months, our firm has achieved notable plea agreements with the Prosecutors in Macomb and Oakland Counties in three major felony cases. As a result, our clients were well served, their freedoms were preserved, and their families were very pleased with our results when it really counted.

James Cook of California, hailed by many divorce professionals as the pioneer of modern “joint custody” arrangements, died of natural causes at his home in California.

A new version of a “New York minute”, or just another sign of the times? A law firm in New York City is offering clients divorce in under an hour, and for less than $500, not including filing fees, courier expenses, and other fine print.

A recent study referenced in the Washington Post suggests the divorce rate among parents with ADHD children is almost double from the norm. The study also correlates an increase in alcohol consupmtion for the same group.

Our firm seeks to add some interest to the important but oft-dry subject of probate law, probate litigation, and estate planning. We are developing this law blog, the electronic probate attorney, to keep our current probate and estate planning clients informed of developments and to attract new clients.

Recent discussions between criminal defense attorneys comparing notes about district court judges in Oakland and Genesse counties have revealed that many of their MIP clients are subjected to jail sentences when they subsequently plead guilty to a violation of probation. The law prohibits any jail sentence for a minor that pleads guilty to possession of alcohol.

In an unusual decision by the Michigan Court of Appeals, a lesbian couple who adopted three children in Illinois in 2003, and who are now ending their same-sex relationship, will have the opportunity to present evidence to a family court judge in support of their respective claims for custody and parenting time. The decision is unusual to the extent that the Court of Appeals did not consider the transcript of the arguments made before the lower court because the appellant, representing herself without legal counsel, did not bother to file the transcripts before the appellate court. Michigan does not recognize same-sex marriages nor can a same-sex couple adopt the same child. This case presents a procedural twist where a family court judge will now have to consider the competing claims of each adoptive parent. The following link addresses the case in a recent article published in the Chicago Tribune: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-gayadoption,0,2545662.story