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Divorcee Rips Ex-Spouse on His Blog

A family court judge in Bucks County, Pennsylvania has enjoined divorcee Anthony Morelli from operating his web site devoted to his ex-wife; thepsychoexwife.

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Fathers See Gains in County Family Courts

Do the regularly maintained statistics support the contention that fathers are getting more time with their children in family courts? To borrow a lyric from the 70’s band, Boston, “it’s more than a feeling“.

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SCOTUS: No Right to Attorney in Child Support Civil Contempt Proceeding

As the High Court’s term comes to an end this week, SCOTUS is issuing opinions by the day. One of those announced this week was the South Carolina case involving a father’s contempt proceeding for failure to pay his child support.

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State Bar Task Force Recommends Streamlining Courts System

The lawyers saw it coming long ago. With waves of deep budget cuts crashing down upon the public sector, how could the judiciary keep-up with the ever higher demand for its high-quality service we have come to expect? Judicial reform. At the direction of the Michigan Supreme Court, the State Bar of Michigan selected a task force of attorneys and judges from across the state back in early-2009.

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SCOTUS Reprise: Stripper’s Estate Gets Second Oral Argument

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Five out Of Six Trial Victories; Not Bad

Five out Of Six Trial Victories; Not Bad

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Overreaching, Post-Divorce Style: Michael Douglas’ Ex Demonstrates “Greed Is Good”

Overreaching, Post-Divorce Style: Michael Douglas’ Ex Demonstrates “Greed is Good”

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Wayne County Probate Judge Milton Mack Receives National Award

Wayne County Probate Judge Milton Mack Receives National Award

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Macomb Woman Obtains Divorce from The Grave

In a recent case originating from Macomb County, the Michigan Supreme Court held that a woman, scorned by her long-time but absentee husband, could effectively divorce him from her grave.

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Oakland Circuit Judge-Shuffle Shaping Up

Oakland Circuit Judge-Shuffle Shaping Up

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U.S. Supreme Court (slightly) Tilts Miranda Warnings Toward Police in Case from Southfield

U.S. Supreme Court (slightly) Tilts Miranda Warnings Toward Police in Case from Southfield

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Interview with Michigan Supreme Court Justice Maura Corrigan

Interview with Michigan Supreme Court Justice Maura Corrigan

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No Joke: What’s the Difference Between a Divorce and A Tattoo?

No Joke: What’s the Difference Between a Divorce and a Tatoo?

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2009 Michigan Child Custody Update

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Washtenaw County Guardianship Spotlights Problematic Surrogate Arrangement

In the Washtenaw County case, the surrogate mother denies there was a commercial surrogacy contract, claiming she carried the twins gratutiously, only seeking reimbursement for her medical expenses. Ms. Kehoe disputes this, blames Michigan’s poor laws on this subject, and views Ms. Baker as a child-thief.

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US Supreme Court Hears Juvenile Lifer Case

US Supreme Court Hears Juvenile Lifer Case

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Michigan Family Law Updates

Over the past several months, as Michigan and the nation grind through a sustained recession, many articles have appeared pointing to the trend of couples staying together, despite a doomed marriage.

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MIP Probation Violation Cannot Result in Jail

As the practice has spread among some judges in both Oakland and Genesse counties, members of the Criminal Defense Association of Michigan have began to organize a coordinated defense to the wrongful jailings.

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Passport Denied when Parent Owes Support Arrears

You are a non-custodial parent planning a vacation to Cancun with your kids. Your passport has lapsed and you apply for a new one, along with your children.

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Law Firms Going Paperless, Slowly

Slowly but surely. That cliche best describes the pace at which area law firms are eliminating the paper clutter from their law offices.

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Divorce in The NFL

Maximum temptation; continuous travel; lots of money. These are just some of the factors that contribute to the excessive divorce-rate among players in the NFL.

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Divorce and Facebook: Privacy Be Gone

Is there any privacy among partners in a marriage; among parties to a divorce proceeding? In this web 2.0 era, some people are their own worst enemies.

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Child Custody & The 100-Mile Rule

The Michigan Legislature long-ago codified the rules of divorce in the Child Custody Act. One of the provisions in the Act addresses when one parent proposes to move:

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Oakland Circuit’s Most Prolific Jurist Retires After 32-Years on The Bench

The official word is “retirement”. Tell that to his law clerk, seen recently busting down the corridor of the Oakland Circuit Courthouse at a brisk clip, no time to talk; or to the attorneys of record on an aging civil case, hanging around the docket, but now re-assigned to the new “visiting judge”.

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Michigan Senate Seeks to Abolish Adultery as Felony

State Senator Ron Jelinek (R – Berrien County) has introduced a bill in Lansing to abolish adultery as a crime. The bill, which has a companion in the Michigan House, has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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Driving While Distracted by Cell Phone

Has the time come for drivers to give-up cell phones while operating their vehicles? In Michigan, more municipalities and jurisdictions are saying, “maybe”. The cell phone lobby, however, says, “not yet”, and continues to block state-wide cell phone bans.

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Oakland Prosecutor Quits Sobriety Courts and Rejects “Impaired” Pleas

Jessica Cooper has demonstrated a top-down command structure since taking over the prosecutor’s office in January. One of the commands from the top is that first-time drunk drivers are no longer offered the customary plea reduction to operating while “impaired”.

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Identity Theft Concerns in Family Court Orders

The Michigan House of Representatives introduced a trio of bills which will require judgments of divorce, orders of filiation (between non-married parents) and child support orders to omit a parent’s personal information.

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Forefiture of Inheritance to Include Domestic Violence and Child Abuse

Until recently, the probate code, known as EPIC, had a forefiture provision which provided that any beneficiary under a will that killed the grantor, was automatically disinherited.

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Casino Winnings & Lawsuit Proceeds to Be Attached for Child Support Arrears

The Michigan Senate is expected to pass a pair of bills designed to utilize proceeds derived from lawsuits and casino winnings, to satisfy past-due child support.