FAQs

Sometimes the IRS allows a deduction for alimony payments. It is granted in part because the recipient is taxed on alimony. The two parties end up paying less in taxes overall because the alimony is deductible. The parties are actually shifting income from a higher to a lower tax bracket, by transferring alimony from the

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Michigan Separate Maintenance What if I do not want to divorce, for religious or other reasons? Michigan permits an action for separate maintenance. It is filed in the same manner and on the same grounds as for divorce. However, when the matter is concluded, a Judgment of Separate Maintenance will be entered and the parties

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What is in the “best interests of the child?” The Child Custody Act provides that custody of a child is to be determined by the “best interests of the child” standard which means the sum total of the following factors to be considered, evaluated and determined by the court. Answering the questionnaire below will give

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Children are legally entitled to support from their natural parents or adoptive parents. The amount that a parent pays or receives varies from state to state. Support is determined by income, number of children, and the amount of time each parent spends with the children. Many states, including Michigan, have developed formulas and guidelines to

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Background The timely receipt of child support is critical for millions of Michigan families. The nation’s Child Support Enforcement Program (CSE) is a federal/state/local partnership to help families locate non-custodial parents, establish paternity when necessary, establish orders for support and collect child support payments for families. All states and some tribes have a child support

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