What is a divorce coach and how can they help someone navigating this major life shift? I had the privilege of speaking with Nanette Murphy of Live Life Now LLC to learn more!

Nanette takes personal experience and professional training to help people as a sounding board, calming influence, and guide where and how needed navigating these waters – I find myself doing much of the same, though, just happening to have my legal hat on.

When traveling with minor children, all parents should plan ahead carefully. When you are divorced and sharing custody, it is critically important. If you are traveling with your shared minor children (particularly internationally), you absolutely should (1) bring a signed and executed copy of your Judgment of Divorce / Custody and Parenting Time Agreement with you and (2) have a signed and notarized letter from your co-parent authorizing you to travel with the minor children to present to airline and airport professionals upon request. If you have any questions about travel language and agreements relating to your divorce or post-judgment matter, please contact us.

Lately, it is becoming more common for co-parents to express desired agreements and plans to pay for college and support non-minor adult children. I always advise that, yes, parties can make such agreements and arrangements, but enforcement, should there be a future conflict or dispute, becomes murky. In Michigan, there is no obligation to support a pay for college, advanced education or support a non-minor adult child. Once a child reaches the age of 18 (or, until age 19.5 if they are still in high school), they are not required to be supported no matter what a parent might think, hope or want. Agreements can be made about regular contributions to 529 plans, apportionment of college costs and other things like cars and the like – but, these are voluntary agreements that cannot be forced nor compelled by the Court for a parent to pay for or support adult children. Should you have any questions, please contact us.

Assuming you and your co-parent share joint legal custody over your minor child(ren), that means you each have equal rights to their medical information, records, appointments and major decision-making. Often times, divorced parents have different views on healthcare (i.e., vaccines, procedures, prescriptions). If joint legal custodial parents cannot agree on major medical decisions, they go to court to battle these issues (which is often very expensive, time consuming and emotionally draining). Most often, courts will follow the accepted standards of medical experts and healthcare professionals. If you would like to discuss these sensitive family law issues or any others so you can be as informed as possible, please contact us.

Attorney Max S. Emmer speaks with Nicole Gopoian Wirick, JD, CFP, in a three (3) part series on the intersection of financial planning and divorce. Nicole is a financial advisor with a law degree, certificate in financial planning and myriad experiences making her a uniquely well-rounded and expert financial professional. Should you have any questions, please contact us today.