Law Office of John W. Bissell, P.C.

Before filing for divorce you must develop a strategy. Unfortunately some individuals meet with their divorce attorney in Lansing, sign divorce pleadings and have only the vaguest notion of what they have begun. Divorce laws in Michigan are logical, understandable and make common sense when properly explained.

For more information in regards to these issues click on Divorce/Family Law in the right hand column.

Before filing for divorce you must develop a strategy. Unfortunately some individuals meet with their attorney, sign divorce pleadings and have only the vaguest notion of what they have begun. Divorce laws in Michigan are logical, understandable and make common sense when properly explained.

For more information in regards to these issues click on Divorce/Family Law in the right hand column.

Matters relating to both legal custody and physical custody of minor children are best determined between the parents. Unfortunately amicable resolutions are not always possible.

For more information in regards to these issues click on Child Custody in the right hand column.

To acknowledge that a non-custodial spouse is entitled to parenting time does not go far enough. The limited periods that a non-custodial parent spends with his or her child/children should be quality time. This parenting time should maintain the highest priority in the children's schedule. There are situations (usually involving child endangerment and/or substance abuse) when parenting time should be supervised or eliminated entirely.

Child support is determined pursuant to Michigan Child Support Guidelines.  The appropriate amount varies depending on income, childcare costs, insurance cost, the type of custody, etc.

For more information in regards to these issues click on Child and Spousal Support (Alimony) in the right hand column.

The conviction of a crime can lead directly to loss of freedom, job and family. In representing clients preparation is essential and the client needs to know the ramifications that will result from a conviction of plea bargain. For example, clients charged with OWI (drunk driving) should be aware of not only fines and jail sentence but also resulting action by the Secretary of State affecting driver's license revocation.

For more information in regards to these issues click on Criminal Law in the right hand column.