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

    Child support is determined pursuant to the Michigan Child Support Guidelines. The appropriate amount varies depending on income, childcare costs, insurance cost, the type of custody, etc. Except in very unusual circumstances Michigan Child Support Guidelines are binding and courts seldom deviate.

Generally, determination is straight forward and can be determined by entering income and expense data into a computerized program which we maintain in our office. The numbers are what the numbers are. Occasionally issues such as the actual income of a self-employed individual, under employment, "imputed" income, etc. will cause uncertainties.

Spousal support (alimony) is an issue often overlooked. Adoption of Michigan's No-Fault Divorce Statute and the emergence of two income families have reduced the number and size of awards for spousal support. Cases where there is a large disparity in incomes, marriages of long duration and/or marriages which are ending due to marital misconduct merit careful examination as to whether spousal support is appropriate. Although spousal support "Guidelines" are not "binding," they may be relevant in determining the level and appropriateness of spousal support.

Whether a person is attempting to establish the appropriateness of spousal support or contesting any award of spousal support the followig factors are relevant:

• Past relations and conduct of the parties;
• Length of the marriage;
• Ability of the parties to work;
• Source of and amount of property awarded to the parties;
• Age of the parties;
• Ability of a party to pay spousal support;
• Present situation of the parties;
• Needs of the parties;
• Health of the parties;
• Prior standard of living of the parties; and
  
  • General principles of equity.
  • Past relations and conduct of the parties; 
  • Length of the marriage; * Ability of the parties to work;
  • Source of and amount of property awarded to the parties; 
  • Age of the parties; 
  • Ability of a party to pay spousal support; 
  • Present situation of the parties; 
  • Needs of the parties; 
  • Health of the parties;
  • Prior standard of living of the parties; and
  • General principles of equity.