Family Law Flashcards
Gifts in contemplation of marriage
if marriage does not take place, engagement gifts must be returned
Limitations on who may marry
both parties must be
- be 18, 16 with one parent’s consent or under 16 with both parents consent + judicial consent
- not be too closely related
- have mental capacity to marry
- not have prior undisolved marriage
Procedural requirements for getting married
- license (72 hour waiting period)
2. solemnization by judicial officer or member of the clergy
State of mind reqs for marriage
Must understand and voluntarily enter into marriage. May be invalid because of intoxication.
Common law marriage
not recognized in MI but MI will recognize a common law marriage formed in other states
Prenups: consideration
marriage is the consideration
Prenups: content of contract
MI doesn’t have reqs. Agreements concerning child custody will not bind the courts
Prenups: Requirements for enforcement by courts
- agreement entered into voluntarily
- k in writing and signed by party to be charged
- Both parties must make a full and fair disclosure of their finances
- economic provisions must be fair and reasonable
Prenups: Reprensentation by counsel
Much more likely to be enforced.
Prenups: Limitations on limiting Spousal support
courts less likely to enforce if it will leave one spouse a pauper.
Prenups: when courts won’t enforce
if the facts and circumstances have changed in such a way that was unforseeable at the time of the K’s making
Spouses taking property in their joint names…
creates a tenancy by the entirety presumptively. Includes right so survivorship and prohibits conveyance or encumberance of the property by one spouse. Upon divorce, couple becomes tenants in common
Property rights in martial property
Each spouse controls their own property. Marital property includes most property acquired during the marriage and the court has broad discretion to distribute it in an equitable distribution
Can a spouse be liable on their spouse’s debts
no. MI abolised the doctrine of necessities
Constitutional privacy
right of privacy implicit in the concept of liberty under DPC. it is a fundamental right t/f any regulation is invalid unless necessary to compelling government interest
Spousal Immunity
A married person cannot be compelled to testify against their spouse in a civil, admin or criminal proceeding. In a civil proceeding, the witness spouse can be barred from testifying by the defendant spouse. In a criminal proceeding, the witness spouse can choose to tesfiy over the objection of the defendant spouse. Can be invoked only during a valid marriage
Martial communications privilege
Either spouse can refuse to disclose a confidential communication exchanged during the marriage. In civil proceeding, defendant spouse can prevent witness spouse from disclosing. In a criminal proceeding, the witness spouse has the privilege. Communication must be made in reliance on the intimacy of a marriage relationship. survives divorce.
Annulment
declaration that a marriage is invalid because there was an impediment at the time of marriage. Parties treated as if never married
Void Marriage: definition
Void marriage is total nullity. No subsequent act can ratify the marriage. Parties can walk away from marriage without a court order. Annulment action brought to distribute property
Void Marriage: who can challenge
Any interested person can seek annulment. Subject to collateral attack even after death of one of the parties.
Void Marriage: what happens if the impediment to marriage is removed?
Marriage becomes voidable and subejct to ratification. Only will see in a bigamy situation.
Void Marriage: grounds
bigamy or consanguity
Voidable marriage: definition
Deemed valid, but because of imepdiment that existed at time of marriage, one of the spouses may bring an action to have the marriage deemed invalid. If spouse with cause of action ratifies by continuning when impediment is removed or if one spouse dies, it cannot be invalidated.
Voidable Marriage: grounds
nonage, lack of physical capacity (incurable impotence), lack of mental capacity
Voidable marriage: nonage–who can challenge
a parent or guardian can ask that the marriage be invalidated but whether to do so is in court’s discretion
Voidable marriage: duress and fraud
voluntary cohabitation with knowledge of facts leading to duress or fraud ratifies marriage
Voidable marriage: insanity
those who are insane are not capable of contracting and any marriage they enter into is void
Annulment: children of annulled marraige
treated as marital children
Annulment: spousal support and division of property
SS not awarded. Courts attempt to parties in position they were in before the annulled marriage
Divorce:
terminates marriage relationship. Divorce is granted without a showing of fault. Only showing is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Only defense is that it is not
Separate Maintenance
An order of legal separation. Does not terminate the marriage. But rights of parties to property and children are adjudicated at this proceeding.
Divorce: residency requirement
ONE of the parties must be a bona fide resident of the jurisdiction where the action is brought. Must have resided in MI for 180 days and in the county of filing for at least 10 days preceding filing. 10 req waived if D from another country and fear of child be taken out of the country
Divorce: in rem action
means that certian types of constructiveservice is ok. But to have jurisdiction over spousal support/property division, court must have PJD over the defendant.
Divorce: full faith and credit
as long as one of the parties was domiciled in the state that granted the divorce, FF&C is given.
Divorce: foreign divorce decrees
recognized via comity when one party domiciled in that country
Division of property: MI approach
Equitable division of marital property. But MI will look at all of the couple’s property where it is equitable to do so.
Division of property: are they modifiable?
No
Division of property: factors considered
CHAPEL END
Contributions to marital estate Health Age Past relations and conduct Earning abilities Life status
Equity
Necessities and circumstances
Duration of marriage
Division of property: Separate property
Generally spouse can take their own separate proprety owned prior to marraige or prop acquired during the marriage by gift, will or intestacy. Damage awards for pain and suffering are separate prop
Division of property: When may a court invade separate prop?
- after division other spouse demonstrates additional need or
- other spouse significantly assisted in its acquisition
Separate or marital: Pensions
portion earned during marriage = marital
Separate or marital: Professional license or degree
Subject to equitable division
Separate or marital: stock options
earned during marriage = marital even if not exercised until after divorce
Separate or marital: employment bonuses
Earned during the marriage = marital. Bonus contingent that does not occur until after divorce = separate
Separate or marital: worker’s comp benefits
martial to the extent they compensate for lost wages during the marriage. Retroactive wages = separate
Division of property: how does separate property become marital property?
- Separate property is inextricably mingled with marital prop or with spouse’s separate prop to the extent it can no longer be traced
- or treated in such a way that indicates an intention for the property to be martial property
Division of property: what happens when separate prop is improved with martial funds?
Still separate property but subject to reimbursement
Spousal Support: Amount factors
- past relations and conduct
- duration of marriage
- ability to work
- source and amounts of property awarded to parties
- age
- ability to pay
- present situation of parties
- needs of parties
- health
- SOL
- contributions to estate
- fault
- effect of cohabitation on party’s financial status
- equity
Types of SS: Permanent periodic payment
Paid regularly for lifetime of recipient
modifiable upon substantial change of circumstances
termiantes upon death or remarriage
Types of SS: Lump sum
Payable all at once or in a series of payments.
Nonmodifiable
survives the death of either spouse
Types of SS: Rehabilitative
Paid regularly for a limited period of time.
Modifiable upon substantial change of circumstances
Terminates on death or remarriage
Types of SS: Reimbursement
Similar to lump sum but for a specific reason
Tax consequences of SS
Executed before 2019 = SS is deductible by payor and income to recipient.
Current rule = not deductible and not income
Attorney’s fees and divorce
Court can order if one party unable to pay
Child Support: Amount
MI follows the statutory guidelines which consider 1. financial resources 2. family size 3. age of children 4. childcare expenses 5. Healthcare expenses 6. other criteria Courts will deviate where just
Child Support: independent from parenting time rights
Parenting time cannot be withheld because of failure to pay CS
Child Support: termination of duty to support
Ceases upon child’s death, marriage or turning 18, termination of parenting rights or death of supporting parent. May be indefinite for disabled child.
Child Support: tax consequences
Not deductible and not income