Do you need a Clinton Township Divorce Lawyer?

Our divorce lawyer Clinton Township knows divorces are emotional and challenging which can lead to potential poor judgment calls. Not only are you not in the right frame of mind for a healthy, stable relationship, but it can also affect your legal standing in the divorce.

If you are considering a divorce, don’t deal with the matter alone.  Seeking the advice of an experienced divorce lawyer is always the best course of action.   

Call us today at 586-573-7200 to find out how our Clinton Township lawyers can help you.

divorce lawyer clinton township michigan

Scott J. Sumner, J.D. was born in Macomb County, Michigan and attended Utica Community Schools before graduating from Michigan State University (1986) and Michigan State College of Law (1989), previously Detroit College of Law (DCL).

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Excellent
Based on 80 reviews
Carol Zachrich
Carol Zachrich
July 25, 2023.
Great experience! This team has the estate planning process down to a science. Very efficient, timely and responsive. Appreciate their expertise and demeanor. Highly recommend!
Christopher Lee
Christopher Lee
June 23, 2023.
This is where you want to go for wills, trusts, or family estate planning. It was quick, thorough, organized, and pleasant. I only wish I could give them a 6th star.
Tony Parrish
Tony Parrish
June 19, 2023.
In August of 2022, Sumner & Associates helped us with Estate Planning for my husband and I. We were impressed that they didn't blink an eye when asked by an LGBTQ couple. Important that I mention this for others looking for good representation. The team was thorough and provided good tips based on the law. Thank you Scott, Sarah, and Rori!
eric bentley
eric bentley
June 17, 2023.
Highly recommended! They were very easy to work with and very informative about all our questions. The entire process went smoothly.
Nitin Shah
Nitin Shah
May 10, 2023.
This office is awesome and I really the way their process and they explained me the step by step process to go for will documentation. When we visited the office to sign final document it was very transparent and clear process and was done quickly. Thanks to Sarah for coordinating and communicating each and every steps clearly and timely.
Edward Sezniak
Edward Sezniak
March 13, 2023.
Will and Trust. Service was very well organized and guided us through the writing of a will and establishment of a trust. We also established durable power of attorney and advanced health care directives. The purpose and function of each device was clearly explained along with the roles and responsibilities of the different participants. Competitively and fairly priced.
Marilyn Sezniak
Marilyn Sezniak
March 12, 2023.
Their reference materials did a good job of explaining the difference between a Will and a Trust. The process had steps that demonstrated progression toward completion of the documents and status was communicated along the way. Sara and Scott were thorough, friendly and answered all of our questions. The final documents are organized in a binder that has a very professional appearance. I highly recommend Sumner & Associates.
Dave Kishimoto
Dave Kishimoto
January 5, 2023.
Always detailed & accurate and takes the time to explain. Updates were quick and easy.
Linda Toussaint
Linda Toussaint
January 3, 2023.
We were very impressed with the attention to details while preparing our trust. I would highly recommend Mr. Sumner and his staff are professional and curious.
Jason Kim
Jason Kim
January 2, 2023.
Wife and I went to get our will and trust made. The staff was very polite. Scott was very thorough and informative with everything. Made the process smooth and easy!
clinton township divorce lawyer

Will my spouse or I have to be served with Divorce papers?

Yes. A Divorce is a Civil lawsuit. The spouse initiating or filing the case is the Plaintiff and the responding party is the Defendant. Once the Divorce has been filed with the court, the Defendant must be served with notice of the lawsuit. Typically, this is done by a Process Server who will be hired by the law firm, to hand deliver the notice and legal documents to the Defendant. There are other ways the defendant can be served notice, such as Certified Restricted Mail or the Defendant signing an acknowledgement of service. 

Should I tell my spouse I am planning to file for divorce?

Maybe. Sometimes it is a good idea to be open and upfront about the situation. This is typically when both parties understand there will be a divorce and mutually agreeable to dissolving their marriage. It is good to discuss the issues in your divorce openly and build on that trust, as your work to resolve all the issues in your divorce. With that said, don’t discuss details of any settlement with our spouse, without first speaking with your attorney. 

However, sometimes it is not good to disclose to your spouse that you are planning to file for divorce. This is often a circumstance where a person may be fearful of their spouse or their spouse’s reaction to the filing of the divorce. In this case, it is best to delay communicating your intentions, until after your attorney files the case with the court and secures protective orders. 

Can I move out of the house, during my divorce?

Yes. Either party can move out of the house during a divorce. However, I don’t typically recommend it.  

First, it will cause your divorce to cost more. When a person moves out of the house during a divorce, they will face having to pay for their new home or rental and still have to provide funds to support the marital home. 

Second, it can delay the divorce. If one party moves out, the other part that remains in the house is not motivated to settle the case. They tend to be more relaxed and now have the entire house to themselves, while the other spouse contributes money each month to support that lifestyle. 

Third, it can cause your divorce to cost more. If one party moves out of the house during the divorce, you can expect to spend more money on legal fees. The additional fees would be to pay for the additional time it takes to communicate and negotiate the terms of the move out. 

Fourth, if there are minor children involved, it may jeopardize your child custody or parenting time claim. If a party moves out during divorce, they cannot take the children. The children remain in the marital home. You must have a court order and/or spousal consent, to remove the children from the home. Again, this will cause additional legal fees to discuss and negotiate parenting times and child support. Finally, you could be at risk of allowing the other parent to establish a “custodial environment” during the interim which could have additional legal issues. 

Can I force my spouse to move out once the divorce is filed?

No. Both of you have the right to continue to live in the marital home until the divorce is final. Although most divorcing couples don’t have sexual relations during the divorce, you continue to cohabitate and pay bills like you were prior to filing divorce. However, the most common cause of a party moving out of the marital home is due to domestic violence during or just prior to filing of divorce. 

Typically, the offender is arrested and removed from the house by police (at or near the time of assault). Once the offending spouse is charged with domestic violence they will be barred from returning to the marital home. This is the case even if the victim spouse wants the offending spouse to return home.