Streamline Divorce℠ Steps

“DEPOSIT PHASE”

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PHASE I: MAKE SURE YOU SATISFY THE “STREAMLINE” CASE CRITERIA & OBTAIN FORMS

In Phase I, you will receive information about the Streamline Divorce℠ Process, including a pricing menu for our services based on your particular county (in the State of Michigan).  If Streamline Divorce℠ process appears to be an option for your matter, you will sign a Deposit Agreement, pay $500 as a deposit (to be held in our trust account) and receive a Streamline Divorce Packet.  You and your spouse will fill out the forms in the packet. If you need help along the way, you are free to contact us at any time to address your specific questions. The $500 Deposit (based on our current rates) permits for up to 2 hours of time assisting and advising you at your request. Any remaining balance of the Deposit will be applied to the Drafting Fees (in Phase II). You always are welcome to contract for more than two hours of attorney time if you find your matter requires it.  Once the packet is completed and you and your spouse have reached a complete agreement, an experienced attorney will review it with you before you sign it.

“DRAFTING PHASE”

PHASE II: DRAFTING OF ORDERS AND COURT FORMS

Once your agreement is signed by both parties, you start Phase II, the Drafting Phase. You will pay the balance of your Drafting Phase fees (if required) based on the pricing menu you received. We our attorneys will custom draft the paperwork necessary to file the case and to enter the final court orders, including required Friend of the Court forms and any other documents based on the terms of your signed Settlement Agreement. The parties review and sign the orders. Then, you move on to Phase III, the Court Phase.

“COURT PHASE”

PHASE III: FILING OF COURT ACTION & ENTRY OF ORDER(S)

In Phase III, the final phase, our experienced attorneys navigate the court filing process. We see that the required steps for your case are carried out in an efficient, expedited basis. Our Limited Scope attorney services in the Court Phase include:

  • Filing the Complaint for Divorce/Petition to Enter a Consent Judgment

  • Arranging with your Spouse to acknowledge service

  • Obtaining Friend of the Court approval (if required)

  • Scheduling and attending a single Court Date

  • Entering your Judgment of Divorce (and any necessary related orders)

  • Serving the final orders upon the other party

OPTIONAL SERVICES*

The basic Streamline Divorce℠ process is appropriate for relatively “standard” divorce matters.  However, the process is flexible enough to provide a format for resolving cases with more complex assets or other issues requiring additional attention.  For these cases, additional charges for attorney fees or third-party expenses may be incurred (with the advance agreement of the client and the attorney).  Additional issues which are not part of a standard “Streamline” case but which also may be addressed include:

  • Division of retirement accounts

  • Division of other investments or assets

  • Unusual or more complex real property issues

  • Businesses interests

  • Developing workable parenting time plans

  • Developing options and alternatives to typical child support and spousal support (alimony) payments

  • Opting out of Friend of the Court Services (if you are eligible)

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*Depending on your court’s policy (which can be subject to change), you and your spouse may also be required to attend one or more court dates, Friend of the Court meetings or hearings.  If more than one court date is required and the Attorney is required to accompany you to Court, additional fees will be required.  (We use our reasonable best efforts to avoid more than a single trip to court to complete your case, but in some cases it cannot be avoided.  Check with your attorney after filing to learn your specific court’s or judge’s policy.