Dowling Adoption Lawyer, Michigan

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Donald H. Smith Lawyer

Donald H. Smith

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Criminal, Misdemeanor, Felony, Child Custody, Adoption
Dedicated to Excellence in Client Service

Don was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan and graduated from Kalamazoo Christian High School in 1989. He attended Hope College in Holland, Michig... (more)

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800-909-2450

Stephanie L. Szydlowski

Adoption, Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Contract
Status:  In Good Standing           

Lynn M. Perry

Adoption, Child Support, Farms, Divorce
Status:  In Good Standing           

Jennifer Lynn Grahek

Adoption, Wills & Probate, Guardianships & Conservatorships, Estate
Status:  In Good Standing           Licensed:  17 Years

Sharon R. Brinks

Dispute Resolution, Adoption, Corporate, Administrative Law
Status:  In Good Standing           Licensed:  44 Years

Kristan A. Newhouse

Estate Planning, Adoption, Juvenile Law, Children's Rights
Status:  In Good Standing           Licensed:  39 Years

Mitchell Griffon Albers

Election & Political, Estate, Adoption, Administrative Law
Status:  In Good Standing           Licensed:  11 Years

Kenneth E. Tiews

Estate Planning, Adoption, Non-profit, Divorce & Family Law, Wills & Probate
Status:  In Good Standing           

Catherine A. Jacobs

Estate Planning, Trusts, Adoption, Child Custody, Family Law
Status:  In Good Standing           

Jayne A. Dykema

Farms, Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Adoption
Status:  In Good Standing           Licensed:  39 Years

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LEGAL TERMS

GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE

Legal reasons for requesting a divorce. All states require a spouse who files for divorce to state the grounds, court and whether requesting a fault divorce or ... (more...)
Legal reasons for requesting a divorce. All states require a spouse who files for divorce to state the grounds, court and whether requesting a fault divorce or a no-fault divorce.

ADOPTIVE PARENT

A person who completes all the requirements to legally adopt a child who is not his or her biological child. Generally, any single or married adult who is deter... (more...)
A person who completes all the requirements to legally adopt a child who is not his or her biological child. Generally, any single or married adult who is determined to be a 'fit parent' may adopt a child. Some states have special requirements, such as age or residency criteria. An adoptive parent has all the responsibilities of a biological parent.

IRREMEDIABLE OR IRRETRIEVABLE BREAKDOWN

The situation that occurs in a marriage when one spouse refuses to live with the other and will not work toward reconciliation. In a number of states, irremedia... (more...)
The situation that occurs in a marriage when one spouse refuses to live with the other and will not work toward reconciliation. In a number of states, irremediable breakdown is the accepted ground for a no-fault divorce. As a practical matter, courts seldom, if ever, inquire into whether the marriage has actually broken down, and routinely grant a divorce as long as the party seeking the divorce says the marriage has fallen apart. Compare incompatibility; irreconcilable differences.

RESPONDENT

A term used instead of defendant or appellee in some states -- especially for divorce and other family law cases -- to identify the party who is sued and must r... (more...)
A term used instead of defendant or appellee in some states -- especially for divorce and other family law cases -- to identify the party who is sued and must respond to the petitioner's complaint.

CONDONATION

One person's approval of another's activities, constituting a defense to a fault divorce. For example, if a wife did not object to her husband's adultery and la... (more...)
One person's approval of another's activities, constituting a defense to a fault divorce. For example, if a wife did not object to her husband's adultery and later tries to use it as grounds for a divorce, he could argue that she had condoned his behavior and could perhaps prevent her from divorcing him on these grounds.

TENANCY BY THE ENTIRETY

A special kind of property ownership that's only for married couples. Both spouses have the right to enjoy the entire property, and when one spouse dies, the su... (more...)
A special kind of property ownership that's only for married couples. Both spouses have the right to enjoy the entire property, and when one spouse dies, the surviving spouse gets title to the property (called a right of survivorship). It is similar to joint tenancy, but it is available in only about half the states.

COMPLAINT

Papers filed with a court clerk by the plaintiff to initiate a lawsuit by setting out facts and legal claims (usually called causes of action). In some states a... (more...)
Papers filed with a court clerk by the plaintiff to initiate a lawsuit by setting out facts and legal claims (usually called causes of action). In some states and in some types of legal actions, such as divorce, complaints are called petitions and the person filing is called the petitioner. To complete the initial stage of a lawsuit, the plaintiff's complaint must be served on the defendant, who then has the opportunity to respond by filing an answer. In practice, few lawyers prepare complaints from scratch. Instead they use -- and sometimes modify -- pre-drafted complaints widely available in form books.

AMICUS CURIAE

Latin for 'friend of the court.' This term describes a person or organization that is not a party to a lawsuit as plaintiff or defendant but that has a strong i... (more...)
Latin for 'friend of the court.' This term describes a person or organization that is not a party to a lawsuit as plaintiff or defendant but that has a strong interest in the case and wants to get its two cents in. For example, the ACLU often submits materials to support a person who claims a violation of civil rights even though that person is represented by a lawyer.

MARTIAL MISCONDUCT

See fault divorce.

SAMPLE LEGAL CASES

In re Jones

... Facing possible involuntary termination of their rights as requested in that petition, respondent and the father instead voluntarily released the child to the Department of Human Services under the Michigan Adoption Code, MCL 710.21 et seq., on June 20, 2007. ...

National Pride at Work, Inc. v. Governor of Mich.

... THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT. ... [33]. Accordingly, the circumstances surrounding the adoption of the amendment indicate that the lead proponents of the amendment worked hard to convince voters to adopt it. ...

In re MKK

... Respondent cross-appeals. [4]. 139 II. INTERPLAY OF THE ADOPTION CODE AND PATERNITY ACT. ... 1, 19, 22, 747 NW2d 883 (2008). C. THE ADOPTION CODE. Adoption is strictly statutory. The Adoption Code was designed for the following general purposes: ...