Experienced And Strategic Attorney For Your Michigan Divorce

Last updated on April 21, 2025

Divorce is not always a straightforward process. Dividing up a lifetime of assets, figuring out child custody arrangements and navigating all the intricacies of the legal world can be an insurmountable challenge. Our divorce attorney, Sherri Bono has spent her career in the world of family law. She understands the intimate details that go into the divorce process and can help you find a solution that truly suits your needs. Our firm, Bono Legal Group, PLLC, in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, can help you protect what you’ve worked for and built.

No Challenge Is Too Substantial

There are a lot of components that make up the divorce process. Our firm can guide you through them all. Ms. Bono can help you:

• Sort through property, value your assets and find a fair settlement
• Create a solid child custody arrangement
• Secure the proper child support or spousal support agreement
• Protect what matters to you and advocate for your interests

Ms. Bono has years of experience in these matters, including in high-asset divorce matters.

How Can You Prepare For Your Oakland County Divorce?

Some people may not see a divorce coming for awhile, and others may spend years thinking about it before going through with the process. But in either case, it’s important to take steps to prepare for it beforehand. There are several things you can do to put yourself in a better position going into a divorce, including:

• Gather a team. You need people you can rely on both emotionally and for advice. From a legal standpoint, this is where you should speak with a divorce attorney even if you are not ready to file.
• Get a thorough understanding of your finances. You need to get a handle on all your accounts, your debts, your assets and where everything is located.
• Figure out what you want. What are your wishes about custody of your children? What assets do you want to keep after divorce? Think about your immediate interests as well as your long-term goals.
• Gather your personal information. Divorce involves a lot of documentation. You’ll want to make sure you have documents on hand like your marriage certificates, your children’s birth certificates, records of your property like deeds, titles, insurance policies, account numbers, estate plans and more.

Preparing for a divorce can seem almost as overwhelming as the divorce process itself. However, an experienced attorney can help you sort through this and ensure everything is in order. Ms. Bono has spent her career assisting people through this process successfully. She understands what it takes. Our past clients range from business owners and executives to entertainers and top-earning professionals. Ms. Bono has sorted through complex property divisions, valuation of businesses, high-value art collections, international custody disputes and settlements involving substantial alimony. She has thorough, experience-backed knowledge of how to successfully navigate the divorce process and she can help you, too.

Frequently Asked Questions On Divorce

Divorce proceedings in Oakland County, Michigan, vary in duration depending on each individual situation. While some divorces conclude within a few months, others may take much longer. Attorney Bono has compiled answers to some commonly asked questions for additional clarity.

What is the length of a divorce in Michigan?

The duration of a divorce in Oakland County depends on several factors, including:

• Whether the divorce is contested or uncontested
• The complexity of asset division
• Child-related (custody, support) disputes

Additionally, Michigan law imposes a mandatory waiting period – 60 days for divorces without minor children and six months for divorces involving children.

Contested divorces, where spouses disagree on key issues, can take longer due to extended negotiations, mediation or trial proceedings. The availability of the court and the caseload of the judge also have an impact on the timeframe.

What are the differences between contested and uncontested divorce?

A contested divorce occurs when spouses disagree on one or more issues, such as:

• Child custody or support
• Property division
• Spousal support

These cases usually require litigation, negotiation and possibly court intervention, leading to longer and more expensive proceedings.

A contested divorce can also result in heightened emotional stress and prolonged conflict, especially if children are involved. The court may require mediation to help spouses reach an agreement, but if disputes persist, the case may proceed to trial, where a judge will make final determinations on unresolved matters.

In contrast, an uncontested divorce means both parties agree on all terms, allowing for a faster and less costly resolution. Some couples opt for mediation or collaborative divorce proceedings to settle amicably. In these cases, attorneys may still provide guidance, but the process is typically smoother and more cooperative. Uncontested divorces tend to be less stressful and allow both parties to move forward more quickly.

What is the difference between a no-fault divorce and a fault-based divorce, and why does it matter?

Michigan is a no-fault divorce state, meaning that a spouse seeking a divorce does not need to prove wrongdoing by the other party. Instead, the petitioner must simply state that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. This approach generally streamlines the process and reduces conflict.

However, while Michigan does not require proof of fault for granting a divorce, fault may still play a role in certain aspects of the proceedings. For example, a judge may consider fault when determining spousal support or dividing marital assets.

With adultery being the leading cause of divorce, the common question is how adultery affects the process in Michigan. Although it does not prevent a divorce, it may influence financial settlements. Suppose one spouse can demonstrate that the other’s extramarital affair led to financial harm, such as significant spending on a romantic partner. In that case, the court may adjust asset division or spousal support accordingly.

Set Up An Appointment At Our Bloomfield Hills Law Office

We understand how challenging these matters are, and we’re here to help. Our firm provides high-quality, discreet legal services to people trying to figure out their divorce as efficiently as possible. Contact us today to schedule an initial appointment to learn more about our services and how we can help. You can use the online contact form or call 248-266-4627 to set up a consultation. From our office in Bloomfield Hills, we help clients in Birmingham, Rochester Hills and throughout the entire metro Detroit area.