I live in Michigan which is a no fault state and I was wondering if anyone had any insight as to how character or if character comes into play during the divorce when it comes to the division of assets. (no children)

I have the following that is provable:

1) After I married my husband, I found out that he had a second child for which he was the father and paying full support for. He never told me about it.

2) Affair #1, I caught him in the closet of the ow's house. After he was caught he moved in and signed a lease with her.

3) Affair #2.. I have a taperecording of ow calling him honey and stating she was leaving her door open for him.

4) Physical Abuse. Within the last month he attempted to choke me and left marks on my neck. Witnesses saw the marks.

5) Other affairs- but no proof.. just hearsay..


The dirt on me?

I had a 2 month affair for which he has no proof, My affair was after all of the above was done to me (after I snapped).

Anyhow, I was wondering if this stuff is even going to matter? Anyone have any insight or experiences?

Sometimes character comes into play (but usually in only a small way). Lawyers are the best source for this, but you might also want to visit the following sites:
Divorce Source
Divorce Info
Divorce Net
These sites have state-specific information. Reading up on things before you visit a lawyer will help you be more prepared when talking to him/her. I know in the state I live,things like longevity of marriage, infidelity, disparity of education, etc. all come into play too.

In Michigan, I live too, my XH had the affair, and really an affair has no bearing. But the abuse does, which my XH had to get insurance and is to pay all the damages that he did to me, and the surgery that I had. I would seek a good attorney, and get all you can. These men are out to get everything and leave you with nothing. I know, I have been living in pure hell since June 2003 when the divorce was final, until recently when he has started paying me some money.

As far as your husband not stating that he was paying childsupport for another child that you didn't know, that could have some bearing. You really need to seek professional advice. We don't want to lead you astray, for this is your life you are talking about, and your future.

Good luck.

The reasonable thing to do would be to agree to split everything 50/50. Yes, you want to punish him, but you probably will spend as much money fighting over the money as it is worth. Why not just split the assets instead of have some lawyers duke it out and take it themselves?

However, the other child situation is interesting. Was this before the marriage or was the child born during? If it was before you were married, you should have talked about this and known the situation you were getting into. If it was after you were married, you may be entitled to some back payment if he was siphoning your funds...however, that should be checked with an attorney.

The child was about 8 years old. He kept it very secret. I married my husband with the knowledge that he had on child with whom he was finacially responsible for. A little while after I married, I found a freind of the court letter for a second child from a different woman that I had no idea he had and that he pay full support for.

I dont mind splitting aquired assets 50/50 after our marriage, but apparently he is going after 1/2 the money I had in a mutual fund before I was married. I put the money into our house we built. The big issue is that we are both battling for posession of the house we are building.