LACHES
www.ocba.org | November/December 2026 | Number 693
Practical Tips for Family Practitioners to Prevent International Parental Abduction Uncovering Value for the Marital Balance Sheet Rethinking Our Response to Child Neglect
LACHES
OAKLAND COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION 1760 S. Telegraph Road, Suite 100 Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48302-0181 (248) 334-3400 • FAX (248) 334-7757 www.ocba.org
2026-2027 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CONTENTS NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2026 FEATURES The Cost of Removal: Rethinking Our Response to Child Neglect Lessening the number of children in foster care requires systemic change. This article offers a starting point. By Aniela Bosca 9 Show Me the Money: Uncovering Value for the Marital Balance Sheet The most overlooked assets may be hiding in plain sight. Review this checklist for a more complete view of the marital estate. By Candyce Abbatt 13 The Custody Case That Can’t Wait These six practical tips can help family practitioners prevent international parental abduction. By Charlie Kadado 16
PRESIDENT Aaron V. Burrell
SECRETARY Julie L. Kosovec
DIRECTORS Jennifer L. Lord Emily E. Long Moheeb H. Murray Kimberley Ann Ward Layne A. Sakwa Silvia A. Mansoor Stephen T. McKenney James A. Martone Jennifer J. Henderson Matthew P. Allen
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jennifer Quick
ABA DELEGATE James W. Low
LACHES EDITORIAL BOARD Lanita L. Carter Syeda F. Davidson Victoria B. King Coryelle E. Christie
Thamara E. Sordo-Vieira Xavier Jay Donajkowski Vincent C. Sallan
PRESIDENT-ELECT Kari L. Melkonian VICE PRESIDENT Victoria B. King TREASURER Syeda F. Davidson
THE MISSION OF THE OAKLAND COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION IS TO SERVE THE PROFESSIONAL NEEDS OF OUR MEMBERS, IMPROVE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND ENSURE THE DELIVERY OF QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC. Articles and letters that appear in LACHES do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Oakland County Bar Association, and their publication does not constitute an endorsement of views that may be expressed. Readers are invited to address their own comments and opinions to: LACHES | Oakland County Bar Association 1760 S. Telegraph Rd., Ste. 100 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302-0181 Publication and editing are at the discretion of the editor. LACHES (ISSN 010765) is the monthly (except July and December) publication of the Oakland County Bar Association, a Michigan nonprofit corporation, 1760 S. Telegraph, Ste. 100, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302-0181. Copyright © 2026 Oakland County Bar Association. The price of an annual subscription ($20) is included in member dues. Periodical postage paid at Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 and additional entry offices. Postmaster: Send address changes in writing to Oakland County Bar Association, 1760 S. Telegraph, Ste. 100, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302-0181.
28 Grand Tavern’s outdoor patio in Troy buzzed with lively conversation at the August Bar Night Out event, hosted by the OCBA Membership Committee on August 20.
DEPARTMENTS
President’s Page E.D.itorial OCBA Calendar of Events Jury Trials and Utilization Professional Development and CLE OCBA at Work On the Circuit In Pro Per Solo/Small Firm Foundation New OCBA Members OCBA Staff Directory Adjourned
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LACHES is published exclusively for the Oakland County Bar Association by Hour Custom Publishing, a division of Hour Media, L.L.C. Copyright © 2026. All rights reserved. No portion may be copied or published without the express written consent of the publisher. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of OCBA or Hour Media.
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PRESIDENT’S PAGE
Diversity Benefits Everyone By Aaron V. Burrell
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he Oakland County Bar Association has a long and distinguished history of supporting diversity in the legal profession. Indeed, one of our stated purposes is to “encourage membership and participation in the association and legal profession by persons representing a diversity of gender, racial, religious, and ethnic backgrounds.” That commitment extends back many years. Having served on several iterations of the OCBA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committees, I have always been awed by the passion, energy, and enthusiasm they brought to diversifying both the bar and the profession.
Today, the OCBA remains committed to diversity because diversity still matters in our profession. An example arises from a fascinating study examining roughly 431,000 felony cases in Cook County over a 19-year period.1 Notably, an individual judge’s own race had no predictive effect on sentencing. What had a predictive effect? The composition of the courthouse. As the share of Black judges in a courthouse rose from 8% to 22.5%, the rate at which white judges imposed incarceration on Black defendants fell from 53% to 48%, narrowing the Black-white incarceration gap by 7 percentage points. Thus, the diversity of the bench appeared to be a critical factor. That pattern shows up in other areas. Male appellate judges sitting with at least one female colleague were 12 to 14 points
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more likely to find for the plaintiff in sex discrimination cases.2 Deliberation-room studies going back to Samuel Sommers’s work in 2006 indicate that diverse juries deliberate longer, canvass more of the record, make fewer factual errors, and correct the errors they do make.3 These are just a few examples of diversity’s tangible impact on the profession. This issue should remain at the forefront as the public’s perception of the justice system undergoes challenges. The National Center for State Courts has asked Americans the same question for more than a decade: Do state courts provide equal justice to all? In 2014, 62% said yes.4 In the most recent survey, only 44% did. This is why it is critical that the profession reflects the communities we serve. I am keenly aware of the current state of discussion surrounding diversity — and the fact that lawyers of good faith are asking sound questions regarding what our institutions may lawfully do to enhance diversity. But the present debate about programming and methodology has no bearing on whether diversity itself benefits the profession and the public. On that question, there should be no debate. So I ask you to assist in your personal spheres of influence. Decide deliberately who gets the second chair and who argues the motion. Mentor someone who did not come to you through your existing network. Open your section, committee, seminar, and lunch table to everyone. Notice who is not in the room before the room is full. None of us owns this profession. We are merely holding it for a while. The question a steward asks is not whether we inherit it in good shape but what we pass to the next generation. I charge us to remain diligent in our approach to this work to ensure that we hand the next generation a bar that looks like our broader communities. Because in the end, diversity benefits everyone.
Aaron Burrell is the president of the Oakland County Bar Association. Footnotes: 1. Allison P. Harris. “Can Racial Diversity among Judges Affect Sentencing Outcomes?” 118 Am. Pol. Sci. Rev. 940 (2024). The study covered approximately 431,000 felony cases in the Cook County Criminal Division from 1995 to 2013, across 89 judges and three courthouses. Each 1-percentage-point increase in Black judicial representation corresponded to a 0.26-percentagepoint decrease in the probability of incarceration for Black defendants. 2. Christina L. Boyd, Lee Epstein, and Andrew D. Martin. “Untangling the Causal Effects of Sex on Judging.” 54 Am. J. Pol. Sci. 389 (2010). The core dataset comprised 1,245 Title VII sex discrimination cases decided in the federal courts of appeals between 1995 and 2002, using random panel assignment for causal identification. Importantly, the effect appeared in sex discrimination cases only; across the 12 other areas of law the authors examined, they found no meaningful gender effects. 3. Samuel R. Sommers. “On Racial Diversity and Group Decision Making: Identifying Multiple Effects of Racial Composition on Jury Deliberations.” 90 J. Personality & Soc. Psychol. 597, 606, 608 (2006). Diverse groups “made fewer factual errors than all-White groups” and “inaccuracies were more likely to be corrected in diverse groups.” 4. Natl Ctr. for State Courts. “State of the State Courts: 2025 Public Opinion Poll Findings” (survey of 1,000 registered voters conducted Nov. 12-16, 2025; margin of error approximately ±3%). NCSC characterizes the resulting public perception as a “two-tiered” system of justice. A related NCSC finding bears directly on our own conduct: Among those with direct court experience, only 14% reported increased confidence in the courts, while 35% reported decreased confidence, and 52% found the system difficult to navigate.
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E.D.ITORIAL
Welcome to the Profession. Welcome to Your OCBA. By Jennifer Quick
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his November, a new class of attorneys will raise their right hands, take an oath, and officially join one of society’s most challenging, rewarding, and important professions. After law school, the bar exam, and everything it took to reach this milestone, take a moment to appreciate your accomplishments. Becoming a lawyer is no small thing. You have earned your place in a profession with a long history and an important responsibility to the people and communities it serves. So first things first: Congratulations and welcome. Welcome to a profession that will challenge you, surprise you, frustrate you, and (we hope) inspire you. Welcome to a career filled with opportunities to solve problems, advocate for others, and make a difference. And welcome to a community of colleagues who understand the unique demands and rewards of being a lawyer. Welcome, too, to the Oakland County Bar Association. As you begin your legal career, you may feel excited about what lies ahead. You may also have questions. That is perfectly normal. You have learned how to think like a lawyer. Now, you’ll learn how to practice like one. You’ll navigate your first client meetings, court appearances, and difficult conversations; discover where to turn when you have a question; and gradually develop your own professional identity. The good news is that you do not have to do it alone.
what you are experiencing. The OCBA provides plenty of opportunities to make those connections. Approximately 30 committees and work groups offer a place for attorneys with virtually every type of practice or interest, including probate, family court, business court and counsel, new lawyers, veterans law, solo/small-firm practice, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Committee meetings, educational programs, mixers, and networking events are chances to meet lawyers from other practice areas, as well as members of professional organizations and the judiciary. You do not need to know everyone before you walk through the door. Come to a meeting, attend a mixer, introduce yourself to someone new, and ask questions. Everyone was new once.
START BUILDING YOUR PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY
Law school gives you an extraordinary foundation, but some of the most valuable lessons come after graduation. How do you prepare for your first hearing? What do you need to know before meeting with a client? What happens when you encounter a problem you have never faced before? Sometimes, you can turn to a seminar or workshop. Sometimes, you rely on a trusted colleague. And sometimes, you simply have to know who to call.
One of the best things you can do early in your career is get to know other lawyers. The relationships you build now can shape your career in ways you cannot yet predict. The attorney you meet at your first OCBA event may become your mentor. The person sitting across the table from you at a committee meeting may one day refer a client to you. A fellow new lawyer may become a trusted friend who understands exactly
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The Oakland County Bar Association is proud to welcome you to the profession and to our community. We hope you will get involved early, stay curious, continue learning, and build relationships that will last throughout your career. LEARN FROM THOSE AROUND YOU
Through live and on-demand seminars and workshops, Bench/Bar conferences, and substantive articles in Laches, the OCBA promotes continual learning. New attorneys can also take advantage of the OCBA’s New Lawyer Boot Camp, mentoring opportunities, and the OCBA Inns Academy group mentorship program. These programs offer opportunities to learn from people who have been where you are now. The best lawyers never stop learning, and they understand that asking for guidance is part of becoming a better lawyer. Find people whose judgment you respect, ask questions, and learn from their experience. One day, someone newer to the profession may look to you for the same guidance.
BUILD YOUR CAREER AND FIND YOUR VOICE
When you are starting out, it is easy to focus on immediate questions: Where will I work? What kind of law will I practice? How will I build experience? How do I prove myself? Those questions matter, but many factors beyond your first position or first few cases will shape your career. The reputation you build and the relationships you develop along the way will also impact your practice. The OCBA helps members build professional visibility through attorney-to-attorney referrals, speaking opportunities, articles in Laches, social media announcements, and participation in the Lawyer Referral Service. But professional involvement is not about handing out business cards and hoping for immediate results. The strongest professional relationships take time to develop. When other attorneys get to know you and understand the kind of lawyer you are, trust forms. Over time, those relationships can lead to referrals, opportunities, collaborations, and friendships. Your reputation starts now. It starts with how you prepare, how you treat opposing counsel and court staff, how you follow through, and how you show up for your colleagues and your community.
E.D.ITORIAL You are also entering the legal profession at a time of significant change. Technology, client expectations, courts, and legal institutions continue to evolve, and the next generation of attorneys will define what the profession looks like in the years ahead. That means your perspective matters. OCBA members can participate in conversations affecting the profession by staying informed about legislation and administrative rules, participating in OCBA committees, and providing input on court protocols and procedures. You may be a new lawyer, but you are part of the profession’s future.
REMEMBER WHY THE WORK MATTERS
The practice of law can become busy very quickly. You’ll juggle deadlines, hearings, emails, phone calls, and clients who need answers yesterday. You’ll have long days and difficult cases. In the middle of all that, it is important to remember that the law ultimately centers on people. The OCBA allows attorneys to give back through legal aid clinics, mentoring, committee-driven volunteer opportunities,
the Providing Access to Legal Services and Law-Related Education committees, and the Oakland County Bar Foundation. Volunteering is a wonderful way for new attorneys to join the legal community while making a difference and remembering why they chose the profession in the first place.
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP
The OCBA provides many resources, but the most important step for members is to simply be engaged. Visit ocba.org and explore the member directory, register for a program, and read LACHES. Pay attention to communications about professional development opportunities, upcoming events, and important announcements. And take advantage of member pricing for events and seminars, including programs offered at no cost. Then, take the next steps. Join a committee. Volunteer. Attend an event where you do not already know everyone in the room. Write an article. Find a mentor. Eventually, become one. As a new lawyer, your membership is free through June 30, 2027. Do with it as you wish. You can simply belong to the OCBA, or you can
take advantage of all it offers and engage with the community. We hope you choose the latter.
WELCOME TO WHAT COMES NEXT
Now that you’ve taken the oath, your journey will likely take you places you cannot yet imagine. There will be moments when you’ll feel completely prepared and others when you’ll wonder whether you know enough. There will be difficult days and steep learning curves. There will also be victories, clients you will never forget, cases that challenge you, colleagues who become friends, and opportunities you never expected. Over time, you will realize that you are no longer simply learning how to be a lawyer. You are one. The Oakland County Bar Association is proud to welcome you to the profession and to our community. We hope you will get involved early, stay curious, continue learning, and build relationships that will last throughout your career. Just remember that you do not have to navigate this profession alone. The OCBA has a place for you. Jennifer Quick is the executive director of the Oakland County Bar Association.
Gretchen Moran Marsh, Ph.D. drmoranmarsh.com | (248) 766-0260 | gmmarsh@mac.com www.ocba.org
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Please Note: The dates listed below were sent to the publisher on August 31. It is possible that some of these events have since been altered. Please check ocba.org/events for the most up-to-date schedule.
NOVEMBER LUNCHEON LIMINE: FEDERAL COURT Our bench/bar Q&A luncheon series continues with an opportunity to learn more about practicing in the federal court. Hear from Chief Magistrate Judge David R. Grant from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan during an informal discussion focusing on the difference between practicing in the state and federal courts. Bring your questions! Space is limited, so register today at ocba.org/events.
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VETERANS DAY COMMEMORATION CEREMONY Join the OCBA’s Veterans Law Committee at the Oakland County Commissioners Auditorium for a special ceremony honoring all Oakland County military veterans who have served over the last 250 years. The commemoration will reflect on the sacrifices made for American freedoms and will feature a series of decorated combat veterans. To learn more, visit ocba.org/events.
BAR NIGHT OUT MIXER: NOVEMBERFEST In partnership with the New Lawyers Committee’s annual Novemberfest, this lively event brings OCBA members together for a festive night featuring appetizers, a cash bar, and great company. Whether you’re reconnecting with colleagues or meeting new faces in the legal community, it’s the perfect way to unwind and expand your professional network. Don’t miss out — visit ocba.org/novemberfest for details and registration!
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DECEMBER
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HOLIDAY GALA
Don’t miss the OCBA’s signature event of the season — the Holiday Gala — taking place at the elegant Townsend Hotel in downtown Birmingham. Join fellow members and guests for an unforgettable evening featuring festive live music, an indulgent selection of gourmet cuisine, a premium top-shelf bar, fun mocktails, and a decadent dessert display. The celebration begins at 6 p.m. Reserve your spot today and take advantage of early-bird pricing available through November 1 at ocba.org/gala.
JANUARY BUSINESS & BASKETBALL Join us at Little Caesars Arena for a special networking event as the Pistons face off against the Dallas Mavericks. It’s a great opportunity to build connections with fellow OCBA members and your book of business. Feel free to bring family and friends. Enjoy exclusive savings on tickets and access to a designated networking area. To ensure placement with the OCBA group, purchase tickets by December 14 at ocba.org/pistons.
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OAKLAND COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION FELLOWS RECEPTION This exclusive, invitation-only event gives Oakland County Bar Foundation Fellows a festive opportunity to come together in support of the OCBF and celebrate their dedication. Enjoy delicious food and drinks and the camaraderie of friends and colleagues. OCBF Fellows can register now at ocba.org/events. To learn more about the Fellows Program or to become a Fellow, visit ocba.org/fellows.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
OCBA OFFICE HOLIDAY SCHEDULE The OCBA office will be closed on the following days in observance of the holidays:
November 26 and 27: Thanksgiving December 24 and 25: Christmas December 31: New Year’s Eve January 1: New Year’s Day January 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day JURY TRIALS & UTILIZATION
August 2026 DATE STARTED
JUDGE
CASE NUMBER CASE NAME
ATTORNEYS
TYPE OF CASE
DISPOSITION
JURY DAYS
8/10/2026
Anderson
2024-288742-FC People v. Willis
Amy Reiser Nicole James Tyron Rucker
Cts. 1-4 CSC 2nd Deg., Cts. 5-7 Children-Accost Immoral Purposes, Cts. 8-9 CSC 1st Deg.
Cts. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 Guilty, Cts. 5, 6, 8, 9 Not Guilty
4.5
8/10/2026
Brennan
2025-292379-FH People v. Bell
Andrew McGarrow Scott Kozak
Flee/Elude 4th Degree, DWLS
Guilty as Charged
1
7/28/2026
Cohen
2024-209676-NO Vincent Gibson v. Continental Auto Systems et al.
J. Marko J. Eads III S. Goodwin G. Meihn C. Cameron J. Ebner
Other Personal Injury
Verdict for Plaintiff $2,066,000.00
1.5
8/18/2026
Cohen
2024-209657-NO L.M. v. Continental Automotive Systems et al.
J. Marko J. Eads III A. Farris S. Goodwin G. Meihn C. Cameron J. Bullard
Other Personal Injury
In Progress
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8/10/2026
Grant
2025-294337-FH People v. Alston
Kimberly Woodard John Secrest
Ct. 1 Aslt by Strangulation, Ct. 2 Aslt w/I GBH, Ct. 3 FA, Ct. 4 MDOB < $200, Ct. 5 DV Agg. Ct. 5 FA
Cts. 1, 2, 4, 5 Guilty, Ct. 3 Not Guilty
2.5
8/24/2026
Matthews
2025-294901-FC People v. Ramirez Jr.
Zachary Houchin Leonard Ballard
Homicide - Murder 2nd Degree, Assault w/Intent to Murder
Guilty as Charged
3
8/24/2026
Valentine
2026-296700-FH People v. Roundtree
Dillon Salge Thomasine Jefferson
Ct. 1 CSC - Aslt w/Intent to Com. Sex Penetration, Cts. 2, 3 CSC 4th Deg., Ct. 4 Indecent Exp., Ct. 5 A&B
Cts. 1-4 Guilty, Ct. 5 Not Guilty
3
8/18/2026
Ronayne Krause Visiting Judge
2025-292812-FH People v. Haynie
Danielle Librandi David Jones
Fraud - Welfare Over $500, Fraud - Welfare (Failure to Inform) $500 or More
Guilty as Charged
1.5
www.ocba.org
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION Expand Your Knowledge with These Great Seminars!
NOVEMBER
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1:30 p.m.) n Status (Noon – tio ra ig m Im ct fe ictions Af w Criminal Conv Crimigration: Ho inted counsel po ap e ns fe inal de Bajoka PLLC zen clients, often A seminar for crim ffice of Edward A. O w La , ka jo uences for nonciti Ba eq A. ns rd co wa n Ed on Michigan tio r: ra te ig Presen -altering imm plores how comm ex life r ve ina ha m n se ca s om ge itself. This Zo eligibility for Criminal char iminal sentence dmissibility, and cr e ina th y, lit nd bi yo rta be po r extending fa tus, including de ct immigration sta offenses may affe sel fits. r appointed coun immigration bene training credit fo al in im cr of s ur Worth 1.5 ho (Noon – 1 p.m.) ndling Objections Ha in s as Cl r te unty cacy: A Mas Hall, Oakland Co ent Committee Persuasive Advo one PLC; Jeff S. sional Developm St es d of an Pr k e th oc m dd tz fro Pa Schwar A seminar Miller, Canfield, sskind, Sommers ld J. Gleeson II, w; and Judith Su La r presentation of e tio th Al Presenters: Gera e o, ap iec sh Gr ed ic tools that ; Jennifer M. eg at ce ffi str O e ’s ar or ey ut most accomplish th ec Pros e of the region’s interruptions — m an so , th in ce e Jo or en . m id es e ev ar om e rules of trial outc Objections rd, and influence ur command of th co yo re n e pe th ar t sh ec to ot d pr ns. evidence, r class designe strategic decisio advanced maste you make sound lp he d trial lawyers for an an , ce en courtroom pres strengthen your 30 a.m. – 1 p.m.) ar-End 2026 (11: Ye w La al in im ate of Cr Update on the St inted counsel inal defense appo im cr r urt of Appeals fo r A semina on PC ar Sh ished Michigan Co a bl on pu Al ly , nt on ce ar re t Sh pics, emerging of the mos Presenter: Alona ide an overview scussion of hot to di ov h pr ll pt wi de r inina an m r fo This Zoom se decisions. Join us s on sentencing . sel law cases with a focu l ina appointed coun e pointers in crim ining credit for tra le ni issues, and practic ve ju d an of criminal Worth 1.5 hours
DECEMBER
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.) g (Noon – 1 p.m fective Lawyerin Ef in s as Cl r te sentials: A Mas mittee Legal Practice Es velopment Com d e Professional De th m man PC fro nig r Ho ina m se tical strategies an se te A will explore prac se, CEO of Man te m ery, ra an ov M og sc pr rd di is ra n, Th Ge lawyer? mmunicatio Presenter: be a truly effective attorney-client co are a to u ing ke yo ta lud er it inc th es e, he do W tic t . Wha s of legal prac d mediations ct an , pe ns as tio ial tia your nt n se go pe es r ing to shar positions, ne best practices fo practitioner seek n with experts, de ed tio nc ra al rie bo tic pe lla ac ex pr co d th an ve wi dation or retention of an Participants will lea ild a strong foun el. bu lev to y er ing ev ok at lo rs ey new attorn insights for lawye m offers valuable eir practice. skills, this progra iately apply to th ed m im n ca ey th ies tools and strateg m.) ion (Noon – 1 p. ievance Commiss Gr ey rn to At e ievances with th Understanding Gr ed counsel m AGC l defense appoint ina im cr r fo r process works fro l for the Michigan ina m se A Associate Counse how the grievance d n, w an we ho n , Bo io led iss A. fi y m is ar m a grievance ievance Co Presenter: M at happens when s at the Attorney Gr ee wh ok e nd lo or te ’s pl At er ex id n. ll ins tio wi ary ac Get an This webinar to pursue disciplin . This ugh prosecution. guide decisions s or cing a grievance ct fa fa investigation thro en at wh wh d ow an kn d, ld te ou uc sh s nd ey co rn e to investigations ar ocess and what at insight into the pr s. will gain practical rie r se l two-part webina pointed counse is part one of a ing credit for ap in tra al in im cr Worth 1 hour of Learn more and register at ocba.org/events
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Child Neglect | FEATURE
THE COST OF REMOVAL:
Rethinking Our Response to Child Neglect By Aniela Bosca
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he girl’s big, brown eyes peeked out from under the hood of her too-small winter coat. Moving apprehensively, she stepped into the house with nothing more than a smoke-stained diaper bag and a tight grip on a McDonald’s toy. Her little brother slept blissfully unaware of the commotion around him, wearing only a dirty T-shirt beneath a tattered blanket. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) placed the children with their grandmother after the boy was born with marijuana in his system. When a case worker arrived for a surprise visit, the heat was off, and there was little food in the home. This led Child Protective Services (CPS) to seek emergency removal of the children. CPS temporarily placed the children in a foster home to give the grandmother time to remedy her housing. Once she was compliant, the children moved back into her home — only to return to foster care two weeks later. Sadly, these types of disruptions in a child’s housing are all too common.
www.ocba.org
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FEATURE | Child Neglect THE FOSTER CARE CRISIS
The Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) reports that every year, more than 250,000 children enter foster care across the United States.1 When a child is unable to stay with a relative, the state looks to licensed foster families. A familial setting is imperative for a healthier adjustment for the child, with an environment that promotes a greater sense of stability and more attention to their individual needs. With the number of children entering care steadily increasing and the number of foster homes declining, the growing gap creates a crisis for children with nowhere to go. Without available foster homes or relative placement, children will be placed in a residential facility that houses multiple children with varying degrees of physical, emotional, and psychological impairments. *Elijah, an 18-month-old African American male, was 24 hours away from being placed in a facility designed to accommodate teenagers before an open bed was found for him with a foster family. A child’s placement in foster care often comes with detrimental effects. Compounded with the devastation of what brought them into care, displacement has severe ramifications. If neglect is the cause of most removals, then state agencies should address them differently. Parents are often vilified for behavior that preventative services could remedy. While neglect is serious, most parents CPS encounters suffer from their own traumatic history, mental health conditions, or addiction issues. In these situations, restorative and rehabilitative steps should offer an alternative to a punitive approach.
ADDRESSING NEGLECT IN FAMILIAL HOMES
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) defines neglect as “the ongoing failure to meet a child’s basic needs and the most common form of child abuse.” These avoidable circumstances put children at unnecessary risk. Neglect has not only shortterm consequences but also long-term effects on children’s brain and emotional development. Because neglect has such expansive parameters, detecting when it occurs may be difficult. MCL 712.A.2(b)(1) “confers upon the juvenile division of the Michigan probate courts jurisdictional power over minor children whose parent or other person legally responsible for the care and maintenance of the child, when able to do so, neglects or refuses to provide proper or necessary support, education as required by law, medical, surgical, or other care necessary for his or her health or morals, or who is deprived of emotional well-being, or who is abandoned by his or her parents, guardian, or other custodian,
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or who is otherwise without proper custody or guardianship.” In Re Moss provides a perfect example of the court taking jurisdiction over the well-being of the children who were neglected by their biological mother. In this case, Ms. Moss’s history of substance abuse impaired her ability to care for her children. They often lived in homeless shelters and received inadequate care. Considering this and the mental health issues she battled, the court found that more time would not remedy her repeated behavior. It found the necessary preponderance of the evidence that returning the children would result in a substantial risk of harm. In situations like these, it is evident that the court should intervene. In 2025, 62% of removals were due to neglect.2 The NSPCC identifies signs that a child may be facing this form of maltreatment: • Poor hygiene • Mental or emotional instability • Problems within the family • Known issues with housing • Behavioral changes There are four major categories of neglect. Physical Neglect: A child without adequate food, appropriate clothing, or supervision may be experiencing neglect. They may not have access to shelter, stable utilities, or a clean environment. At times, families lack necessary furniture or appliances, or they are unable to meet basic hygiene needs. Children facing physical neglect often show up to school dirty or without the things they need for their day — if they show up at all. Physical neglect extends beyond a singular incident and would be observable over a longer period. Educational Neglect: This form of neglect occurs when a parent fails to provide an acceptable form of education for their children. The school district often supervises the children with sporadic attendance and significant unwarranted absences. Exhaustive efforts are made to support the parents to avoid truancy. Some parents who neglect their children’s education opt to “homeschool” their children instead of enrolling them in school. While some who choose this form of education do so with the proper materials and accountability, others abuse the right to homeschool. These parents habitually leave their children alone to babysit younger siblings; others struggle with addiction or mental health issues and cannot get their children to school. Regardless of the reason, the common thread is the lack of educational structure.
Emotional Neglect: A parent who routinely humiliates, ignores, or isolates their child has emotionally neglected them. Children need a nurturing, loving environment to thrive emotionally, physically, and mentally. Failing to meet this need can have severe psychological consequences. Medical Neglect: This type of neglect occurs when the child does not have access to a healthcare provider, such as a doctor, dentist, or necessary specialists. Often, parents can be overwhelmed if their child has significant medical needs. However, refusing to address those needs or follow a doctor’s recommendation can lead to a medical neglect investigation.
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF TRAUMA ON A CHILD
Neglect can have profound psychological effects on a child that, left untreated, can impact several areas of their life. The most prevalent effects include the following: • Drug or alcohol abuse • Sexual problems • Inability to maintain healthy close relationships or choose appropriate friends • Hostility or constant arguments with loved ones • Social withdrawal • Persistent feelings of being threatened • Self-destructive or impulsive behaviors • Uncontrollable reactive thoughts • Inability to make healthy occupational or lifestyle choices While these behaviors are not necessarily connected, they often intertwine. The brain’s inability to function properly can cause psychological problems. Prolonged abuse and neglect often lead to delayed brain development. High-risk behaviors — including drug use, self-harm, or sexual promiscuity — are often associated with low self-esteem. Several factors contribute to the outcomes a child may experience, including the child’s age and developmental status when the maltreatment occurred; the type, frequency, duration, and severity of the maltreatment; and the relationship between the child and the perpetrator. Additionally, these children often face other adverse experiences (e.g., parental substance use, domestic violence, poverty), making it difficult to separate the unique effects of trauma.
THE DISADVANTAGES OF FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT
Studies have shown that 30% of foster youth exhibit signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which could be a direct result of the
Child Neglect | FEATURE amount of harmful exposure they face.3 While abuse and neglect are the most common triggers, other factors can also require the state to intervene. Children affected by foster care typically struggle with multiple challenges. They are five times more likely to have behavioral problems, and between 50% and 80% of those in care are at a higher risk of developing other significant mental health impairments.4 Children who have experienced ongoing trauma can struggle with increased aggression, disobedience, or skepticism of adults. Children can develop these unhealthy behaviors to cope with their past circumstances; thus, it may take longer to address. Agencies offer training called “trauma-informed parenting” to help caregivers understand the child’s significant needs. Cognitive behavioral therapy is also essential for supporting the child as they overcome their past. Psychopathologists studying the long-term effects of maltreatment have concluded that it can impair social and personal functioning, with little identified to alleviate or reverse the damage done. Research has indicated that the very core of this trauma is linked to rejection, causing children to develop a heightened sensitivity to rejection. Studies have documented the challenges this creates in relationships and the impact on college students and early adolescents’ ability to function. Rejection sensitivity can create hostility and aggression and cause peer or romantic violence. Toxic stress is defined as the physiological result of dangerous, recurrent, or prolonged experience of trauma caused by the initiation of the stress response without the protective existence of a compassionate adult. This stress impairs the child’s cognitive function, which could diminish their capacity to learn and build memory and decrease the level of social and emotional regulation necessary to build relationships.5 Additionally, physical and behavioral detriments can occur, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, COPD, diabetes, depression, anxiety, suicidality, and behavioral issues. Regardless of how toxic the child’s home environment is, removal from their parents can severely traumatize children. While protecting the child and providing stability is necessary, removal still comes with negative implications, potentially including a higher rate of negative behavior and substance abuse. Children and youth in care are more likely to struggle in school, develop a learning disability, and lack adequate support for their education. However, there also appears to be a link between foster care placement and later adult criminal offenses, irrespective of other risk factors. A disproportionate number of individuals in the juvenile justice system have a history
of foster care placement.
THE CURRENT CLIMATE IN FOSTER CARE
In 2026, Elizabeth Hertel, the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), submitted the Executive Budget Recommendation. The proposed budget for DHHS services was approximately $39 billion, with $1.9 billion assigned to the child welfare division. The problem lies in the fact that there are not enough homes to accommodate the number of children who are coming into foster care daily. The number of licensed foster homes has sharply declined for years, from 6,346 in 2019 to 3,718 in 2025. These numbers do not reflect relatives or residential facilities. According to MDHHS, there are more than 13,000 children in foster care at any given time, with about 200 children still in need of permanent adoptive homes. Social worker retention is also a growing problem. The Social Service Review journal reports that annual turnover can reach as high as 60%. High turnover often leaves workers carrying caseloads above recommended limits, and most children do not have the same worker
by the end of their case. Though the shifting of case assignments meets MDHHS standards, it disrupts continuity. When a different worker is switched to an already open case, it creates the potential for undue stress on the biological parents, child, and foster parents. It often causes the child to spend unnecessary extended time in foster care, or conversely, be reunified too early, putting them at risk of harm. At the onset of a child protective proceeding, a lawyer guardian ad litem (LGAL) is assigned to the child as the legal representative advocating for the child’s best interest. Each county follows its own assignment process through the court. This area also has a deficit of resources because many attorneys juggle the child’s needs with the responsibilities of their own private practice. It is imperative that attorneys understand the nuances of Child Protection Law to effectively represent children. While reunification is always the ultimate goal, LGALs are tasked with ensuring that permanency occurs at an appropriate time in the appropriate home. MCL 712A.19a(1) requires a permanency plan within a reasonable period of time. “[I]f a child remains in foster care and parental rights to the child have not been terminated, the court
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FEATURE | Child Neglect shall conduct a permanency planning hearing within 12 months after the child was removed from his or her home.” A permanency planning hearing is held to review the progress being made toward returning a child in foster care to their home or show why the child should not become a permanent court ward. MCL 712A.19a(3). AFCARS reported that 501,745 children were impacted by foster care during the 2025 federal fiscal year. The average time a child spent in foster care was 711 days.6 This is far beyond the recommended 12-month permanency guideline established by the Safe Families Act and a glaring reminder that our system is not meeting those goals within a reasonable period. Staggering statistics reveal the hopelessness these children face. • More than 23,000 children will age out of the U.S. foster care system every year. • After age 18, 20% of the children who are in foster care will instantly become homeless. • Only 1 out of every 2 foster kids who age out of the system will have some form of gainful employment by the age of 24. • There is less than a 3% chance for children who have aged out of foster care to earn a college degree at any point in their life. • Seven out of 10 girls who age out of the foster care system will become pregnant before the age of 21. • Nearly 60% of young men who aged out of the foster care system have been convicted of a crime. • Approximately 1 in 4 kids who age out of the system will not graduate from high school or be able to pass their GED. • States spent a mere 1.2%-1.3% of available federal funds on parent recruitment and training services, even though 22% of children in foster care had adoption as their goal.7
A PROPOSED REMEDY
With the majority of cases being related to neglect, the MDHHS should consider an alternative solution in certain circumstances. Using money allocated for case workers, therapists, foster parents, and other service providers, the MDHHS could create a budget that allows children to remain in the home with specialized oversight. According to Child Trends, 83% of federal child welfare funds foster care, adoption, and guardianship, while only 6% is allocated to prevention services.8 In-home prevention services include mental health services, substance abuse treatment, in-home skill-based programs for parents, and other
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primary prevention services. A division specifically designed for neglect cases could help prevent removal. By assigning a neglect-specific case manager with the same discretion they would have in a foster care placement, the division could monitor the family and child within the home. Money that would have gone to a foster parent could be used to rectify any issues in the home that would ordinarily bring a child into care. A specialized case manager assigned to the family could propose a more immediate resolution to the situation. The MDHHS could set aside emergency funds or resources for food, furniture, or other needs, making assistance more readily accessible than it is under the current protocol. This case manager would then walk through the process of addressing the underlying issues that brought the family a neglectful situation. As an employee of the state under the MDHHS, this social worker would still require specified education and training necessary to work with those experiencing CPS intervention. With information in hand, the worker would arrange a service plan like the parent agency agreement in foster care. Parents would be required to complete educational, mental health, and psychological services to assist with basic life skills and submit to mandatory drug testing. The MDHHS would issue stipends to vendor-specific cards and set a time frame for review, not to exceed a year, to prevent misappropriation of funds. During this period, if the case manager feels that the parent has made no progress or is not complying, then the service team can request a removal. This alternative to foster care would keep families whole, allowing them to address issues without disruption. While many children do not have adverse experiences in their foster home, more than 28% of children in foster care report sexual or physical abuse. Because children in foster care struggle with reporting abuse, this number could be significantly higher. The proposed initiative offers another layer of protection against the trauma of foster care. It could be tested in communities with higher rates of neglect cases and, if proven successful, expand throughout the state. A number of significant proposals for children’s welfare fall under the initiative “Keeping Kids Safe,” as reported in the aforementioned budget recommendation. Notably, one proposal primarily focuses on children placed in kinship homes, providing extra support for families taking care of a relative placement. In the past, kinship providers were given less services and funding than a licensed foster home. While this proposal is a great step in the right direction, prevention services remains a considerable need.
Psychosocial outcomes often follow the child throughout adulthood. Studies have shown that a healthy, continuous relationship with foster parents can minimize the child’s likelihood of delinquency. However, this type of foster care experience is uncommon. Lessening the number of children entering care opens more foster homes for more severe cases. Leaving the family structure intact may eliminate the long-term ramifications of foster care, decreasing spending on post-foster care services and increasing funding for this initiative or salaries for those involved in the case. Instead of reacting to the problems foster care involvement creates, we should change the system to prevent them. Aniela Bosca is a passionate advocate for children and families. She and her husband were foster and adoptive parents in the tri-county area for 10 years through Oakland Family Services. Their experience inspired her to pursue her doctorate at Thomas M. Cooley Law School with an emphasis on child welfare and juvenile justice. She is part of the Criminal and Children’s Law Section of the SBM and currently serves as assistant prosecutor for Wayne County. Footnotes: 1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau, acf.hhs.gov/cb. 2. Id. 3. Austen McGuire, et al., The trajectory of PTSD among youth in foster care: A survival analysis examining maltreatment experiences prior to entry into care (May 1, 2022), pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8052914. 4. Erin P. Hambrick, et al., Mental health interventions for children in foster care: A systematic review (November 1, 2017), pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5421550. 5. Hillary A. Franke, Toxic Stress: Effects, Prevention and Treatment (November 3, 2014), pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ articles/PMC4928741. 6. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau, acf.hhs.gov/cb. 7. Cindy Sorrell, 51 Useful Aging Out of Foster Care Statistics (May 26, 2017), Social Race Media, nfyi. org/51-useful-aging-out-of-foster-care-statistics-socialrace-media. 8. Child Trends, Child Welfare Financing SFY 2020 (2023), childtrends.org/publications/child-welfare-financingsfy2020.
Marital Balance | FEATURE
SHOW ME THE MONEY:
Uncovering Value for the Marital Balance Sheet By Candyce Abbatt
“
F
ollow the money; it never lies.” These are the words of a forensic accountant hired to track down years of income that never seemed to reach the family coffers. Seeking an accountant’s help is an expensive route with no guarantee. Sometimes, the money is simply gone — to addiction, overspending, or risky investing. A specialist may be able to trace the off-loading of enough assets to buy an offset through negotiation or trial. Once or twice, the hiring party gets lucky and finds the coffee can full of cash buried in the backyard. www.ocba.org
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FEATURE | Marital Balance At times, the estate lacks the liquidity to justify or fund the search. In that case, look inward. What valuable marital assets may not have been intentionally diverted but can arguably enhance the marital balance sheet? Where might undisclosed income exist? One would expect to have “seen it all” in terms of identified marital assets. Yet every new case seems to offer an opportunity to mine for assets that may not have existed in the recent past. Electronic currency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are only minor examples. As more nontraditional methods of exchange or income opportunities become monetized, the list grows exponentially. Even outdated electronics tossed into drawers may be worth more than the purchase price, and a spare guest room, GoFundMe page, or the use of a backyard pool can generate income. The only way to keep up is to regularly expand the scope of discovery and have early, detailed conversations with clients. Michigan courts must determine and divide the parties’ property rights in a judgment of divorce. Yet a court cannot value nor divide what no one identifies. In some instances, tangible benefits legitimately do not show up until after the court enters the judgment. The payout for certain benefits, such as employment, could come several years down the road. Consider the following partial checklist of items when looking within the estate to improve the marital balance sheet.
EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION
1. Restricted Stock Units Restricted stock units (RSUs), a form of employee compensation, represent an employer’s promise to transfer shares of company stock to an employee at a future date. The shares remain “restricted” until the employee meets specific requirements, such as working for a set length of time or hitting performance milestones. The company or employee provides a vesting schedule. As the employee fulfills time or performance conditions, the units “vest,” or unlock. Once vested, the units convert into real shares of stock (or a cash equivalent) that the employee can hold or sell. These differ from stock options as employees do not purchase RSUs. The question is whether the award compensates for past work, future service, or both. Seek out copies of grant notices, award agreements, vesting schedules, plan documents, and benefit statements. 2. Stock Options Stock options received through employment may count as marital property. Everett v. Everett, 195 Mich. App. 50 (1992). Options can expire with no value if the stock price drops below the strike price. The settlement agreement should
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address the valuation date and require the timely sharing of post-judgment communications, delivery, and tax consequences. Seek out copies of master stock plan documents, grant notices, vesting schedules, and brokerage account statements. These records reveal whether the options are vested or unvested and clarify strike prices. 3. Deferred Compensation Deferred compensation — including employee deferrals, employer contributions, and earnings — may fall outside of a qualified retirement plan and may not appear on a 401(k) statement. MCL 552.18(2) expressly permits consideration of contingent rights in unvested pension, annuity, and retirement benefits attributable to marital service. Request copies of the plan agreement, election forms, account statements, distribution schedule, beneficiary designation, and provisions concerning forfeiture or acceleration. 4. Bonuses and Profit Sharing Earned but Not Yet Paid A bonus paid after separation may relate to sales or performance fulfilled during the marriage. A payment date is not necessarily an earning date. Employers typically pay out profit sharing around the end of the first quarter of the following year. Address taxes, repayment obligations, and the possibility that the final payout will remain unknown until after the judgment. Request copies of all employment agreements and amendments, bonus plans, employer calculations
or metrics, prior bonus history, and communications describing the performance period and potential payout. 5. Signing and Retention Bonuses Employers may pay a signing or retention bonus up front, in installments, or through a forgivable loan. 6. Accrued Vacation and Paid Time Off (PTO) A large PTO balance can represent real money. Some employers pay out upon retirement, death, or termination; others do not. Typically, these benefits arrive post-judgment, so install safeguards to protect the nonemployee spouse from outside transfer and ensure each party absorbs their fair share of taxes. Under Michigan’s Payment of Wages and Fringe Benefits Act (MCL 408.480), accrued PTO or vacation benefits may survive an employee’s death. Whether the employer must pay them out depends strictly upon the written policy, employment contract, or established plan enforced. Preserving the marital share of these benefits is vital. If the employee dies before the triggering event, the written beneficiary designation controls. Without a designation, the surviving, rather than the late, spouse could automatically receive the payment. Subpoena the current balance and the employer’s written payout policy and/or union contract, as well as all beneficiary designation documents. Include safeguards to protect diversion through beneficiary
Marital Balance | FEATURE designation or lack thereof in the judgment. 7. Capital Accounts Some companies, such as law firms, pay out accrued capital accounts for an employee or shareholder upon separation, death, or retirement. They could offer a lump sum or periodic payments, with the triggering event occurring well after the divorce. Put the safety precautions described above into place to ensure payout.
TRADITIONAL AND EMERGING POTENTIAL ASSETS AND SOURCES OF INCOME
8. Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights Intellectual property is not exclusive to celebrities and tech founders. A spouse may have written a book, designed a product, developed software, licensed photographs, or created an online course while working an ordinary day job. The patent may be sitting on the shelf, waiting to be licensed or infringed upon. Ask for trademark registrations, patent applications, domestic- and foreign-issued assignments, buy-sell agreements, and royalty and licensing agreements. 9. YouTube Channels, Podcasts, and Subscription Sites A channel, podcast, newsletter, or monetized social media account may generate advertising, subscriptions, and sponsorships. The associated content, mailing list, contracts, equipment, and revenue stream may have significant value or generate a less detectable stream of income. Social media may generate self-employment income without a storefront, payroll company, or recognizable business name. Ask for analytics, subscriber counts, sponsorship agreements, advertising statements, and platform contracts. Search public social media profiles. 10. Payment Apps Payment apps are not merely conduits. They can retain substantial balances. In one case, subpoenas to PayPal and Venmo disclosed accumulated private coaching income and funds that never reached a bank account. Beyond PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle, pay attention to Cash App, Revolut, and a host of emerging apps. Comb through bank statements to identify transfers to or from these apps. 11. Cryptocurrency Bitcoin, Ether, stablecoins, Dogecoin, and other digital assets are “hidden” due to their mind-blowing complexity. This is intensified by the rapid emergence of digital holdings, the expanding number of holding companies, and a party’s ability to self-store. Look for transfers to exchanges on bank and credit card statements, account-opening emails, and security notices.
Cyber investors may purchase expensive “mining” machines that piece together valuable cybercurrency for a twofold value to the balance sheet. A hardware wallet can look like an ordinary USB device. A “seed phrase,” which acts as a master key to recover digital assets across multiple blockchains, may be written on paper, photographed, or stored in a password manager or phone. An exchange statement will not disclose assets moved to a private wallet. Try to locate wallet addresses, transaction histories, device inventories, and records of transfers. Significant cases may require a forensic expert familiar with blockchain tracing. Remember that value moves quickly. Do not limit your inquiry to Bitcoin. NFTs, staking rewards, mining proceeds, and decentralized finance platforms (DeFi) may have value or generate income. A DeFi lets participants trade, lend, borrow, and earn interest on money directly with each other. 12. Airline Miles, Rewards, Credit Card Points, and Gift Cards Airline points are often quantified, but what about companion certificates, regional and global upgrades, refunds for unused tickets, and medallion benefits that one can redeem for travel and other amenities? Those who reach a certain status can access global and regional upgrades annually. Request copies of wallet information readily available from the airline or credit card company’s website. It’s easy for a party to conceal the purchase of retail or online gift cards and stash them away over time. Even modest gift card balances can accumulate into a substantial amount. 13. Pending Claims Pending legal claims can include property. Damages replacing marital earnings or reimbursing expenses paid with marital funds may be treated differently from injury damages personal to one spouse. Request copies of pleadings, demand letters, insurance communications, settlement offers, and an allocation of claimed damages. 14. Contingent Fee Cases For lawyer-spouses, an inventory of contingent fee cases can represent substantial potential value. Consider the inventory, opening date, fee agreement, and referral obligations. Verify that there are no unfiled cases in negotiation with insurance companies or potential defendants. Ensure that lucrative cases are not deferred until after the divorce. 14. Collectibles The “stuff in the basement” may include sports memorabilia, coins, comic books, trading cards, firearms, or wine worth far more than ordinary household contents. Review objects a spouse
has insured, cataloged, repaired, photographed, or bragged about on social media. Watches, loose stones, inherited jewelry, and items stored outside the home may never reach the Domestic Relations Verified Financial Information Form. Set aside time to inventory the contents of a safe deposit box. The inspection doesn’t always unearth a treasure but may buy peace of mind for the client. It may also generate a candid conversation with opposing counsel. 15. Oil, Gas, Mineral, and Timber Rights Natural-resource rights may be severed from the surface property. Research deeds, leases, division orders, royalty statements, reserve information, and tax schedules. 16. Net Operating and Capital Loss Carryforwards, Tax Credits, and Passive Losses When a family business is a closely held, nonpublic entity, the owner-spouse may receive substantial benefits by way of tax relief after the divorce. Tax laws may emerge post-judgment that provide retroactive relief to businesses and individuals. This relief often follows a period of economic uncertainty or decline and is meant to assist struggling businesses. Though it may be difficult to quantify, the payout can be considerable. Include detailed language in the settlement agreement that allows for these uncertainties.
CONCLUSION
The most overlooked assets are not always hidden through fraud or deception. They may be buried in plain sight. Assets could be contingent, deferred, digital, intangible, nontransferable, or simply unfamiliar. While not every item on this checklist deserves an expert or trial, it does deserve a deliberate analysis of time, cost, and likelihood of added value. A fair property division starts with a complete view of the marital estate, enabling the parties to make a reasoned decision as to the outcome. Candyce Abbatt is a family law attorney and co-founder of Abbatt Zurawski PC. With more than 40 years of experience, she specializes in complex divorce and child custody cases. Based in Franklin, she partners with her daughter, Casey Zurawski, and is married to Bill Abbatt, a patent attorney with Brooks Kushman PC. In her free time, Abbatt pulls weeds in her garden, hits estate sales, and tries to keep up with her three lively grandkids. www.ocba.org
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FEATURE | Parental Abduction
The Custody Case That Can’t Wait Practical Tips for Family Practitioners to Prevent International Parental Abduction By Charlie Kadado
I
nternational parental abduction is one of the most urgent and devastating crises a family law practitioner may encounter. In 2025, the United States government handled 950 incoming Hague Convention cases involving applications for the return of or access to children, including 390 new cases. At year’s end, 441 cases remained open. Children born to citizens of countries that are not party to the Hague Convention are often at the greatest risk and, paradoxically, are the least likely to be recovered once removed from the U.S. For Michigan practitioners, vigilance and prevention are critical because recovery from a non-convention country can prove extraordinarily complex and sometimes impossible.
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Parental Abduction | FEATURE
RECOGNIZING RISK FACTORS
Michigan’s adoption of the Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act (UCAPA) provides courts with a statutory framework for evaluating abduction risk. Under MCL 722.1527(1), courts must consider an enumerated list of risk factors when determining whether a credible risk of abduction exists. Practitioners should screen contested custody cases for the presence of these risk factors at the earliest opportunity. Among the factors is a history of prior abduction or attempted abduction of the child, perhaps one of the strongest indicators of future risk. Courts often treat a prior incident as a significant predictor of repeated conduct. Threats to abduct the child, whether made directly to the other parent, to family members, or to third parties, must also be taken seriously regardless of the context in which they are made. Practitioners should advise clients to document all such statements immediately, noting the date, time, witnesses, and exact language used. The statute further identifies a constellation of preparatory activities that may indicate a parent is laying the groundwork for removal. These include abandoning employment without a reasonable explanation; selling a primary residence or terminating a lease; closing bank accounts, liquidating financial assets or concealing financial documents; applying for a passport, visa, enhanced driver’s license, or other travel documents for the child or parent; and seeking to obtain the child’s birth certificate, school records, or medical records outside of the normal course of parenting. Additional statutory factors include a history of domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, or neglect; a demonstrated refusal to comply with existing custody determinations; a lack of strong ties to the state of Michigan or the U.S.; strong familial, cultural, or economic ties to another country; the likelihood that the party would take the child to a country that is not a signatory to the Hague Convention or has a history of noncompliance; recent changes in the party’s immigration or citizenship status; a denial of U.S. citizenship; the use of forged or misleading documents; and the use of multiple names or identities to mislead or deceive. Beyond the statutory factors, practitioners may also recognize behavioral patterns that should prompt heightened concern. One such indicator is a parent’s sudden desire to visit family abroad with the child for an extended period, particularly when such travel was not previously part of the family’s routine. A parent who begins to distance the child from the left-behind parent’s family or community — or who enrolls the child in language instruction specific to the for-
eign country without prior discussion — may be preparing the child psychologically for relocation. Practitioners should also be alert to a parent who contacts the consulate of a foreign nation regarding passport or citizenship documentation for the child, wires significant sums of money abroad, or makes travel arrangements, including purchasing one-way tickets or tickets with open return dates. The importance of documentation cannot be overstated. Practitioners should instruct clients to preserve all text messages, emails, voicemails, financial records, travel-related purchases, and any other evidence of suspicious conduct. This evidence is critical for establishing the predicate for emergency relief and supporting longer-term orders.
LEGAL REMEDIES
Michigan provides several interconnected legal mechanisms to address international abduction risk. The most comprehensive is the UCAPA, which authorizes courts to impose abduction prevention measures in any custody proceeding when evidence demonstrates a credible risk of wrongful removal. Notably, the court may act sua sponte if it receives evidence of a credible abduction risk, even absent a party’s petition. 1. The Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act A party seeking abduction prevention relief must file a verified petition that identifies the specific risk factors present in the case. The petition should be as detailed and well documented as possible, as the court will rely on these factual allegations to determine whether a hearing and subsequent protective order are warranted. Upon finding that a credible risk of abduction exists, the court must enter an abduction prevention order. In making this determination, the court considers the child’s age, the potential harm an abduction would pose to the child, the legal and practical barriers to returning the child if taken, and the reasons for the threatened abduction, including whether the party is fleeing domestic violence. The statute authorizes a broad range of protective measures. Courts may impose travel restrictions requiring the party to provide a detailed itinerary, addresses, telephone numbers, and copies of all travel documents before any domestic or international travel with the child. Courts may prohibit the removal of the child from the state, from the U.S., or from a specified geographic area without prior court approval. Passport-related provisions are among the most important tools available. The court
may order enrollment of the child in the State Department’s Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program, require the surrender of all passports held by the child, and prohibit either parent from applying for a new passport or travel document for the child. Additional provisions may include supervised parenting time, the posting of a financial bond sufficient to serve as a deterrent and fund recovery efforts if an abduction occurs, and a requirement that the respondent obtain mirror-image orders in any foreign country to which travel is permitted. 2. Ex Parte Relief When the evidence establishes that a child’s wrongful removal is imminent, the court may issue an ex parte order regarding the physical custody of the child. This remedy is extraordinary but essential for cases in which the risk is immediate and delay would render other remedies ineffective. Additionally, under Michigan’s adoption of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, a court may exercise emergency temporary jurisdiction when necessary to protect an abandoned child or when a child present in the state has been subjected to or threatened with mistreatment or abuse. This provision offers a jurisdictional basis for intervention even when Michigan is not the child’s home state. 3. Parenting Time Restrictions Michigan law requires that parenting-time orders prohibit parenting time in any country that is not a party to the Hague Convention unless both parents provide written consent. This mandatory provision reflects the legislature’s recognition that once a party takes a child to a non-convention country, the mechanisms for securing the child’s return are severely limited. Depending on the circumstances, courts may consider prohibiting international travel without advance written consent or court approval, requiring advance notice of proposed travel and disclosure of complete itineraries and contact information, restricting travel to specified countries, or requiring surrender of passports or other travel documents when less restrictive measures would not adequately address the risk. Practitioners should also consider whether the parenting-time schedule itself creates an opportunity for abduction. Where the risk is substantial, supervised parenting time may be appropriate until the circumstances giving rise to the concern have been resolved.
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FEATURE | Parental Abduction
PROACTIVE FEDERAL PROGRAMS
In addition to Michigan’s statutory framework, several federal programs provide critical layers of protection against international parental abduction. Practitioners should familiarize themselves with each of these resources and routinely incorporate them into their prevention strategies. 1. Prevent Abduction Program The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Prevent Abduction Program, established under Title III of the International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act, provides real-time monitoring and interception capabilities at all U.S. ports of departure. When CBP receives a valid, enforceable U.S. court order prohibiting the removal of a child from the U.S., the agency creates travel alerts in its systems for both the child and any identified potential abductors. CBP monitors Advance Passenger Information System data in real time. When the system identifies a match — indicating that the child
or a flagged individual has booked an outbound flight or vessel or is approaching a land border crossing — CBP notifies the Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues and coordinates with CBP officers at the port of entry or departure to intercept the departure. Enrollment requires a valid, enforceable U.S. court order that specifically prohibits the removal of the child from the country. Practitioners should ensure that the order contains unambiguous language and does not include alternative consent provisions that may complicate enforcement. Contact the program at (888) 407-4747 or PreventAbduction1@state.gov. Practitioners drafting abduction prevention orders should be aware that orders whose language permits travel with the other party’s “written consent” may be difficult to enforce. Federal authorities bear the burden of verifying whether the party has given written consent, and the ambiguity this language introduces may lead authorities to decline the order’s enrollment in federal prevention programs. The preferred
approach requires court approval for any international travel, without alternative consent provisions, when the order is intended to interface with CBP or State Department programs. 2. C hildren’s Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP) The State Department’s free monitoring service, CPIAP, provides early warning when a party submits a passport application for a child. Submitting Form DS-3077 initiates enrollment in the program, available to parents, legal guardians, courts, law enforcement agencies, CPS, and attorneys acting on behalf of an eligible party. When a party submits a passport application for an enrolled child, the State Department alerts the enrollee, providing the parent or designated party an opportunity to object or seek judicial intervention before a passport is issued. Only U.S. citizens under the age of 18 are eligible for enrollment. Importantly, CPIAP cannot prevent another nation’s consulate from issuing a foreign passport. It also cannot prevent travel once a valid passport has been issued. These limitations make early enrollment critical and underscore the importance of complementary measures, including court-ordered passport surrender and enrollment in CBP’s Prevent Abduction Program. 3. Passport Requirements Federal regulations generally require that both parents consent to and execute a passport application for any child under the age of 16. When only one parent appears at the passport office, the applicant must submit either the other parent’s notarized consent on Form DS-3053 or documentary evidence of sole legal authority to obtain a passport for the child. Additionally, a state court may order the surrender of an existing passport. While the two-parent consent requirement provides a meaningful barrier, it is not absolute. A parent acting in bad faith may present fraudulent consent documentation or circumvent the requirement entirely by obtaining a foreign passport through a consulate that is not bound by U.S. regulations.
PRACTICE GUIDANCE FOR PRACTITIONERS
Effective prevention of international parental abduction starts at case intake and continues through final resolution. While the Hague Convention offers a civil mechanism for the return of children, compliance is inconsistent, and judicial proceedings in foreign courts may extend for months or years while the child remains abroad.
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Moreover, many nations — historically including several countries in the Middle East, parts of Africa, and portions of Asia — are not parties to the Hague Convention. Prevention is particularly critical because the legal avenues for return are severely constricted or entirely nonexistent. 1. Screen Cases Early Every contested custody case involving a parent with significant ties to a foreign country should be screened for abduction risk at the earliest possible stage. Practitioners should inquire about the opposing party’s citizenship, immigration status, family connections abroad, financial ties to foreign jurisdictions, and history of travel with the child. If risk factors emerge, the attorney should immediately develop a prevention strategy. 2. Draft Specific Order Language The effectiveness of any court order depends on the precision of its language. Orders addressing abduction risk should identify the restricted party by all known names and aliases, clearly prohibit removal from the U.S. without prior court approval, and incorporate specific provisions regarding passport surrender and restrictions on new passport applications. When possible, avoid language that conditions travel restrictions on the other party’s “written consent,” as this creates ambiguity that undermines enrollment in federal programs. 3. Register Orders with Federal Programs An abduction prevention order that remains only in the court file provides limited practical protection. Practitioners should promptly enroll the child in CPIAP via Form DS-3077 and submit the court order to CBP’s Prevent Abduction Program. These registrations create active monitoring that can result in real-time interception at the border. The protection the program provides vastly outweighs the modest effort required for enrollment. 4. Advise Clients on Evidence Preservation Practitioners should instruct clients to systematically preserve all communications and evidence of suspicious conduct. Clients should save text messages, emails, voice recordings, photographs, financial records, travel-related purchases, and records of unusual behavior in their original format with metadata intact. This evidence supports emergency motions before the court and provides law enforcement with ac-
tionable information should an abduction occur despite preventive efforts. Further, the increasing availability of artificial intelligence and sophisticated digital manipulation makes preservation of original evidence particularly important. Where an opposing party disputes the authenticity of significant electronic evidence, practitioners should consider whether forensic examination or expert assistance is warranted.
REAL THERAPY. REAL results.
5. Utilize Supervised Parenting Time and Bond Requirements
A more focused, in-depth
In cases involving elevated risk, practitioners should not hesitate to seek supervised parenting time, particularly for any parenting time that involves travel. Financial bond requirements serve as a deterrent and a practical fund for recovery efforts. The bond amount should be calibrated to the actual cost of international recovery litigation, which can be substantial.
individuals seeking
6. Act with Urgency Abductions unfold rapidly, often over the course of hours rather than days. When a practitioner identifies imminent risk, the appropriate response is an emergency filing for ex parte relief. Delay in these circumstances can result in irreversible harm. Courts and attorneys must be prepared to act decisively when the evidence warrants emergency intervention. International parental abduction can inflict profound psychological harm on children, including anxiety, nightmares, fearfulness, and lasting emotional harm. Left-behind parents face equally devastating consequences. For the judiciary and the practicing bar, prevention must take precedence over remedy. Once the child crosses that border, particularly into a non-convention country, the opportunity to bring them home may disappear. Charlie Kadado is a litigation attorney in Warner Norcross + Judd’s Bloomfield Hills office and a member of the firm’s Family Law and Commercial Litigation practice groups. Before practicing law, Kadado worked as WXYZ-TV’s real-time manager. He earned his law degree from Wayne State University Law School and serves on the State Bar of Michigan’s Public Outreach and Education Committee. He can be reached at (313) 391-0970 or ckadado@wnj.com.
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OCBA AT WORK Below are recent examples of the OCBA at work in service to the bar and the community.
2026-2027 Committee Chair/Vice Chair Orientation The OCBA welcomed 44 committee chairs and vice chairs to its annual Committee Chair/Vice Chair Orientation on August 6. The evening began with networking, appetizers, and drinks to thank these dedicated members, who have volunteered their time and leadership to serve the association during the 2026-27 fiscal year. A brief presentation provided guidance and support for the year ahead. The OCBA proudly offers 30 committees as a free benefit of membership. Committee involvement is a great way to expand your professional network, strengthen your skills, build your influence, and give back to the legal community. Visit ocba.org/committees to learn more and join a committee.
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OCBA AT WORK
LUNCHEON LIMINE: Meet Judge Huddleston On August 13, the OCBA welcomed newly appointed Oakland County Probate Court Judge Nicole S. Huddleston for an exclusive behind-the-bench conversation attended by nearly 60 members and legal professionals. Having completed her first 100 days on the bench, Judge Huddleston shared valuable insights, practical guidance, and preferred protocols for attorneys practicing in her courtroom and throughout the Probate Court. Julie McCowan of Julie McCowan, Esq. LLC and Wanda Roberts of Linnell & Associates PLLC moderated the online discussion. As past and current chairs of the OCBA Probate, Estate, and Trust Committee, they led an engaging conversation about real-world legal issues, effective advocacy strategies, and what truly makes a difference in the courtroom.
MEDI ATION
Hon. Mark Switalski (RET) Macomb County Circuit Court Judge 2001-2021 District Court Judge 1989-2000
586-493-9000 mark@switalskilaw.com | switalskilaw.com www.ocba.org
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ON THE CIRCUIT
ArrivederLa, Giudice Anderson By Richard Lynch
A
s the United States wraps up its semiquincentennial year, I cannot help but consider the brilliance of the experiment in democracy our founders crafted or the inheritance we maintain. They slowly crafted a system that established a peaceful transition of governance between leaders and, ultimately, parties. This signaled a shift away from hereditary leadership and ushered in an expectation of public accountability. While our revolution may not have progressed as seamlessly as my grade school texts suggested, the system that emerged from their efforts reflects the work and time spent creating it. Today, we expect a peaceful transition of power when an elected leader’s term ends. The same applies for elected judges. The transition of power has been on my mind for another reason aside from the semiquincentennial, for on January 1, 2027, at noon, the Hon. Martha D. Anderson will end her service as a circuit judge for Michigan’s Sixth Judicial Circuit Court. This marks the end of a judicial career that followed her 2002 election to the circuit bench. Judge Anderson’s story begins in Onna, Italy. After her family moved to the U.S. when she was a young girl, her journey continued through Wayne State, where she graduated with honors, and on to law school at the University of Detroit. Then, fortunately for us, her career as a judicial officer began when she joined the court as a Friend of the Court referee in 1979. In a time of term limits, Judge Anderson offers a steady example of dedicated service. A mother, spouse, grandmother, referee, judge, active member of the bar and judiciary, and funzionaria di lungo corso, Judge Anderson embodies the Ignatian philosophy of “being for others,” i.e., working for justice.1 For all those educated by or familiar with the Jesuits and Ignatian thought, this not only acknowledges Judge Anderson’s connection with U of D but also defines her approach to the law and life as a referee, judge, and person.
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has embodied the very best attributes of a judge time and time again in service to the people of Oakland County, and she will be greatly missed. As Judge Anderson embarks upon her next adventure, I wish her and her family a very happy retirement, and I thank her for a job well done.
As my predecessor, Kevin Oeffner, reflected, Few people have positively impacted the administration of justice longer than Judge Anderson. Her combined service as a Friend of the Court referee and circuit court judge spans 47 years. She and I worked on court budgets, caseflow management, technology, court records, empanelment of a citizens’ grand jury, and a host of other issues during our years together in the court. I will always be grateful to Judge Anderson for the kindness, encouragement, and support that she extended to me during my service as court administrator. I wish for her and David a happy and healthy retirement. She has earned it. While I doubt that the court will call upon Judge Anderson to work on her last day, I wouldn’t put it past her to do so if the need arose. As Judge Jeffery Matis reflected, As chief judge of the Oakland County Circuit Court, it has been a privilege and an honor to have served alongside Judge Martha Anderson. Throughout her long and distinguished judicial career, Judge Anderson
So yes, the time has come to bid farewell to Judge Anderson. Do you ever ponder the language we use to say goodbye? The English language offers many options.2 Additionally, in researching for this article, I learned that there are at least 60 ways to say goodbye in Italian.3 Goodbyes can be maudlin, drawn out, messy. Fortunately, my word count for this article is high enough that I won’t drag you through sentimental sap to fill space. Instead of saying goodbye, I will acknowledge an amazing career of public service, una gloriosa carriera in magistratura. I hesitate to use a phrase like “institution” to describe Judge Anderson because it tends to conjure up images of stone, brick, and steel. I think that I will go with “exemplary” — worthy of serving as a model. After nearly five full decades of work, Judge Anderson offers an example of selfless public service for each of us. Thank you for your dedication. It has been an honor. Salve! Richard Lynch is the court administrator for the Oakland County Circuit Court. Footnotes: 1. “Jesuit 101: Are We Ready to Be ‘People for and with Others’?” Philip Nahlik, May 6, 2022, thejesuitpost. org/2022/05/jesuit-101-are-we-ready-to-be-people-forand-with-others, last accessed August 31, 2026. 2. “81 cool, common and quirky ways to say goodbye in English,” berlitz.com/blog/goodbye-english, last accessed August 31, 2026. 3. “How to say goodbye in Italian in 60 reliable ways [real life & email],” berlitz.com/blog/goodbye-italian, last accessed August 31, 2026.
IN PRO PER Paesano Akkashian, PC has joined full-service law firm Amundsen Davis LLC effective September 1. The merger will establish Amundsen Davis’s first office in Michigan, strengthening the firm’s ability to serve long-standing clients in the state. All of Paesano Akkashian’s attorneys and staff will join Amundsen Davis, including founding partners Anthony R. Paesano and Brian M. Akkashian, partner Alec M. Torigian, and partner Matthew J. Anthony R. Paesano Enright. The team will continue working from Paesano Akkashian’s current office at 7457 Franklin Road, Suite 200, in Bloomfield Hills. Founded in 2011, Paesano Akkashian’s practice centers on commercial and business litigation, automotive supply chain disputes, securities transactions and arbitration, real estate finance, and estate Brian M. Akkashian and business planning, representing clients ranging from Tier 1 automotive suppliers to Alec M. Torigian publicly traded companies and real estate developers. The addition of Paesano Akkashian reflects Amundsen Davis’s continued growth across the Midwest, comprising more than 270 attorneys across offices in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, and now Michigan. Amundsen Davis’s practice and industry groups span corporate and securities, labor and employment, litigation, real estate, and dozens of other areas. Matthew J. Enright
Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC is pleased to announce that attorneys Marcy Hahn and Lisa M. Serra have joined the firm’s Southfield office. Hahn and Serra bring a unique blend of practices to business owners, including fractional general counsel and family law representation, assisting individuals in navigating divorce, child custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, property division, mediation, and post-judgment matters. Marcy Hahn has more than 20 years of experience as an attorney, negotiator, and mediator. Her family law practice focuses on divorce, custody disputes, and alternative dispute resolution. An experienced mediator and advocate of collaborative divorce, Hahn helps clients resolve family conflicts efficiently and Marcy Hahn constructively, often reducing the emotional and financial strain associated with litigation. Lisa Serra represents clients in divorce proceedings, child custody and parenting time matters, child support and spousal support disputes, property division, and post-judgment proceedings. Known for her practical and client-centered approach, Serra helps individuals navigate challenging personal circumLisa Serra stances while protecting their legal interests and long-term goals.
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23
SOLO/SMALL FIRM
Where Solo and Small-Firm Lawyers Connect By Paul Shkreli and Elliot Rattner
T
he practice of law can feel isolating. This is especially true for solo and small-firm attorneys, who may not have a hallway full of colleagues available to answer a quick question, talk through a difficult file, or recommend a trusted professional. Yet these lawyers confront the same demands as larger firms: practicing law, managing clients, overseeing technology, handling finances, developing business, and planning for growth, often while wearing multiple hats themselves. That reality inspired us to revive the Oakland County Bar Association’s Solo and Small Firm Committee earlier this year. Our goal was straightforward: to create a useful, welcoming place where solo and small-firm lawyers could connect, compare experiences, and learn from one another. The committee’s first six months confirmed both the need for that space and the value it provides. We began by focusing on conversation. Our initial meetings gave members an opportunity to build relationships in a relaxed setting and underscored that professional development does not always require a podium or a formal lecture. Sometimes, the most useful exchange begins with one lawyer asking another, “How are you handling this?” The answer may save time, prevent a mistake, produce a referral, or simply reassure someone that the challenges of running a practice are widely shared. Our first issue discussion reflected the practical concerns that arise every day in smaller practices. We talked about case management systems and the difficult task of selecting technology that is helpful but not unnecessarily expensive or complicated. We discussed the ethics of passing credit card processing fees along to clients — an issue that involves professional responsibility, client communication, and the financial realities of operating a firm. Law school certainly didn’t prepare us for these questions. We also discussed referrals: how to build trusted networks, make thoughtful introductions, and ensure that clients receive help when a matter falls outside of a lawyer’s practice area or capacity.
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The diversity in our growing cohort is part of the committee’s strength. A new solo practitioner, an attorney in a growing boutique, and a lawyer who has managed a small firm for decades may approach the same issue differently. Bringing those perspectives together allows members to identify options, ask better questions, and make decisions suited to their own practices. It also creates relationships that make future phone calls and referrals possible. It’s been a pleasure to receive a referral through a new colleague in the group — and doubly so to send one along. We recently held our first meeting of the 2026-27 bar year, again in person, and we are excited about the programming ahead. This year’s schedule combines candid peer discussion with practical guidance from knowledgeable speakers. Planned roundtables and panels will
address issues such as mentorship and knowing when to expand a practice. Lawyers need trusted colleagues from whom they can seek guidance, and a firm’s growth presents consequential questions about workload, staffing, overhead, culture, and professional responsibility. Those topics matter at every stage of your career. We also intend to feature speakers who can help members understand opportunities and issues outside of their daily routines. Representatives connected with the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission and the Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System will discuss court-appointed work. Other programming will address limited-scope representation, an important tool for expanding access to legal services while allowing attorneys and clients to define an engagement carefully. We are also planning a conversation with tax professionals
SOLO/SMALL FIRM who can answer the questions that tend to accumulate on every business owner’s list regarding S corporations, Roth IRAs, tax planning, retirement savings, and the rest. Although we select these programs with solo and small-firm lawyers in mind, the committee is not a closed circle! We welcome established solos, small-firm attorneys, lawyers preparing to open a practice, or anyone simply interested in a program. Come for a visit before deciding whether the committee is right for you! The committee’s first six months prove that its benefit is both practical and personal. Members leave with information they can use, but they also leave knowing more lawyers who practice beside them in Oakland County. For solo and small-firm attorneys, that sense of professional community is not merely pleasant; it can be an important practice resource. As we begin our second year, we need the
ongoing engagement and support of OCBA members to ensure that the Solo and Small Firm Committee continues to grow and thrive. Please consider joining us, sharing an idea for a future program, or stopping by to see what we are building. We hope to see you at an upcoming monthly meeting or at one of our quarterly in-person gatherings. Paul Shkreli is the owner of Shkreli Legal PLLC and chair of the Oakland County Bar Association’s Solo and Small Firm Committee. A 2026 Oakland County 40 Under 40 recipient, he also serves in the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly for the Sixth Judicial Circuit. His practice includes civil litigation with an emphasis on insurance, criminal defense, and mediation. He
can be reached at paul@paulshkreli.com. Elliot Rattner is a native of Oakland County, a U.S. Navy veteran, and the proud owner of Northwatch Legal, PLLC in Traverse City. His practice focuses mainly on indigent criminal defense and appellate work through the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission and Michigan Appointed Appellate Counsel System. He also provides nontraditional family estate-planning services and operates a name-change clinic through Up North Pride. In addition to his legal practice, Rattner serves as a commissioner with the Traverse City Human Rights Commission and is a member of the State Bar’s LGBT Public Policy, Legislation, and Amicus Committee. He can be reached at erattner@northwatchlegal.com.
GRATEFUL
Business Litigators | Business Lawyers altiorlaw.com | 248.594.5252 Our Partners | Kenneth Neuman, Jennifer Grieco, Stephen McKenney, Matthew Smith, and David Mollicone
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25
FOUNDATION
A SEASON OF GIVING:
Supporting the OCBF During the Holidays By Robert Levine
N
ow that the holiday season has arrived, many of us are thinking about time with family and friends, familiar traditions, and plans for the new year. This is also a time when many people decide which organizations to support through their yearend giving. I hope the Oakland County Bar Foundation will be one of them. Throughout the year, the OCBF provides grants to organizations with a connection to Oakland County whose work aligns with our mission. Last fiscal year, we awarded more than $200,000 in grants — meaningfully more than we’ve been able to give in the last several years. The generosity of our Fellows, individual donors, Giving Tuesday and yearend campaign contributors, and Signature Event sponsors and attendees makes that support possible. Those dollars aid organizations doing important work throughout Oakland County, including providing legal services to people who may not have access to them otherwise, helping families facing eviction, protecting children, educating seniors, and supporting young people. If you are reading this column, you almost certainly have a passion for the law and for serving your local community. I humbly ask that you consider the foundation as you think through your holiday and year-end giving. Here are a few ways to contribute.
JOIN OUR FELLOWS PROGRAM
If you have not already done so, please consider becoming an OCBF Fellow. The Fellows program backs the foundation’s services while bringing together professionals who share a commitment to our work. Membership in the Oakland County Bar Foundation Fellows program is a professional honor. Fellows must be nominated by a current OCBF Fellow, and membership is open to both lawyers and non-lawyers.
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Upon completion of your pledge, your name will be inscribed on the permanent Fellows’ plaque at the Oakland County Courthouse. You’ll also be invited to our annual Fellows’ Reception, a great opportunity to connect with like-minded colleagues and meet the slate of new Fellows. The next reception will be held on January 25, 2027, at the Iroquois Club in Bloomfield Hills. I hope to see many of you there.
GIVING TUESDAY AND OUR YEAR-END CAMPAIGN
After the bustle of Black Friday and Cyber Monday is the philanthropically oriented Giving Tuesday. Each year, we set a Giving Tuesday fundraising goal and are grateful for all the support we receive. This year, Giving Tuesday falls on December 1. This important fundraising day helps the OCBF strengthen programs serving people throughout Oakland County. If you would like to participate, make a donation at supportocbf.org. And if December 1 passes before you have a chance to give, our year-end giving campaign continues through the end of the year. Gifts of every size help us fund the grants and programs at the heart of the foundation’s work.
LOOK AHEAD TO OUR SIGNATURE EVENT
In the coming year, our annual Signature Event will return to Oakland Hills Country Club. We will announce sponsorship opportunities and individual ticket sales soon. All proceeds benefit the foundation’s mission and
cover costs associated with the event. The Signature Event is a significant source of support for the foundation and a great opportunity for members of the legal and business communities to come together on behalf of the OCBF. It is also a time to connect with the foundation and learn more about the programs we support. Please look for more information in the months ahead.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
One of the privileges of involvement in the OCBF is seeing the impact of your contributions. The money raised does not simply stay with the foundation. It goes back into Oakland County through grants to organizations that help people access legal assistance and other critical services. Last fiscal year’s grantmaking is an exceptional example of what our supporters make possible — one we hope to build on in the year ahead. As 2026 comes to a close, I want to thank everyone who has supported the OCBF this year. Whether you are a Fellow, made a donation, sponsored an event, attended one of our programs, or helped spread the word about our work, you have played a part in our accomplishments. On behalf of the OCBF, I wish you and your families a wonderful holiday season. I hope you will consider supporting the foundation as we finish this year and begin the next. Robert Levine is the president of the Oakland County Bar Foundation and managing director at Stout Risius Ross, LLC. His practice focuses on providing expert forensic accounting and economic damages advisory services to clients and their counsel in various disputes.
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ADJOURNED
Bar Night Out Mixer On August 20, the OCBA Membership Committee hosted another fun evening of networking, lively conversation, and delicious food at Grand Tavern in Troy. More than 50 members gathered for the August Bar Night Out, taking advantage of the beautiful summer weather and festive outdoor setting to reconnect with colleagues and make new professional connections. The event offered the perfect opportunity for members to unwind and enjoy the company of their fellow attorneys. Special thanks to the evening’s generous sponsors, Bank of Ann Arbor’s Trust and Investment Group and JAMS, for helping make another successful Bar Night Out possible.
From left to right: Amanda Foster, Molly Ransom, Mary Ann Seibold, Ryan Plecha, and Robert Goldman.
From left to right: Sheldon Larky, Elizabeth Silverman, Hon. Linda Hallmark (ret.), and Ryan Plecha.
From left to right: Stefania Gismondi, Robert Zawideh, Valene Ayar, Molly Ransom, and Richard Collins.
From left to right: Nicholas Swider, Katie Tillinger, and Robert Goldman.
From left to right: Basil Williams, Michael Fiedler, and Molly Nicol.
From left to right: Griffin Levy and Kasey Ostapowicz.
From left to right: Jason Sluyter, Niccole Hudson, and Sommer Cybak. From left to right: Sarina Zomay and Dina Jaber.
From left to right: Steven Eatherly, David DeVine, and Robert Zawideh.
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Thank you to sponsors Bank of Ann Arbor and JAMS.
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