Best Family Lawyer in Detroit

Karen S. Sendelbach

Family Lawyer

Karen S. Sendelbach has been with NSSS&B for over two decades, representing family law clients at all levels of the judicial system, from informal dispute resolution to appeal. Karen has been practicing family law since 1994 and is trained in a wide range of dispute resolution techniques including litigation, mediation, collaboration and arbitration. Fellow attorneys also regularly seek her services as a mediator, arbitrator, and parenting facilitator. In addition to working with adults in family law disputes, Karen is a trained guardian ad litem, which qualifies her to represent children during contentious family law litigation.

Karen is a cum laude graduate of the Syracuse University College of Law in Syracuse, New York, where she was named Outstanding Woman Law Student by the National Association of Women Lawyers and received the American Jurisprudence award for Jurisprudence of Criminal Justice. As an undergraduate, Karen was honored with an Outstanding Senior Award at Michigan State University.

Before attending law school, Karen had planned to pursue a career in social work. Observing her interests and strengths, her professors encouraged her to consider law school instead. She did, and found that the ongoing complexity of family law kept her intellectually engaged while allowing her to make a meaningful difference in her clients’ lives. She is genuinely concerned for her clients, with an unwavering commitment to helping them resolve disputes in a way that promotes their overall well-being.

John F Muller Jr.

Family Lawyer

Born in Detroit, Michigan, June 22, 1958.  Admitted to Michigan Bar, November 1983; admitted to Ohio Bar, June 1984 (currently inactive).

Graduated from Ferris State College (B.S., 1980), Wayne State University (J.D., 1983).

He is a member of the Commercial Law league of America. John is licensed to practice debt collection in Michigan and Ohio (currently inactive). John practices primarily in the area of collection law. He is an automotive and martial arts enthusiast who also enjoys the outdoors.

Areas of Practice

  • 90% Collections/Debtor-Creditor
  • 10% Business/Contracts

Litigation Percentage

  • 90% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

  • Michigan, 1983
  • U.S. Federal Courts
  • Ohio, 1984

Education

  • Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan
    • J.D. – 1983
  • Ferris State College, Big Rapids, Michigan
    • B.S. – 1980
    • Honors: Cum Laude
    • Major: Business Administration

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Member
  • International Association of Commercial Collections, Member
  • Commercial Law League of America, Member
  • State Bar of Michigan, Member, 1983 – Present

Past Employment Positions

  • Guardian Security Company, In-House Counsel, 1985 – 1992

Ali Chokr

Family Lawyer

Ali Chokr is the founder of Clarity Family Law, PLC. Before establishing the firm, Ali worked with insurance companies, handling cases related to personal injury, auto accidents, and medical malpractice. Today, Ali’s expertise is focused on family law.

Ali focuses his practice on general family law, including, but not limited to, high asset divorce, uncontested divorce, spousal support, child support, child custody, modifications to birth certificates, property division, and other matters regarding family relationships.

Education

During law school, Ali was named to the Dean’s list and Honor Roll. Ali maintained the Presidency of the Society for Personal and Professional Integrity throughout his law school career, while contemporaneously remaining active in the Student Bar Association as a Senator.

David J. Kramer

Family Lawyer

David J. Kramer is an Attorney in good standing with the Michigan State Bar Association with 32 years experience in the areas of Criminal and Family Law.

Mr. Kramer is an aggressive, highly motivated attorney that will work to get the best result for his client. Over the years, Mr. Kramer has tried numerous high profile cases in the state of Michigan and throughout the country.

Mr. Kramer has not lost a jury trial since 1992. Mr. Kramer has successfully handled such cases as:

 

  • Assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder
  • Operating under the influence of liquor causing death
  • Second degree murder
  • Assault and battery
  • Operating under the influence of liquor/operating while intoxicated
  • Criminal sexual conduct
  • Reckless driving
  • Drug crimes, including, but not limited to possession of cocaine over 650 grams.

Stephen A. Thomas

Family Lawyer

When you’re looking for trusted legal services to help with Estate Planning, Probate, Family Law, and Bankruptcy matters – look to Stephen A. Thomas, PLC! Since 1991, Stephen A. Thomas, Esq. continues to deliver competent and effective legal representation throughout Southeast Michigan.

Stephen A. Thomas, PLC is a legal expert in bankruptcies and family law. Contact us to see how we can help you! We’ve been providing exceptional legal services to Detroit, Michigan, since 1991.

Angela Ghannam

Family Lawyer

Angela Ghannam has been a licensed attorney in the State of Michigan since 2009. A graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy, both undergrad and its School of Law, she is also trained in mediation and collaborative divorce by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education.

Angela has been selected to Thompson Reuter’s Super Lawyers Rising Star in the Area of Family law in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, an honor that goes to less than 2.5% of attorneys in the State of Michigan. Angela participated on the advisory board of a local women’s business council, and was the President of the local Bar Association from 2015-to 2016, participated on the Henry Ford Community College Paralegal program advisory board, and volunteered at the FAMD animal shelter as well as fostering several animals in need.

When talking to Angela about the law, you will quickly find that she communicates with both clarity and conviction. Knowledgeable and passionate, she is a naturally adept communicator and is appreciated for her expertise and expressive communication style.

Instinctively warmhearted, Angela seeks first to look for areas of agreement. She hears the unvoiced questions, anticipates the needs, and always seems to find the right words and tone for and with her clients. She understands at a fundamental level that there is little to be gained from conflict and friction, so she seeks to hold these to a minimum.

Brent Bowyer

Family Lawyer

Brent Bowyer is a co-owner and partner at ADAM. He faced divorce head-on for the first time when his parents divorced when he was only 8 years old. As a child, he didn’t understand the impact a divorce would have on his life. His father, a lawyer and an alcoholic, was gone, and his older sister no longer lived in the same house. It felt like everyone was leaving, and the people closest to him had failed him. He understands now that divorce can feel this way for his clients. There is an overwhelming sense of confusion, lack of direction, and lack of trust for the adults as well as the children involved.

“At ADAM, the experience from our personal lives and our work as family law attorneys helps us to understand better what our clients are facing every day. It is easy to end up feeling very alone like everything is stacked against you. We try to assure our clients they do not have to feel this way and guide them with a strategy and direction to put their lives back together.”

Michael Ratton

Family Lawyer

Michael’s education as a nurse and his experience of having been in a serious motorcycle accident led to an understanding of how important it is to obtain appropriate and timely medical care to promote recovery. It was a desire to help others who have gone through the unexpected and life-changing experiences of a personal injury accident that led him to attend law school and assist other accident victims.

Michael was born in Arkansas but graduated from high school in Michigan. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Beloit College in Wisconsin and his Bachelor of Science from Rush University College of Nursing in Chicago, Illinois. Upon returning to Michigan, he worked as a nurse at the Detroit Medical Center while attending law school. He graduated from Detroit College of Law (now Michigan State University College of Law) in 1989 and has practiced in the fields of personal injury law and medical malpractice for nearly 30 years.

Bar Admissions

  • State Bar of Michigan – 1989

  • U.S. District Court – Eastern District of Michigan

  • U.S. District Court – Western District of Michigan

Education

  • J.D., Detroit College of Law – 1989

  • B.A., Beloit College, Wisconsin – 1983

  • B.S., Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago – 1984

What is the act of Family Law?

In the United States, there isn’t a single, comprehensive “Family Law Act” that governs all family-related legal matters at the federal level. Instead, family law is primarily governed by state laws, which vary from state to state. However, there are some key federal acts that influence family law nationwide, along with a framework of state laws that cover family-related issues.

Key Federal Acts Influencing Family Law

  1. The Child Support Enforcement Act (1975):

    • This federal act helps enforce child support orders across states, ensuring that non-custodial parents fulfill their financial obligations to their children.
  2. The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) (1997):

    • The UCCJEA is designed to provide uniformity across states in child custody decisions. It helps prevent “forum shopping,” where parents might move to another state in hopes of getting a more favorable custody ruling.
  3. The Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act (PKPA) (1980):

    • This act ensures that child custody orders are recognized across state lines, reducing the likelihood of parental kidnapping during custody disputes.
  4. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) (1994):

    • VAWA provides protections and resources for victims of domestic violence, including funding for shelters and legal assistance, and allows victims to seek restraining orders more easily.
  5. The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) (1997):

    • ASFA focuses on the welfare of children in the foster care system, promoting adoption and providing guidelines for terminating parental rights when it is in the best interest of the child.
  6. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) (1993):

    • Although not strictly a “family law” act, the FMLA allows eligible employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons, including caring for a newborn, an adopted child, or a sick family member.

State Family Law Acts

Each state in the U.S. has its own family law statutes that cover areas such as:

  • Marriage and Divorce: Laws covering grounds for divorce, procedures, and requirements.
  • Child Custody and Support: Guidelines for determining custody, visitation, and financial obligations.
  • Adoption: State laws regulating the adoption process, including consent requirements and eligibility.
  • Domestic Violence: State-specific protections and processes for obtaining restraining orders.
  • Property Division and Alimony: Rules for dividing marital assets and determining spousal support.

Example of a State-Level Family Law Act

  • California Family Code: California has a comprehensive Family Code that covers all areas of family law, including marriage, divorce, child custody, and domestic violence.

Uniform Laws in Family Law

There are also uniform laws that many states adopt to provide consistency across state lines, such as the Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act (UMDA) and the Uniform Parentage Act (UPA).

Conclusion

Family law in the U.S. is governed primarily at the state level, with some important federal laws influencing certain aspects. Each state’s family law framework is typically set out in its statutes or codes, which cover everything from marriage and divorce to child custody and support. Understanding family law in the U.S. involves navigating both state-specific statutes and relevant federal laws.

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