Grand Beach, MI Divorce Law Firms & Lawyers

This answer assumes that there are no minor children. (If you have minor children, you need to go in for a face to face consult with an attorney before filing.) It is not a problem to file for divorce in Michigan when you live here and your spouse lives in another state, unless you don't know where she is. In Michigan, you have to live in the state for 180 days, and in the county where you file for the 10 days immediately preceding your filing. You then have to serve your spouse with the summons and complaint within 90 days. This can be done by mail, if he/she is cooperative; or by process server in the state in which he/she resides, if he/she is not cooperative. Process service in another state can be quite expensive, so be prepared for that expense, if necessary. (If you don't know where she is, there are many hoops to jump through in order to obtain an Order for Alternate Service from the court. You really should have an attorney for that because it can be quite complicated.) Once service is accomplished, there are a number of other things you have to do, so, hopefully, you are planning on being represented by an attorney.

She can't "withhold" it but she also does not have to go to the work and expense of procuring it for you if she believes you owe her or her firm money. You can go to the clerk of the District Court where your divorce was finalized and purchase your own certified copy for a fairly nominal fee. As to the unpaid amounts, I would suggest that you talk with your attorney directly and ask for an accounting, itemized of how the charges were incurred. Often court dates are moved and rescheduled because of the court or procedural things that are not the attorney's fault, but she still had to spend time dealing with those issues. She may very well have been working behind the scenes for you and earned that amount, but you will want to ask her to explain what she was doing.

Your question doesn't include enough facts to give you an answer. If it was purchased during the marriage, it is community property and jointly owned. If it was purchased prior to the marriage, it is separate property and belongs to only. I suggest you hire a lawyer.