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The National Arab American Bar Association, Michigan Chapter, is pleased to announce its officers for the ‘25-’27 term:

• President Reine Hamdar
Hamdar is a litigation attorney at McDonald Hopkins whose work centers on complex commercial disputes, ranging from business conflicts to other high-stakes matters that require strategic, detail-driven advocacy. 

• Vice President Jamil Mourad 
Mourad is the founder and principal attorney of Defined Law PLLC.  Headquartered in Dearborn, he advocactes for clients in personal injury, business law, criminal defense, estate planning and probate, real estate, and family law.

• Treasurer Basem Younis
Before co-founding Younis Law PLLC, Younis practiced in the business and real property litigation division at Hammoud and Dakhlallah Law Group. Younis currently serves on the Board of the Detroit Bar Association - Barristers.

• Secretary Deyana Unis
Unis is currently an attorney advisor for the Army Materiel Command Legal Center. She also serves as an assistant staff judge advocate for the Air Force Reserve, in the Government Trial and Appellate Division. Previously, Unis worked as an assistant U.S. attorney and was an assistant Wayne County prosecutor.

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Intellectual property law firm Fishman Stewart PLLC is pleased to announce that firm partner Barbara Mandell was included among the honorees of the Lexology 2026 Client Choice award in the trademarks category. Established in 2005, the Client Choice awards recognize leading law firms and practitioners for the value they provide to their clients; honorees can only be nominated by their clients. Firm Managing Partner Michael Stewart made the announcement.

Mandell’s practice focuses on commercial litigation, copyright and trademark law and antitrust. She litigates, arbitrates and counsels her clients on patent, trademark and licensing matters, theft of trade secrets, breach of license and franchise agreements, trade dress and copyright infringement claims, and counterfeiting, unfair competition and false advertising claims. An arbitrator, she has presided over more than 70 commercial arbitrations for the American Arbitration Association, either as a solo arbitrator or on a panel, including as the panel chair.

Also listed as a Lexology Client Choice honoree last year, Mandell has been named a Super Lawyer, Best Lawyer, Leading Lawyer and DBusiness Top Lawyer multiple times. She was included in the Influential Women of Law Class of 2022 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.

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Plunkett Cooney insurance coverage attorneys Nicholas T. Badalamenti, Shantinique Brooks, and Chelsea A. Saferian were recently elected to serve as council members of the Insurance and Indemnity Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan (SBM).

Badalamenti and Brooks were elected to two-year terms during the section’s annual meeting held on Oct. 29. Saferian was selected to fill a recent vacancy. The council consists of 10 section members, all of whom are attorneys with expertise in the areas of insurance and indemnity law, as well as those who practice in areas that are affected by these issues. Council members manage the section’s business matters, and they provide professional development opportunities for members.

Badalamenti, who is a member of Plunkett Cooney’s Bloomfield Hills office, practices in the area of insurance coverage litigation. He also provides coverage opinions and advice to his insurance company clients. In addition, Badalamenti has experience representing clients in first- and third-party auto liability cases and in general negligence claims involving premises and construction liability.

A 2022 graduate of Wayne State University Law School, Badalamenti is also a member of the Macomb County and Oakland County bar associations. He received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University in 2018.

Brooks, who is also a member of Plunkett Cooney’s Bloomfield Hills office, represents insurance companies in the defense of complex coverage litigation involving environmental contamination, automotive, trucking, construction defects, product liability, bad faith and personal and advertising injury. She also represents clients in first- and third party motor vehicle negligence litigation, trucking accidents, special investigations and medical provider fraud.

Admitted to practice in the state and federal courts in Michigan, Brooks is a 2019 graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She earned her undergraduate degree from the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in 2015. In addition to the SBM, Brooks is a member of the Wolverine Bar Association. 

Also a member of Plunkett Cooney’s Bloomfield Hills office, Saferian’s insurance coverage experience extends to claims involving property coverage, Michigan No-Fault law, premises liability, toxic torts and construction defect. In addition to her coverage practice, Saferian has experience handling first- and third-party motor vehicle negligence claims, subrogation, general liability, premises liability, pet liability and general insurance defense litigation.

A 2019 graduate of Wayne State University Law School, Saferian received her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in 2015. In addition to the SBM, she is a member of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan – Wayne.

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Foster, Swift, Collins, & Smith PC has welcomed new associate attorney Badri Yono Jr. to the firm’s Southfield office.

A participant in the firm’s 2024 summer associate program, Yono joins the Business & Tax practice focusing on legal matters associated with entity formation, business succession planning, contracts, and start-ups. 

Yono earned a B.A. in Political Science and Government from Oakland University prior to receiving his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

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Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that Michael Hammer, CEO of Dickinson Wright, has been named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s 2025 Managing Partners Spotlight.

As CEO, Hammer oversees all aspects of the firm’s professional service and business operations, and develops and implements the firm’s strategic direction and growth plan, working closely with his management group, elected governing board, practice leaders, and administrative officers. 

“I am honored to be selected by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a member of their 2025 Managing Partner Spotlight. This list is filled with such talented and accomplished leaders, and it’s a privilege to be included among their ranks,” said Hammer.

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Miller Canfield is proud to announce that 12 of the firm’s attorneys have been honored by the Detroit Bar Association for their exceptional pro bono service over the past year. This year’s honorees from Miller Canfield are:

Matthew Allen
Megan Baxter-Labut
Kimberly Berger
Thomas Cranmer
Christopher Dutot
Lawrence Garcia
James Johnson
Megan Norris
Wendolyn Richards
Corrine Rockoff
Sydney Rohlicek
Sydney Wright

Three attorneys—Thomas Cranmer, Matthew Allen, and James Johnson—each donated more than 100 hours of pro bono time.

The attorneys were recognized at the Detroit Bar Association’s Archer Service Award Gala. 

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Varnum LLP is pleased to welcome Zach Snyder and Alan Jurcak to the firm’s Business and Corporate Practice Team in the Birmingham office. 

Snyder is a partner whose practice focuses on corporate transactional work, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and private equity. He guides clients through all stages of the deal process, with experience drafting and negotiating purchase agreements and related documents, preparing disclosure schedules, and managing buy-side and sell-side due diligence. He also advises private equity sponsors, portfolio companies, closely held businesses, and investors on matters such as entity formation and structuring, governance, reorganizations, and general commercial issues. His practice includes supporting both domestic and international transactions.

Snyder previously practiced at two national law firms, where he worked on numerous high-value transactions across various industries. He earned his law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, and received his undergraduate degree from Butler University.

Jurcak is an associate attorney focusing on corporate transactional matters, including M&A and corporate governance. He represents closely held businesses, financial institutions, private investors, and commercial clients at all stages of the business lifecycle, with experience negotiating commercial contracts, drafting transaction documents, coordinating due diligence, and assisting with real estate transactions, restructuring matters, and liquor licensing issues. He also has prior experience drafting and negotiating credit document suites for large bilateral loan transactions, including term loans, revolving lines of credit, and construction loan facilities, and advising participant lenders in major loan syndications.

Jurcak earned his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law and received his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University.

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Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that Reem S. Aburukba, Nashara A. L. Peart, and Erica J. Sarver have been selected for the Detroit Bar Association’s 2025 Pro Bono Award.

Awardees were recognized at the annual Dennis W. Archer Public Service Award Gala on November 13 which raises funds that are directly allocated to pro-bono legal services and educational and student activities.

Based in the firm’s Troy office, Aburukba is an associate in Bodman’s Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Group. She represents clients involved in commercial litigation matters. As a law student, she served as a law clerk for Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Tracy Van den Bergh where she conducted legal research to complete judicial orders and opinions, reviewed pleadings, motions, and legal briefs filed by parties, and drafted ex parte orders and judgments.

Based in the firm’s Detroit office, Peart is a senior associate in Bodman’s Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Group. She helps clients resolve complex business disputes and represents them in state and federal courts and in a broad range of alternative dispute resolution forums. She has received other recognitions for her pro bono efforts including the Detroit Bar Association Pro Bono Award in 2023 and in 2021, the Detroit Bar Association’s 2022 Outstanding Young Lawyer Pro Bono Award, and the Richard J. Seryak Award for Pro Bono Service in 2022. Peart was listed in the State Bar of Michigan 2025 A Lawyer Helps Pro Bono Honor Roll.

Based in the firm’s Detroit office, Sarver is a member of Bodman’s Environmental Law and Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Groups. She specializes in navigating the space between litigation and economic development, with a focus on environmental challenges that clients face throughout the course of real estate transactions. In 2019, she was selected as the Detroit Bar Association Barristers “Barrister of the Year” after serving in several board positions including board president, vice president, and education committee co-chair.

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Honigman CEO and Executive Committee Chairman David Foltyn was recently honored as a recipient of Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Managing Partners Spotlight” award. 

Foltyn oversees the firm’s more than 350 legal professionals as well as its growing national client base. Under his guidance, the firm has instituted innovative strategies to become a value leader in the marketplace known for high quality legal services. Continuing the firm’s tradition of being the best place for the best lawyers to work, Foltyn has enhanced the recruiting functions of the firm and has implemented ongoing development opportunities for attorneys and business professionals.

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Brooks Kushman is pleased to announce that its newest associates have received their Michigan Bar results. Leen Mosa and Garrett Fridline are the newest additions to the firm’s growing intellectual 
property team.

Mosa joins as an associate with a technical and legal background. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Wayne State University and experience working with advanced driver-assistance systems at major automotive companies. She earned her law degree from the University of Notre Dame. Her previous legal experience includes patent prosecution and patent litigation support, and she will focus her practice on patent prosecution, patent litigation, and matters before the International Trade Commission.

Fridline joins as an associate with technical experience and leadership skills gained as a U.S. Army officer. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the United States Military Academy and has supported patent portfolio management and prosecution for major automotive clients. Fridline earned both his law degree and MBA from the University of Detroit Mercy.  He brings prior experience managing portfolios focused on autonomous and hybrid vehicle technologies.

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Harness IP is proud to announce that Robert (Bob) Siminski, principal in the firm’s Detroit-area office, has once again been named to the 2026 IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists. 
Siminski’s repeat inclusion in the IAM Strategy 300 underscores his decades-long commitment to guiding clients through the full life cycle of intellectual property. His practice spans a range of services, including:

• Drafting and prosecuting patent applications
• Conducting freedom-to-operate and patentability analyses
• Advising on enforcement, licensing, and portfolio strategy
• Counseling clients on IP issues in both the chemical and mechanical arts

Siminski is recognized for his understanding of intellectual property considerations in Asian markets. His leadership as vice chair of the IPO Asian Practice Committee reflects his dedication to strengthening international collaboration and fostering best practices in cross-border IP protection.

Throughout his career, Siminski has helped companies—from emerging innovators to multinational corporations—develop strategic, forward-looking IP portfolios that support business objectives, mitigate risks, and maximize commercial impact.

By Nicole Mackmiller

Any foreign national who obtains legal status in the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident is issued a Lawful Permanent Resident Card, commonly known as a “green card.” 

Pursuant to 8 USC 1304(e), “Every alien, eighteen years of age and over, shall at all times carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card issued to him pursuant to subsection (d). Any alien who fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction for each offense be fined not to exceed $100 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.” 

While this federal statute has existed for decades, it has not been regularly enforced by USICE. Until recently. Therefore, a legal permanent resident could find themselves facing federal misdemeanor charges for an innocent moment of forgetfulness, and become saddled with a criminal record for failing to carry the green card.

Although legal permanent residents are notified of this requirement by USCIS when they first receive their green cards, many forget over the years. Therefore, if you represent any legal permanent resident clients, you should remind them of this potential federal criminal charge and associated consequences if they fail to produce their green cards when asked by law enforcement. All LPRs should maintain a front and back photo of their green cards on their phones, so that if they forget their cards they are able to produce some level of proof of their lawful status. It is unknown, however, whether producing a photo of one’s green card on their phone will be sufficient to satisfy this requirement. Therefore, the original green card should be carried.

If your LPR client does not have a valid unexpired green card in their possession, then they can apply for a new green card to be issued by USCIS. Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), is available on USCIS’s website, and LPRs can file Form I-90 to obtain new green cards if they are lost, stolen, damaged, or expired. Filing the I-90 form on-line can also provide your LPR client with an immediate receipt notice from USCIS, which they should carry until the new green card is received. As USICE increases their enforcement of immigration laws, LPRs should also increase their preparedness.
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Nicole Mackmiller of Pear, Sperling, Eggan, & Daniels PC represents clients in Immigration, Family Law, and Probate matters. She can be reached at nmackmiller@psedlaw.com. This column is reprinted with permission from the Washtenaw County Bar Association newsletter Res Ipsa Loquitur.

By Samuel Damren

The approach of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence provides an opportunity to compare perspectives of the Founding Fathers with present-day perspectives.

The subject of comparison in this series will be “thinking like a scientist.” 

In the century preceding the American Revolution, science was a newly emerging discipline. Nevertheless, its influence on the creation and ideals of American democracy was significant. 

An excellent introduction to the topic is contained in Tom Shachtman’s 2014 book “Gentlemen Scientists and Revolutionaries: The Founding Fathers in the Age of Enlightenment.”

The story begins with the young Benjamin Franklin’s “Leather Apron Club” formed after he moved to Philadelphia from Boston in 1723. The members were apprentice artisans or young tradesman. None was college educated. Access to learning at that level was beyond their station. The members sought to educate themselves outside their trade through debate and discussion of books and pamphlets available to the general population.

At the start of every meeting, members were asked to affirmatively answer the following question: “Do you love truth for truth’s sake and will you endeavor impartially to find it and freely communicate it with others?” Franklin’s future fame as a self-taught Natural Philosopher found gestation in the Leather Apron Club. 

 In the 1600s, Issac Newton’s discovery of gravity and “the system of the world” explained through calculus marked the beginning of the Enlightenment. Based on mathematical proofs drawn from empirical evidence and contradicting biblical teaching, Newton provided a definitive explanation of the grand workings of the planetary and natural world. 

As a new and independent source to further human understanding, science-based explanation displaced the grip of religion as sole authority in such matters. “Thinking like a scientist” would forever alter humanity’s perspective of itself and of the natural world. 

Franklin’s exposure to scientific thinking first occurred during his apprenticeship with his older brother James in Boston who published newspapers. The apprenticeship began when Benjamin was 12 years old and extended from 1718 to 1723. 

Boston had suffered smallpox epidemics in 1677, 1690 and 1702 killing 10 percent of the population each year. The epidemic returned in 1721. In this crisis, and to attract readers, James Franklin featured debate and discussion in his newspaper on the controversy of vaccinations as an appropriate means to lessen the impact of the epidemic. 

The controversy became public knowledge when Cotton Mather circulated a letter to 12 physicians in Boston asking that they consider inoculating a limited number of their patients – who were not ill – with a mild dose of smallpox as a preventative measure. And yes, this was the same Cotton Mather infamous from the Salem Witch Trials. This time Mather would be on the right side of history. 

Eleven of the 12 doctors refused. They did so for both religious and practical reasons believing that exposing healthy patients to smallpox, in any measure, was not worth the risk and might only spread the disease.

Dr. Zabdiel Boylston, who had secured his medical license through apprenticeship instead of formal degree, accepted the risk. He initially “artificially infected” his family and members of Mather’s family. None became seriously ill. With that success, he began inoculating more patients.

Of the 280 individuals Boylston ultimately inoculated in and around Boston, the fatality rate was 2.2 percent. According to Shachtman, “During the epidemic, 5,889 of Boston’s 10,700 people contracted smallpox and of these 844 died, a fatality rate for the uninoculated of 14.1 percent.” 

Mather and Boylston’s opponents in the medical community were “too much the scientist not to yield to facts … What Mather and Boylston accomplished was a triumph for American medicine and for scientific boldness and experimentation.” 

None of this was lost on young Benjamin Franklin. In later life, he would repeatedly demonstrate that he did not fear the risks of experimentation where benefits might outweigh the risks. He kept an open mind in times of crisis and preferred facts over conventional dogma in decision making.

These are good characteristics for a scientist and, as it would be, necessary qualities for a Founding Father’s role in leading the American Revolution.

As a result of a quarrel in 1723, Franklin broke the bonds of his apprenticeship with his brother. At age 17, he moved to Philadelphia to start his own printing business. 

The next commentary in this series will examine scientific lessons Franklin learned through his experiments with the properties of electricity. His success in advancing new theories in this field would lead to international fame and recognition as “America’s First Man of Science.” They would also add to his toolbox as a Founding Father.
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Samuel Damren is a retired Detroit lawyer and author of “What Justice Looks Like.”

The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU) recently announced that Bonsitu Kitaba-Gaviglio will be its next legal director. With the organization since 2016, and deputy legal director since 2019, Kitaba-Gaviglio has been serving as the organization’s interim legal director since the departure of her predecessor, Dan Korobkin, who was appointed to serve as a judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals in April.  

While at the ACLU, Kitaba-Gaviglio has worked on a wide range of civil rights cases involving reproductive rights, economic justice, racial justice, and free speech, among others. She has litigated cases on behalf of a class of Black homeowners in Detroit who were subjected to illegal tax foreclosures, and Flint residents during the Flint Water Crisis to secure the replacement of all lead pipes in the city. Kitaba-Gaviglio also co-wrote the state constitutional amendment, Reproductive Freedom for All, a voter approved ballot measure that enshrined reproductive rights in the Michigan Constitution in 2022. 

Kitaba-Gaviglio has frequently been recognized for her legal advocacy, earning the State Bar of Michigan’s 2024 Champion of Justice Award, Planned Parenthood of Michigan’s 2023 Social Justice Award, and Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly 2022 Influential Women of Law award, among others.? 

A native of Canada and graduate of the University of Toronto, Kitaba-Gaviglio has lived in Detroit since moving here in 2011 to attend Wayne State University Law School. 

“It is the honor of a lifetime to assume the role of legal director of the ACLU of Michigan, an organization that has transformed countless lives and been an unwavering guardian of justice,” said Kitaba-Gaviglio.  “To follow in the footsteps of extraordinary legal directors like Michael Steinberg and Daniel Korobkin is a privilege and a sacred responsibility. 

“Each day, I am driven by a core purpose: to champion the rights of our clients and every person who calls Michigan home. The work ahead will not be easy. The threats to the Constitution and the rights we hold as most fundamental are profound and urgent. Our legal advocacy requires both being nimble in the moment to ensure we are beating back against the attacks on our most fundamental civil rights and liberties while building long-term litigation strategies that reform and dismantle systems of oppression.  

“I am fortunate to work alongside a remarkable team whose brilliance, dedication, and shared sense of purpose inspire me constantly. Together, we find strength in our mission and joy in the work itself. 

“This moment would not be possible without my parents, whose lives embody the very ideals I now dedicate myself to defending. Coming from distant parts of the world, they built their lives on a foundation of sacrifice, activism, and simple acts of kindness. They showed me that justice is a living practice which demands courage, compassion, and an unshakeable belief in our shared humanity.  

“I am ready, and I am deeply honored to lead this exceptional legal team as we defend the rights and freedoms of every person in Michigan.”  

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Foley, Baron, Metzger, & Juip PLLC is pleased to announce that associate attorney Chloé Schumacher has been selected as the 2026 Young Lawyers Golden Gavel Award recipient by the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (MDTC).

This honor is awarded to outstanding young attorneys who demonstrate exemplary advocacy skills, a strong commitment to the legal profession, and meaningful leadership within the defense bar. 

Schumacher will be formally recognized at the 10th Annual Legal Excellence Awards to be held at The Gem Theatre on Thursday, March 19, 2026.

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Courtney A. Lavender, an appellate attorney at Plunkett Cooney, was recently elected as a council member of the Appellate Practice Section of the State Bar of Michigan.

Lavender, who will serve a three-year term, was elected during the Section’s Nov. 21 board meeting after two seats were vacated following the annual meeting. Consisting of the chairperson, chairperson-elect, secretary, treasurer and 17 at-large members, the Appellate Practice Section Council provides education, information and analysis on relevant appellate law issues through meetings, seminars, public service initiatives and more.

A member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Lavender focuses her appellate practice in the areas of commercial litigation, governmental law, first- and third-party motor vehicle negligence and insurance coverage disputes. She also has litigation experience defending No-Fault and third-party claims, as well as premises liability, pet liability and defamation matters.

Lavender received her law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 2021. Following law school, she worked as a research attorney at the Michigan Court of Appeals. Lavender received her undergraduate degree in 2017 from the University of Michigan.  

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BSP Law congratulates nine of its attorneys who have been recognized by DBusiness on their 2026 Top Lawyers List.  The recognitions are as follows:

Bishop Bartoni – Product Liability
Stephanie Douglas – Appellate Law
Derek Linkous – Appellate Law
William McDonald – Product Liability
Susan McKeever – Appellate Law
Roger Meyers – Litigation – Commercial
Moheeb Murray – Litigation – Commercial
Patrick Seyferth – Product Liability
Justin Weiner – Product Liability

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Honigman Partner Alex Parrish has been recognized in Michigan Chronicle’s 2025 Power 50 listing. This recognition honors the region’s most impactful Black leaders across government, business, faith, education, and more.

Parrish regularly advises companies on an array of transactional matters, including capital formation; mergers and acquisitions; joint ventures; the issuance, sale, and regulation of securities; and general corporate matters, including corporate governance.

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Brooks Kushman is proud to announce the firm has been ranked in the 2026 edition of the U.S. News and World Report list of “Best Law Firms®” by Best Lawyers®.

Nationally, Brooks Kushman holds a tier-three ranking in Trademark Law. On the regional level, Brooks Kushman holds a tier-two ranking in Copyright Law and tier-one rankings in Intellectual Property Litigation, Patent Litigation, Patent Law, and Trademark Law in Metro Detroit.

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Maddin Hauser is pleased to announce that Anaria Rambus has joined the firm as an associate. Newly admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 2025, Rambus will support several Maddin Hauser practices.
Rambus brings a foundation in diverse areas of the law, developed through her academic achievements and practical experiences. She earned her law degree at Wayne State University Law School.

A former Maddin Hauser summer associate, Rambus was a student attorney for the law school’s Business and Community Law Clinic. She also served as a judicial extern for U.S. District Court Judges Denise Page Hood and Jonathan J.C. Gray, Eastern District of Michigan.

By Marie E. Matyjaszek 

When you’re going through a divorce or custody battle, you want to ensure that everything is buttoned up and clearly worded with no inconsistencies. This can prove difficult when you have to draft the many documents required – mandated forms, settlement agreements, support calculations, and of course the judgment itself. Don’t forget the notice of hearing, proofs of service and throw in a Friend of the Court approval to boot. 

So what happens if something written in one document doesn’t match what is provided for in another? If it concerns support, Michigan Court Rule (MCR) 3.211 has the answer for you.  

In a divorce with minor children, child support must be addressed, even if the monthly support amount is zero. The State Court Administrator’s Office (SCAO) mandates the use of Uniform Support Orders (USOs), which are broken down into two types: Uniform Child Support Orders, or UCSOs, for child support, and Uniform Spousal Support Orders (USSOs) if spousal support is ordered. Both documents must tag along and be entered with the judgment or order.

You would think a quick copy and paste would eliminate any inconsistencies between the order and USO, right? Wrong. The USOs are forms which are vastly different from judgments, with fun boxes to check and grids to fill in carefully with the correct numbers from support guideline printouts. If you mix up the parties or confuse the variety of terms used (plaintiff, defendant, payer, support recipient), things can go downhill quickly.

MCR 3.211 provides that the “Uniform Support Order shall govern if the terms of the judgment or order conflict with the Uniform Support Order.” That means that what is written on the entered USO trumps. If your judgment says dad pays mom $500 a month in child support, but you reverse the names in the UCSO boxes and list mom as the payer and dad as the payee, mom’s paycheck is going to be missing $500 per month, which can have significant financial impact until it is corrected.

When it comes to spousal support, one important detail to ensure is correct on all documents is modifiability. If the judgment provides for spousal support to be non-modifiable and terminate after 5 years, but that is not mentioned on the USSO, nor does it incorporate/merge the judgment’s terms, guess what – spousal support is modifiable because the USO trumps. 

USOs are updated on a fairly regular basis, and the court will only accept the most updated forms for entry, so if you haven’t done a divorce in a while, be certain to check that you are using the current form and that the terms of the order and USO match. When it comes to entered orders, you don’t want to hear the court start singing “one of these things is not like the other.”

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Marie E. Matyjaszek is a judicial attorney at the Washtenaw County Trial Court; however, the views expressed in this column are her own. She can be reached by emailing her at matyjasz@hotmail.com.