Divorce Strategies for Paralegals and Associates: Jurisdiction, Financial Insights, and Custody Challenges

John J. Schrot | Berry Moorman P.C.

With more than 40 years of experience, John J. Schrot, Jr.’s legal career has predominantly focused on matrimonial and family law, and other complex civil litigation matters. He has been helping people through complex divorces. He is known for handling high-stakes divorce, and for keeping clients’ cases private. He helps families achieve amicable divorces while ensuring clients receive their fair share and/or protection of their children. With experience in all areas of family and domestic relations law, Mr. Schrot skillfully guides his clients through the legal process, always mindful of the fact that he is dealing with emotional and stressful situations. His broad range of services includes divorce, complex property settlement, business valuation issues, child and spousal support matters, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, annulment and separation matters; custody, parenting time and grandparenting time issues, guardianships, stepparent adoption, change of domicile, personal protection orders, Friend of the Court matters, enforcement, and post judgment issues. When disputes end up in the courtroom, Mr. Schrot is a seasoned litigator.

Mr. Schrot is also a trained professional in collaborative divorce practice and can explain the different options for divorce. He is a member of the Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan, as well as the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.

Mr. Schrot has been repeatedly recognized as a Top Lawyer in Metropolitan Detroit in the practice areas of family law and litigation; again, this year selected by his peers as a Leading Lawyer in Family law in Michigan; and annually selected as a Michigan Super Lawyer and awarded Avvo 10.0 Superb Rating, Michigan Lawyers Weekly selected him as one of the “Leaders in the Law” Class of 2016. Global Who’s Who has selected him as a Top Lawyer.

Mr. Schrot has served by court appointment as a facilitator, mediator, umpire, arbitrator, receiver, and discovery master. He has consistently (since 1989) achieved an AV Preeminent rating, the highest peer rating by Martindale Hubbell, for his legal ability and ethical standards. Professional memberships include the American Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Oakland County Bar Association, Oakland County Bar Foundation (Fellow), and Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association. He is an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association.

Angelica M. Mercado | Einhorn, Barbarito, Frost, Botwinick, Nunn & Musmanno, PC.

Angelica M. Mercado is an Associate with Einhorn Barbarito and a member of the firm’s Family/Matrimonial Law practice. Prior to joining the firm, Angelica served as a law clerk for the Honorable John P. McDonald, J.S.C., and the Honorable John W. Romankow, J.S.C. in the New Jersey Superior Court’s Family Part in Somerset County. She has experience drafting orders regarding motions and emergent applications in matrimonial and non-dissolution matters and assisting with the preparation of divorce trials and plenary hearings. Angelica provides valuable support for her clients and her team by conducting extensive legal research and keeping up with developing laws and relevant caselaw.

While attending law school at Seton Hall University, she also completed her master’s degree in diplomacy and international relations and has worked with multiple immigration nonprofits and public interest initiatives as a Center for Social Justice Scholar, including the Immigration and International Human Rights Clinic, the Equal Justice Clinic and the New Jersey Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative. A fluent Spanish speaker, while at Seton Hall Angelica served as the student liaison to both the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey and the Hispanic National Bar Association.

Session I – Divorce Law: Comprehensive Strategies for Effective Practice | 2:00pm – 3:00pm

• Jurisdiction and Standing
• Strategic Approach to Divorce Cases and Intake
• Asset Division and Financial Considerations
• Navigating Spousal Support and Alimony

Break | 3:00pm – 3:10pm

Session II – Divorce Law: Comprehensive Strategies for Effective Practice | 3:10pm – 4:10pm

• Preparation and Strategy
• Discovery
• Child Custody and Support: Legal Framework and Practical Insights
• Interstate and International Child Custody: Applications of the UCCJEA and Hague Convention
• Divorce Documents and Legal Drafting Essentials
• Post-Divorce Modifications and Enforcement