Source: https://communityproperty.uslegal.com/articles/research-on-community-property-law-in-michigan/
Timestamp: 2019-09-20 19:19:54
Document Index: 163673073

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 691', '§ 691', '§ 600', '§ 600', '§ 600', '§ 600', '§ 600']

Research on Community Property Law in Michigan – Community Property
A business owner is sued in the State of Arizona for business that was conducted in the State of Michigan. Arizona is a community property state. Therefore, the business owner’s spouse is also named in the lawsuit as a defendant. The spouse was not part of the business. She did not engage in any of the business set forth in the complaint. She was merely made part of the lawsuit for being the wife of the defendant. This is permissible in the State of Arizona under a community property theory.
Is Michigan a community property state in a civil lawsuit?
No. Michigan is not a community property state in a civil law suit.
MICHIGAN IS A NOT A COMMUNITY PROPERTY STATE.
Michigan is not a community property state with respect to a civil lawsuit. See McGinn v. McGinn, 126 Mich. App. 689 (Mich. Ct. App. 1983) (holding that the rule regarding military nondisability pensions applies in Michigan, even though Michigan is not a community property state). See also Hutchins v. Hutchins, 71 Mich. App. 361,366 (Mich. Ct. App. 1976) (accepting plaintiff’s argument that “Michigan is not a community property state.”); Std. Ins. Co. v. Schwalbe, 47 Wn. App. 639, 643 (Wash. Ct. App. 1987) (a Washington court refusing to give persuasive effect to precedent holding that the other party in a divorce action may set aside transfers of property in violation of an injunction because “Michigan is a non community property state.”)
MICHIGAN COURTS WILL GIVE “FULL FAITH AND CREDIT” TO THE ARIZONA JUDGMENT EVEN THOUGH THE JUDGMENT AGAINST THE SPOUSE IS BASED SOLELY ON THE FACT THAT SHE IS MARRIED
A foreign judgment is any judgment decree, or order of a court of the United States or of any other court that is entitled to full faith and credit in Michigan. MCLS § 691.1172. A foreign judgment is conclusive if jurisdiction has been obtained over the parties and the subject matter. National Equipment Rental, Ltd. v. Miller, 73 Mich. App. 421, 424-425 (Mich. Ct. App. 1977). A judgment filed under the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act has “the same effect and is subject to the same procedures, defenses, and proceedings for reopening, vacating, or staying as a judgment of the circuit court, the district court, or a municipal court of the state and may be enforced or satisfied in like manner.” MCLS § 691.1173. See also Electrolines, Inc. v. Prudential Assur. Co., 260 Mich. App. 144, 157-158 (Mich. Ct. App. 2003).
III. A JUDGMENT LIEN ATTACHES TO A JUDGMENT DEBTOR’S INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY IF A NOTICE OF JUDGMENT LIEN IS RECORDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH MCLS § 600.2803.
Judgments in Michigan may be enforced through judgment liens. MCLS 600.2801 et seq. Walters v. Leech, 279 Mich. App. 707, 715 (Mich. Ct. App. 2008). MCLS § 600.2803 specifies the conditions for attachment. Accordingly, a judgment lien attaches to a judgment debtor’s interest in real property if a notice of judgment lien is recorded in accordance with this chapter in the land title records of the register of deeds for the county where the property is located. See MCLS § 600.2803. The judgment lien attaches at the time the notice of judgment lien is recorded or, for after acquired property, at the time the judgment debtor acquires the interest in the property. Id.
In Michigan, a judgment lien does not attach to an interest in real property owned as tenants by the entirety unless the underlying judgment is entered against both the husband and wife. MCLS § 600.2807 (1). See also In re Guzior (2006, BC ED Mich) 347 BR 237 (judgment lien does not attach to an interest in real property owned as tenants by the entirety unless the underlying judgment was entered against both the husband and wife). Michigan is among the minority of states retaining the common law tenancy by the entirety. See Sanford v. Bertrau, 204 Mich. 244 (1918). Tenants by the entirety, who must be husband and wife, hold under a single title with right of survivorship. Id. “Neither husband nor wife acting alone can alienate any interest in the property, nor can the creditors of one levy upon the property; but their joint creditors can reach entireties property.” Id. See also In re Grosslight, 757 F.2d 773, 775 (6th Cir. Mich. 1985). Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 600.2807(1) is a codification of Michigan’s strong common law of protecting a tenancy by the entirety interest from the claims of the individual creditors of a husband or wife. In re Guzior, (2006, BC ED Mich) 347 BR 237 at 243.
A JUDGMENT DEBTOR’S HOMESTEAD IS EXEMPT FROM LEVY OR SALE UNDER EXECUTION.
In Michigan, the homestead is protected from execution both by the state’s constitution as well as statutes. In re Davis, 329 F. Supp. 1067, 1070 (E.D. Mich. 1971). “Article X, Section 3 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963 provides that “[a] homestead in the amount of not less than $3,500 and personal property of every resident of this state in the amount of not less than $750, as defined by law, shall be exempt from forced sale on execution or other process of any court. Such exemptions shall not extend to any lien thereon excluded from exemption by law.” Id.