Compassionate Family Law Attorneys Serving Battle Creek, Lansing & All of Michigan
However your family looks today, we're here to help you protect it — with warmth, honesty, and real experience in Michigan family courts.
• Divorce • Custody • Adoption • CPS Defense • Bilingual Attorney • Payment Plans Available
• Divorce • Custody • Adoption • CPS Defense • Bilingual Attorney • Payment Plans Available
A steady, local advocate when your family’s future is on the line
Wood & Associates PLLC provides family law representation from offices in Battle Creek and Lansing, serving Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Hillsdale, Barry, Ingham, Clinton, Eaton, Shiawassee, and Jackson counties, and clients across the state of Michigan. The firm handles divorce, child custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, property division, adoption, paternity, name changes, CPS defense, school-change disputes, and post-judgment modifications. Every family that comes to us is welcome exactly as it is, and a bilingual Spanish/English attorney is available for Spanish-speaking clients.
Family law is rarely just a legal problem — it's a life being rebuilt. We've sat across the table from enough of those moments to know that good legal work and genuine care aren't in competition with each other. You'll get both here.
Family law services
Areas of Family Law We Handle
Whether your matter is cooperative or contested, having a clear strategy can reduce stress and protect your rights. Explore the areas we handle most often and see where your situation fits.
Divorce
Ending a marriage is hard enough without confusion about the process — we guide you through it with clarity and care.
Custody & Parenting Time
Your place in your child's life matters, and so does the time you spend together — we help protect both.
Child & Spousal Support
Fair numbers that reflect your real life, not just a formula, whether it's support for your kids or for yourself.
Property Division
What you built together during your marriage deserves a fair, honest outcome — we make sure it gets one.
Adoption
Making your family official is a big moment — we make sure it's handled right, from start to finish.
Paternity
Establishing your rights as a parent shouldn't feel complicated — we walk you through it, one step at a time.
Name Change
A fresh start deserves a simple process — we make legally changing your name easy, fast, and stress-free.
CPS Defense
You have rights the moment CPS gets involved, and we make sure you understand and use every one of them.
When Things Change
Whether it's a school decision or a court order that no longer fits your life, your voice still matters.
Why Families Trust Us With Something This Personal
Family law is emotional work, and we never treat it like paperwork. This is the firm's own list of what sets it apart — and every case in this practice is handled with all six in mind.
Exceptional communication and responsiveness.
We answer calls live, and chat messages get a callback within about 15 minutes during business hours — because when you're ready to talk about something this personal, you deserve an actual person, not a voicemail box.
Welcoming, real people.
From the attorney handling your case to the team supporting them, you'll be treated like a person going through something hard, not a file number.
Inclusive service, with deep ties to the LGBTQ+ community. Every family, exactly as it is. However your household is built, you'll get the same respect, advocacy, and attention as anyone who walks through our door.
A bilingual Spanish/English attorney on staff — a rare asset in this region.
Spanish-speaking clients can work through their plan directly with an attorney, not just a translated page. (Front-desk reception is not currently Spanish-speaking — let us know when you call, and we'll connect you with an attorney who speaks Spanish.)
Proven results and experience.
Our attorneys have guided Michigan families through divorce, custody, adoption, and CPS matters for years, and we bring that same experience to every case we take on.
Flexible payment options.
A third-party Pay Later financing option means cost doesn't have to decide whether your family gets help.
The People Behind Your Case
Every case here is handled by real people, not a call center and not a rotating cast of strangers. Meet a few of the attorneys and staff who might be the first friendly face you see.
Kent Wood II
President & Founder
Brigette Booser
Attorney and Counselor
Paul Umlauf
Attorney
Jennifer Reed
Attorney
Jami Rosado
Senior Paralegal
Hannah Robinson
Attorney
Sarah Hayes
Legal Secretary
Kent Wood II
President & Founder
Brigette Booser
Attorney and Counselor
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a divorce cost in Michigan?
Michigan divorce filing fees run $175 without minor children or $255 with minor children, plus attorney fees that vary by case complexity. Uncontested divorces are typically far less expensive than contested ones. Wood & Associates also offers a no-credit-check Pay Later financing option so cost doesn't have to delay getting help.
How is child custody decided in Michigan?
Michigan courts decide custody based on the "best interest of the child" factors set out in state law, covering things like each parent's home environment, willingness to support the child's relationship with the other parent, and the child's own preference if old enough. Courts award both legal and physical custody, which can be joint or sole.
Does Wood & Associates represent families of all kinds, including LGBTQ+ parents and couples?
Yes. Wood & Associates provides the same respectful, dedicated family law representation to every client, regardless of family structure, including LGBTQ+ individuals and couples navigating divorce, custody, or adoption. Every family that walks through our doors gets the same standard of care and advocacy.
Does Wood & Associates handle CPS cases as part of family law?
Yes. Wood & Associates represents parents from the moment a CPS investigation begins, including home visits, interviews, and any resulting court proceedings. Because CPS matters often intersect with an active custody or divorce case, having one firm handle both means nothing falls through the cracks between separate attorneys.
What's the difference between custody and parenting time in Michigan?
Custody determines who makes major decisions for a child (legal custody) and where the child primarily lives (physical custody). Parenting time is the actual schedule of when each parent spends time with the child. A parent can have parenting time without primary physical custody, and the two use separate legal standards.
Can I modify my custody, support, or parenting time order after it's finalized?
Yes. Michigan allows modification of custody, child support, spousal support, and parenting time orders when there's been a significant change in circumstances, such as a job loss, relocation, or a change in the child's needs. Wood & Associates evaluates whether your situation qualifies before you file anything.
Serving Our Counties, From Battle Creek and Lansing to All of Michigan
Family law is personal, and so is meeting the people who'll be handling your case. Stop by either office, or start with a call — whatever feels most comfortable for you.
Battle Creek Office
2943 W Dickman Road, Battle Creek, MI (269) 841-5426 Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–5:00 PM · Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM · Our offices serve families throughout Ingham, Calhoun, surrounding counties, and across the state of Michigan.
Lansing Office
901 N. Washington Ave., Lansing, MI (269) 841-5426 · Toll-free (888) 209-7348 Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–5:00 PM · Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM · Our offices serve families throughout Ingham, Calhoun, surrounding counties, and across the state of Michigan.
Talk with a local attorney team today
Whatever brought you here, you don't have to face it alone.
However you're most comfortable reaching out — a call, a chat, a text, or a quick form — we're ready to help. Walk-ins welcome during business hours; consultations by appointment.