ByMatthew BenedictThis article will discuss how an attorney evaluates a potential client and how to find a loan for legal fees. How Attorneys Evaluate a Potential Client for Contract Advance or Retainer Some attorneys call it a retainer, others call it an advance on legal services, it’s all the same, this is an initial deposit with…
ByMatthew BenedictA personal protection order or PPO in Michigan is nothing to dismiss as minimal. There are ways to beat a PPO filed against you. In this article, I will discuss three ways to defeat a PPO in court. Ex Parte PPO in Michigan The Petitioner will use a form. This form is called a Petition…
ByMatthew BenedictIn this article, I will discuss factor (d). This factor is pretty straightforward, but when there is an associated problem with this factor, the problem will draw the attention of a reviewing family law court. Please visit my other articles in this series on my blog. The Text of MCL 722.23(d) “As used in this…
ByMatthew BenedictIn this article, I will examine the best interests of the child factor (b) in Michigan. This is the second article in the series. Before the reader learns about 722.23(b), it is important to understand how family law courts use and apply the best interests of the child factors. I covered how the courts use…
ByMatthew BenedictA person accused of drunk driving knows that they are in for grievous consequences if they are convicted. While the punishment for a DUI is not the same in every state, this is not a conviction you want to have on your record. Additionally, most states will make your punishment more severe if you caused…
ByMatthew BenedictIn this article, I will provide some basic education for the best interests of the child factor (a) or MCL 722.23(a). During a contested child custody hearing, the judge must review each of the 12 factors found in the best interest of the child factors statute. A parent seeking a divorce or a parent seeking…
ByMatthew BenedictFamily law is very fact-intensive. Family law is also one of the most emotional areas of the law due to one simple fact: we are deciding which parent gets to see their kids. This combination creates clients/parents that are emotionally charged and taxed to their limit. How does a parent prepare for a child custody…
ByMatthew BenedictIn this blog, I will discuss what to do when the State of Michigan has a hold on your driver’s license. This “hold” causes an out of state resident to become ineligible for a driver’s license in their new home state. A clearance must be obtained from the State of Michigan. The typical fact pattern…
ByMatthew BenedictWhat is in this video In every criminal case, before the judge renders a sentence, the defendant and his attorney have an opportunity to speak to the judge in court. In this video, I discuss what a defendant should and shouldn’t say to a judge during a sentencing hearing. A defendant that makes sentencing errors…
ByMatthew BenedictI have been practicing law since 2001, most of my trial experience is in the 86th district court. As a Traverse City criminal lawyer, I grew up in the 86th District Court and believe I know this court system well. I have represented over 800 clients in the 86th District Court. The Big Three Crimes…
