We got down to business and created our very own homepage. It was easy to make. We created a sunny, brightly colored page. Perhaps the most difficult part was to organize the links into logical groups so individual links could be quickly found. Once the page is created, the next step is to change the home page in your browser. Viola, your most frequently accessed websites are one click away.

Some sites listed on our homepage charge fees to access the information. We included the word "FEE" on most, but not all, of those sites. We are not responsible for the fees you may incur when accessing any site found on our homepage.

Our staff loves it. Phil suggested that our clients might find it useful, so we thought we'd share it with you!

The small claims division handles cases worth less than $3,000. Neither party is represented by a lawyer. There is no appeal.

Landlord-tenant cases involve disputes between landlords and tenants, usually for failure to pay rent. These cases can involve residential or commercial leases.

The general civil division deal with civil claims under $25,000. These cases can involve dog bites, nuisance cases, auto accidents, commercial disputes, or almost any other kind of civil case. The parties may be represented by a lawyer.

Civil infractions include things like parking tickets or ordinance violations that used to be crimes. Typically, civil infractions involve paying a fine, but may include another penalty, like points on your driving record.

The criminal division handles misdemeanor cases. It also conducts arraignments and preliminary hearings for felony cases.

Any appeal from a district court judgment is to the circuit court.

The district court is considered a court of limited jurisdiction, which means that the court is restricted in the types of cases and the dollar value sought as damages for a case. A court of limited jurisdiction has no power to hear or decide cases outside of its jurisdiction.

You can learn more about your district court by checking out this link to district courts' websites.

Note: Updated April 16, 2006.

Michigan no-fault subrogation is an introductory post on the topic. Five or so Tips for investigating whether no-fault subrogation is available provides subrogation specialists and subrogation attorneys with handy tips and resources.

Wayne County Register of Deeds Order to Show Cause raises questions concerning an appeal pending before the Michigan Supreme Court. The appeal concerns the validity of construction liens that were timely filed, but not timely recorded. The Supreme Court added the Wayne County Register of Deeds as a defendant to the case and order the Register of Deeds to show cause why it should not be required to pay the costs for the prosecution and defense of the appeal.

Check out this post and an update on the pending civil cases awaiting decision by the Michigan Supreme Court.

What is the Date that Letters of Authority are Issued? is a post that looks at a recent Court of Appeals' decision answering this question. This case arose within the context of a wrongful death lawsuit.

The new rules have not yet been submitted to or adopted by the Michigan Supreme Court, but are being presented to the bench and bar for their review and comment. These rules are modeled on the rules for appeals to the Michigan Court of Appeal and make special provision for appeals from agencies, zoning board of appeals, and district court cases.

What are the laws of intestate succession? They are Michigan statutes. In Michigan, the Estates and Protected Individuals Code is known as EPIC and part of EPIC contains the laws governing intestate succession. Click here if you want to read them.

Not interested in reading statutes? The Wayne County Probate Court has a great website that can show you what happens if you die without a will. To take a look at the chart, click on "Information" in the blue navigator bar under the header. Click on the "Frequently Asked Questions" link and then scroll to a link called "Michigan Intestate Succession under EPIC." Click on it and the chart will appear. Take a look at it and you can see who takes.

If you have specific ideas on who you want to get your property after you die and your wishes don't match the chart exactly, then meet with your lawyer and get your will done.

Note: Updated on April 15, 2006.

SECURA Insurance

Capitol Indemnity

Grange Mutual Insurance

Fairmont Specialty formerly operating as Ranger Insurance Company

NCMIC Insurance Company

Westfalia*Surge

We'd love to add YOUR company's name to our list of clients! Let's talk!

Note: The logos used above are the property of the respective companies and are used with their permission.

Wert v Citzens Ins. Co of America,
241 Mich App 313; 615 NW2d 779 (2000)

Mason v Cass County Bd of County Road Comm'rs,
221 Mich App 1; 561 NW2d 402 (1997)

Freeman v DEC International Inc,
212 Mich App 34; 536 NW2d 815 (1995)

Kintigh v Abbott Pharmacy,
200 Mich App 92; 503 NW2d 657 (1993)

Citizens Ins Co of America v Federated Mut Ins Co,
199 Mich App 345; 500 NW2d 773 (1993)

Heshelman v Lombardi,
183 Mich App 72; 454 NW2d 603 (1990)

Rinard v Biczak,
177 Mich App 287; 441 NW2d 441 (1989)

Lankford v Citizens Ins Co of America,
171 Mich App 413; 431 NW2d 59 (1988)

National Ben Franklin Ins Co of Mich v Harris,
161 Michh App 86; 409 NW2d 733 (1987)

Holliday v McKeiver,
156 Mich App 214; 401 NW2d 278 (1986)

Shaw v Allstate Ins Co,
141 Mich App 331; 367 NW2d 388 (1985)

Routley v Dault,
140 Mich App 190; 363 NW2d 450 (1984)

Michigan Mut Liability Co v Ohio Cas Ins Co,
123 Mich App 688; 333 NW2d 327 (1983)

Shane v Mouw,
116 Mich App 737; 323 NW2d 537 (1982)

Buckeye Union Ins Co v Johnson,
108 Mich App 46; 310 NW2d 268 (1981)

Koopman v Logan,
93 Mich App 252; 286 NW2d 872 (1979)

Dochod v Central Mut Ins Co,
81 Mich App 63; 264 NW2d 122 (1978)

Wert v Citizens Ins Co of America,
463 Mich 926; 620 NW2d 309 (2000)

Baker v DEC International Inc,
458 Mich 247; 580 NW2d 894 (1998)

Citizens Ins Co of America v Federated Mut Ins Co,
448 Mich 225; 531 NW2d 138 (1995)

Gibson v Bronson Methodist Hosp,
445 Mich 331; 517 NW2d 736 (1994)

Freeman v Consumers Power Co,
437 Mich 514; 473 NW2d 63 (1991)

Mulholland v DEC International Corp,
432 Mich 395; 443 NW2d 340 (1989)

Gardner v Wood,
429 Mich 290; 414 NW2d 706 (1987)

Schiebout v Citizens Ins Co of America,
427 Mich 602; 398 NW2d 411 (1986)

Lisa is the mother of two boys and loves to go snowmobiling with her husband during the winter. When the temperature warms up, Lisa loves to spend time at the family cottage, enjoying the sunshine and water.