Frequently Asked Questions

A Grand Rapids family law attorney handles divorce filing, response to complaints, child custody and parenting time, spousal support calculation, property division under Michigan's equitable distribution rules, CPS defense, adoption, guardianship, and Guardian ad Litem representation. The scope depends on whether your case settles or proceeds to trial.

Family law fees in Michigan vary based on whether the case resolves through negotiation or proceeds through discovery and trial. Contested custody or high-asset property division cases carry more billable time than uncontested divorces. Ask for a fee structure upfront and clarify what triggers additional costs.

Look for an attorney licensed in Michigan State and Federal Court who has handled custody disputes, spousal support calculations, and property division specifically under Michigan's equitable distribution framework. Familiarity with Kent, Ottawa, Wayne, and Oakland County family court procedures matters because judicial assignments and local practice vary by county.

Civil litigation in Grand Rapids requires counsel who can negotiate settlement and take a case through trial if necessary. Confidant Consult has negotiated a 1.2 million dollar medical malpractice settlement and handles contract breaches and partnership conflicts from complaint through verdict across Michigan counties.

Civil litigation costs scale with how far a case progresses — negotiation and early settlement cost significantly less than full discovery and trial. The complexity of the dispute, the number of parties, and whether expert witnesses are needed all affect total fees. Clarify whether your attorney bills hourly or uses flat-fee arrangements for defined phases.

Expect a structured approach: negotiation and settlement attempts first, then discovery and trial if resolution is not reached. An attorney representing you across multiple Michigan counties — Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Kent, Ottawa, and Genesee — needs familiarity with local court procedures, not just the underlying law. Ask how cases are managed across jurisdictions before you commit.

Both attorneys travel to clients rather than anchoring to a single office. The firm serves Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Kent, Ottawa, and Genesee Counties, with service locations in Grand Rapids and Detroit. Clients in Kentwood, Wyoming, Walker, Jenison, and Hudsonville are also within the firm's regular coverage area.

The firm covers business formation and disputes, civil litigation, intellectual property protection, property disputes, trusts and estates, and probate administration. Both attorneys are licensed in Michigan State and Federal Court, which matters when business or civil cases cross into federal jurisdiction.

Confirm the attorney is licensed in both Michigan State and Federal Court if your matter could involve federal claims. Liam Marin graduated cum laude from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, externed with the City of Detroit Civil Rights Department, and holds bar admissions for Michigan State and Federal Court. Norman Dotson earned his J.D. from Wayne Law in 2019 and serves as Guardian ad Litem in Wayne and Oakland Counties.

Yes. Michigan Family Court procedures, equitable distribution analysis, and custody frameworks vary in practice by county — judicial assignments and local rules in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties differ from Kent and Ottawa Counties. An attorney who regularly appears in those courts understands scheduling norms, local motion practice, and how individual judges approach contested custody and support disputes.

A Guardian ad Litem represents the child's interests rather than either parent in a custody dispute. Confidant Consult's Norman Dotson serves in this role in Wayne County and Oakland County. When a court appoints a Guardian ad Litem, that attorney independently evaluates the child's circumstances and reports findings that can significantly influence the custody determination.

The firm's two-attorney structure covers family law, business formation, civil litigation, intellectual property, property disputes, and trusts and estates. Having both matters handled by the same firm is particularly relevant when a divorce involves business ownership interests, since equitable distribution of a business requires both family law and business law analysis.