FAQ

Commonly Asked Questions

• The police wrote me a ticket charging me with a crime and says that I have 10 or 14 days to respond, what should I do?

  The 10 or 14 days to respond means you need to go to the court and be arraigned on the charges. You'll appear before a judge or magistrate to hear the charges against you, set bond conditions, and set your next court date. You should consult an attorney immediately after getting any ticket.

• Should I have an attorney with me at an arraignment?

  You should have an attorney anytime you walk in to a court if you are a named defendant or respondent to any charge.

• What if I was released at the scene of a traffic incident or other incident and was not charged with a crime but was told, "You will get something in the mail."

  You should consult an attorney immediately after any interaction with the police. Just because you didn't get a ticket or get arrested, does not mean you don't have any legal exposure. Get legal advice ASAP!

• If I go to court for an arraignment, will the judge require me to post a bond? What kind of bonds are there?

  After you are arraigned on any charge before a court, a determination of bond is required by the judge. Bond is the court's protocol for mandating your appearance at future court dates. Most accused Defendant's are released on a Personal Bond, meaning you don't post any money, but your non-appearance could trigger having to post money. If you have a previous record or the charges against you are considered serious, you may have to post a cash bond, or 10% of cash bond. A surety bond is bond designed to allow an accused defendant to hire a Bail Bondsman to assist in posting a high bond. You should consult an attorney to fully understand any bond issues.

• I want to have charges removed or expunged from record, how do I proceed?

  "Expunging" or setting aside a conviction is governed by a specific Michigan Statute with requirements that determine your eligibility to even apply for an expungement. It is critical to have a full picture of your criminal history to determine your eligibility before any expungement is considered. Always consult an attorney with expertise in the filed of expungements.