Michigan Resources: Self-Help Legal Assistance: Know Your Attorney Before Paying!

In Michigan it is very valuable to research prospective attorneys before handing over that $1,000.00 - $10,000.00 retainer fees. If you think you will have a highly contentious divorce, custody, child support, or paternity action, you might invest some of your time is seeing if your attorney has any appellate experience regarding your current legal needs. You can view all of the cases an attorney has in Michigan's Court of Appeals.

Don't forget to rate attorneys by following the instructions at this link.

Get Off The Bench Talk Cast! Listen to it while you work!


Attorney Case List
http://courtofappeals.mijud.net/resources/public_acl.htm

The attorney case list can be used to research the types of cases that an attorney has experience with at the court of appeals level. The P(Number) is the number assigned to an attorney when accepted into the State Bar of Michigan. The Attorney Name must be in LAST name FIRST name format. You can check the box for "include closed cases" which is always helpful to see how cases were ruled on.

Search Court of Appeals and Supreme Court Opinions by Key Word
http://courtofappeals.mijud.net/resources/ts.htm

You can search various opinions from both the Court of Appeals or the Michigan Supreme Court opinions by key words and phrases. You can do things like... child custody or parental rights. You can see reasons why orders were overturned, affirmed, or modified.

Michigan Court Rules
http://courtofappeals.mijud.net/rules/

These are the Michigan Court rules arranged by Chapter. If you plan on representing yourself in court, you need to plan on understanding the rules of civil procedure (Chapter 2) and then the applicable Chapter for example... Chapter 3.200 for Domestic Relations Actions.

Michigan Rules of Evidence
http://courtofappeals.mijud.net/rules/documents/2MichiganRulesOfEvidence.pdf

How can you conduct a trial if you don't understand the Rules of Evidence and how to object or what is admissible / inadmissible.

Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct
http://courtofappeals.mijud.net/rules/documents/5MichiganRulesOfProfessionalConduct.pdf

These are the rules of professional conduct for attorneys. These are the rules that THEY must adhere to when representing or advocating for a client. You should know these so you know when you are not being well-represented. Know the rules that attorneys must follow so that when or if they break them, you can take action against them.

The knowledge represented above is invaluable if you plan on self-representation and is only a start for Pro Se Litigants in Michigan. In the past I have published a mini-manual for people that includes Friend of the Court Act, Support and Parenting Time Enforcement Act, and other important pieces like the Michigan Constitution. Let me know if there is still a need for such a resource. I will make them available online for you. If you have more questions send me an email at laryholland@familycourtreports.com.

Get Your Justice Live with Get Off The Bench

Now there is a new interactive talk show designed to expose many of the injustices of the family court system, child protective services, child support enforcement agencies, and officials that have gone wild with the power that they wield. Every Sunday and Wednesday Night you can call in live or listen at http://www.getyourjusticelive.com.

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Lary Holland on House Joint Resolution NN (2008)

Lary Holland provides a quick information piece on House Joint Resolution NN (2008). Be sure to spread the word and get people contacting their legislators immediately.

Dr. Ron Paul with William Wagener OnSecondThought.Tv

... just one of the many federal programs where the federal government bribes state governments to comply with their version of public policy. As stated in the video the Title IV-D program sounds like "old fashioned debtor prison" and that the Child Support Enforcement program is "little more or little less than a system of organized crime."

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Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop and Lary Holland Discuss Equal Parenting in Michigan

Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop and Lary Holland of Michigan discuss Equal Parenting at the Farmington Hills League of Women Voters Public Town Hall Meeting on January 28, 2008. Michigan currently suffers from the highest unemployment rate, the highest juvenile life sentence rate, and a significant number of incarcerations all related to the breakdown of the Michigan Family. We are seeking to put the family as nearly back together as possible by minimizing the conflict between parents post-divorce, post separation, and post-paternity. Tune in to GetYourJusticeLive.Com for more details on Michigan House Bill 4564 and the happenings in Family Court around the United States.

Lary Holland and House Speaker Andy Dillon at the Farmington Hills League of Women Voters Public Townhall Meeting. Discussing House Bill 4564, Michigan's Presumption of Equal Custody Bill, which will place parents on even footing in child custody disputes unless either parent is unfit, unwilling, or incapable of caring for their children.

UPDATE: Andy Dillon and House Democrats: Lawmakers Aim to Cut Deal with Energy Suppliers to Sidestep Voter Approval on Tax Increase

Rep. Jack Hoogendyk and Lary Holland at Americans for Prosperity

Representative Jack Hoogendyk and Lary Holland discuss shared parenting, part-time legislature, and other issues that have major economic rammifications for Michigan's single-state recession economy.

Lary Holland at Americans For Prosperity

Scott Tillman, of the Sam Adams Alliance, and Lary Holland, of Family Court Reports, discuss political strategies and concerns for Michigan issues and several campaigns. The Americans for Prosperity event focused on Conservative values with guest speakers ranging from Senator McCain, Mitt Romney, Mike Rogers, and more.

More information about the American's for Properity event will be forthcoming over the next several days. The event was a huge success with many quality breakout events and opportunities for networking.

Advocates Decended Onto Grand Rapids, MI.

Kenyatte, Lary Holland, and Paul Sielski the morning after the National Fatherhood Summit in Grand Rapids, January 4, 2008, planning details for demonstrations that took place later in the afternoon.

For more information on:

Fathers 4 Justice
http://www.f4j.us

Lary Holland
http://www.laryholland.com

Paul Sielski
http://www.sielski.org

For more information on the upcoming Family Preservation Festival simply visit http://www.dcrally2008.com.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU!

Depicted to the right are Apostle Arthur Bailey and his lovely wife from Abundant Life Ministries in Grand Rapids, MI. Apostle Arthur Bailey sponsored and hosted the National Fatherhood Summit in Grand Rapids, MI.

The National Fatherhood Summit in Grand Rapids, MI was a great success for fathers and families. Speakers and participants traveled from all across the United States to attend the National Fatherhood Summit Event.

The event was organized by Minister Ronald Smith of Children Need Both Parents, Inc and hosted at Abundant Life Ministries.

Originally Reported at Family Court Reports (familycourtreports.com)
http://www.familycourtreports.com/serendipity/archives/457-National-Fatherhood-Summit-2008.html

Lary Holland Speech at the National Fatherhood Summit
http://daddy.typepad.com/daddyblog/2008/01/lary-holland--.html

DaddyBlogger.Com Reports on the National Fatherhood Summit
http://daddy.typepad.com/daddyblog/2008/01/national-fath-1.html

There are many other events that are being scheduled leading up to the August Family Preservation Festival.
http://www.dcrally2008.com

Interview - The End of America

This is an amazing interview with Naomi Wolfe. I don't always agree with her, but I agree with her letter of warning to young patriots. "The End of the America" is an eye opening interview that everyone that worries about the condition of the United States should indulge and spread.

PAY YOUR TAXES

PAY YOUR TAXES
Originally uploaded by laryholland@sbcglobal.net

I normally write about the family court system, but since Title IV-D and Title IV-E are both essentially negativistic free for all welfare programs that harm society, let's demonstrate another place that your taxes go with this simple image. Let me know if you agree. I'm interested in hearing from you.

Oh, and one more thing... If you aren't busy on Sunday or Wednesday nights, tune in to GET OFF THE BENCH at http://www.getoffthebench.tv and Get You Justice Live! Broadcasting Live at 8:00pm and 8:30pm Sunday and Wednesday Night..

Friend of the Court Abuses Run Rampid.

Lary Holland is an expert regarding Title IV-D and the UnFamily Courts of America. Check this video that talks about the Friend of the Court in Michigan and how Representative Brenda Clack has a complete disregard to the family by not encouraging and supporting House Bill 4564, Michigan's Presumption of Equal Custody Bill. Visit laryholland.com

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GET OFF THE BENCH - new interactive talkcast covering family court system.

Get Off The Bench, with hosts Lary Holland and Bob Norton every Wednesday (8:30pm) and Sunday Night (8:00pm) Archived shows are available and cover many of the topics that the media refuse to cover or fail to adequately cover about the dysfunctional family court system. Be sure to tune in at http://www.getoffthebench.tv and listen to the real news!

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GET OFF THE BENCH IS NOW IN SESSION. Tune in now to get your justice!

GET OFF THE BENCH is a new, interactive, talk internet show that exposes the court employees, judges, cps workers, and other government employees that are involved in playing the family law court game. You can download archived shows, listen live Wednesdays and Sundays at 8:00pm, or participate by logging in today. Tune in now to get your justice!

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I love you both Esilanna and Lary! From Dad.

Here is a tribute to my two children, Esilanna and Lary. They are both loved and missed by the entire family. I love you both kids, from Dad.

Mounting Accountability Problems With Child Support Programs: Data Stolen

Yuba County scrambled this week to contact 70,000 people whose names and personal information were on a laptop computer stolen from the new Child Support Services office in Linda. County officials said the stolen laptop contained Social Security numbers, birth dates, driver’s license numbers and other private information on 70,000 people+.If these program administrators cannot even protect some bits of data on their computer systems, why would we allow them make recommendations regarding the best interests of our own children? It's time to reign in these out of control free for all welfare programs and return the money back to the taxpayers that have been misled by these "child support" enforcement bureacracies.

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Child Support Clerk Charged With Embezzlement: program needs oversight

The program is already stealing from taxpayers by forcing the inclusion of the middle-class and upper-class families in to the program but now there is definitely an upward trend associated with theft from the program itself by the County cooperative contract employees demonstrating a need for citizen oversight.

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Apology given for child-support error

More mistakes by the child support enforcement program employees. This one has a positive outcome, but many do not.

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Request to Michigan Representative Brenda Clack: Bring House Bill 4564 Up!

Michigan needs a presumption of equal custody because it is fair for taxpayers, parents, and children. A presumption of equal custody eliminates the necessity of parents to feud over parenting time and children because there will no longer be an enabling negative family law policy supporting back and forth fighting over the children.

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