UPDATE 4/1/2020: Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency and issued Executive Orders that require Michigan residents to shelter in place and restrict travel from March 24, 2020 through April 30, 2020. This Executive Order has raised many questions in regard to Custody and Parenting Time. If you have questions regarding your custody arrangement or parenting time agreement, click here for a very clarifying FAQ. Different cases may vary and this is not a one size fits all direction. Therefore, if you still have questions regarding your individual custody or parenting time, please feel free to contact our office at 616-608-7149.
Tanis Schultz would like to express our concern for the health and safety of our clients, staff, and colleagues. Our office will be sanitizing work areas and common areas and working remotely as permitted. We are still functionating at full capacity, including working on current cases and conducting intake of new clients. While we have suspended in-office meetings, we are still available by phone and/or email. Further, we are happy to conduct new client in-take meetings via phone, email, video-conferencing, and other forms of electronic communication.
Additionally, with the State of Emergency implemented, the recommendations from Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services designed to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Michigan courts are taking a court-by-court approach to the best procedures to follow regarding holding or adjourning hearings. We are monitoring the situation with the courts and various agencies that impact our practice. We expect there will some interruption to our cases due to the mandated orders by the respective agencies and courts. Our goal is to minimize the disruption to our clients and business.
Worker’s Compensation Hearings
- At this time, worker’s compensation hearings have been postponed for 6 weeks. Redemption hearings may be conducted by phone.
Social Security Disability
Social security disability is holding phone conferences if the client chooses. Beth, our social security attorney will assist them in making the decision to either have a phone conference or postpone the hearing.
Driver’s License Restoration
- The Secretary of State is still holding hearings as scheduled.
Criminal Matters
- County Courts are taking a court-by-court approach to criminal matters, please see the list below:
Kent County
- 59th District Court is operating as normal.
- 61st District Court is operating as normal.
- 62-A District Court is operating as normal.
- 62-B District Court is operating as normal.
- 63rd District Court is adjourning all but essential matters as found here.
- 17th Circuit Court is remaining open but is taking the measures listed here to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Ottawa County
- Has limited all but essential matters as found here.
Kalamazoo County
- Government facilities will be closed to the public until April 5, 2020.
Allegan County
- Has adjourned and re-scheduled all non-emergency or in-custody hearings until after May 4, 2020.
We are continuing to monitor the status of these courts and the status of all our client’s matters. If you would like an individual update on your case, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
If you have a new case in one of these courts, we urge you not to wait to obtain representation as many of these courts are still open and processing cases and hearings.