Lansing

Lansing Attorney

When a criminal charge, estate matter, or serious legal problem lands on your doorstep, the lawyer you hire shapes everything that follows. At Clint W. Perryman PC, we represent individuals in Lansing, MI, and the surrounding Ingham County area who need a direct, results-focused attorney, not vague promises. Call us at 810-498-2370 to discuss your situation.

Our law firm handles criminal defense and estate planning for Lansing, Michigan clients who understand that quality legal representation is an investment, not an expense. You can’t afford not to get this right.

What We Handle for Lansing, MI Clients

Clint W. Perryman PC serves Lansing, MI clients in two core practice areas: criminal defense, including serious felonies, drug crimes, domestic violence, and weapons charges, and estate planning, including wills and trusts.

Our practice areas for clients in Lansing and East Lansing include:

  • Criminal Defense: Michigan’s criminal courts move quickly, and the consequences of a conviction are lasting. We handle charges ranging from misdemeanors and DUI/OWI to felonies involving drug crimes, domestic violence, weapons charges, white-collar offenses, and federal crimes. Every stage of the court process, from arraignment through trial, requires a lawyer who knows the law and isn’t afraid to fight.
  • Estate Planning: A will or trust is the legal mechanism that ensures your assets go where you intend and your family avoids unnecessary conflict or delay. Michigan law governs how these documents must be executed to be valid; a document drafted improperly can be challenged or disregarded entirely.
  • Personal Injury: When someone else’s negligence causes you harm, Michigan law may entitle you to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and other damages. We handle select personal injury cases for Lansing area clients.

Criminal Defense in Lansing, Michigan

In Michigan, criminal charges carry consequences that extend well beyond fines; convictions can cost you your license, your career, and your civil rights. Understanding how Michigan criminal law classifies and prosecutes offenses is essential before deciding how to respond to any charge.

Michigan distinguishes between misdemeanors and felonies based on the severity of the offense and the potential sentence. Many Michigan misdemeanors carry potential jail sentences of up to one year, while felony penalties vary significantly by offense and may include substantial prison terms, including life imprisonment for certain serious offenses. Several key points about criminal law in Lansing and across Michigan:

  • Charge classification determines strategy. Whether a charge is a misdemeanor or felony affects bail, plea options, trial rights, and the long-term impact on your record. The Ingham County Circuit Court handles felony matters; the 54A District Court in Lansing handles misdemeanors and preliminary examinations.
  • OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) charges are among the most common criminal matters in Michigan. A first-offense OWI is generally a misdemeanor, while Michigan’s high-BAC or “super drunk” law applies at a BAC of 0.17% or higher and carries enhanced penalties, including up to 180 days in jail and a one-year license suspension for a first offense.
  • Drug crime classifications under Michigan law vary based on the controlled substance, amount, and alleged conduct. Possession, delivery, and manufacturing offenses can carry misdemeanor or felony penalties, with potential sentences varying substantially depending on the circumstances.
  • Weapons charges in Michigan can arise from carrying a concealed weapon without a proper license, possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony (“felony firearm”), or having a weapon as a prohibited person. A first felony-firearm conviction carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence that is served consecutively to the sentence for the underlying felony; longer mandatory terms apply to subsequent felony-firearm convictions.
  • Domestic violence allegations can result in no-contact or other protective conditions and may affect matters such as child custody, professional licensing, and firearm rights, sometimes before a conviction.

The right defense strategy depends entirely on the specific charge, the evidence, and the facts of your case. Prosecutors in Lansing, MI carry a heavy burden: they must prove every element of the charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt. That standard is your starting point.

Estate Planning in Lansing, MI

A Michigan will generally must be signed by the testator and witnessed by at least two individuals, although Michigan law also recognizes certain holographic wills that do not require witnesses. Without a valid will, Michigan’s intestacy laws generally determine how an estate is distributed.

Estate planning is not only for the elderly or the wealthy, but it is for anyone who has assets, dependents, or preferences about what happens when they are gone or incapacitated. In Michigan, the relevant law is primarily governed by the

Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC). Key documents and concepts include:

  • Last Will and Testament: Names your beneficiaries, designates a personal representative to manage your estate, and, if you have minor children, nominates a guardian. Without a valid will, Michigan’s intestacy statute determines distribution, which may not reflect your intentions.
  • Revocable Living Trust: Property properly transferred to a revocable living trust generally avoids probate, allowing those trust assets to pass according to the trust’s terms without going through the probate process. Probate in Michigan can take months or longer; a trust can help avoid that timeline for assets properly held in the trust.
  • Durable Power of Attorney: Authorizes a person you designate to manage your financial affairs if you become incapacitated. Without one, a court-supervised conservatorship may become necessary in some circumstances if someone needs legal authority to manage your financial affairs.
  • Patient Advocate Designation (Healthcare Proxy): Names someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot. Michigan law requires a patient advocate designation to be in writing, signed and dated, voluntarily executed, and witnessed by two qualified witnesses, along with other statutory requirements.

We work with Lansing area clients to build estate plans tailored to their family’s structure, asset picture, and long-term goals.

Serving Lansing, East Lansing, and Ingham County

Clint W. Perryman PC serves clients throughout the Lansing, Michigan metro area, including East Lansing and Ingham County, handling matters in local state courts as well as federal court.

Lansing, MI sits at the intersection of significant legal activity; as Michigan’s capital, it hosts state agencies, regulatory bodies, and courts that handle both routine and high-stakes matters. The Ingham County Courthouse and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan both serve individuals and businesses in this community.

East Lansing, home to Michigan State University and a large student and professional population, generates a distinct set of legal needs, including criminal charges related to alcohol and drugs, Title IX matters at educational institutions, and estate planning for young professionals beginning to build their futures.

Our law firm has locations in Flint and Lansing, MI, and we serve clients across mid-Michigan who need an attorney who is straightforward, hardworking, and committed to their outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Clint W. Perryman PC handle cases in Lansing and the surrounding area?

Yes. Clint W. Perryman PC has a Lansing location and represents clients in Lansing, East Lansing, and throughout Ingham County. Serving clients across mid-Michigan is a core part of what we do, and our attorney appears in courts throughout the region.

What should I do immediately after being charged with a crime in Lansing?

Do not speak to law enforcement without an attorney present. Michigan law gives you the right to remain silent and the right to counsel; exercising both protects you from providing statements that prosecutors can use against you. Contact a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible after an arrest.

How does Michigan’s probate process work, and can it be avoided?

Probate is the legal process used to administer certain assets and estates after a person’s death, including validating a will when applicable and overseeing the distribution of probate assets. In Michigan, it is administered through the probate court in the county where the decedent lived. Assets held in a trust, jointly owned property with right of survivorship, and accounts with named beneficiaries generally pass outside of probate. Proper estate planning, including the appropriate use of trusts, beneficiary designations, and jointly owned property when suitable, can eliminate or significantly reduce the assets that pass through probate.

Ready to Talk to a Lansing Attorney?

A legal problem in Lansing, MI doesn’t wait, and neither should you. Whether you are facing a criminal charge that threatens your freedom and record, or you need an estate plan that actually holds up, Clint W. Perryman PC is ready to help. Call 810-498-2370 or reach out online to schedule a consultation with our attorney. We are direct, we are prepared, and we are committed to getting you the result your case demands.