Services
From criminal defense and personal injury cases to family and probate law, our 50 years of experience and track record of success throughout Southwest Michigan allows us to quickly and efficiently resolve almost any legal matter.
As you browse our services, feel free to contact us with any questions and to schedule your free consultation.
Sexual assault and other sex-based crimes can have lifelong consequences under the Michigan Sex Offender Registry Act, convictions for which can mark you for life as high-risk to reoffend. We help you understand the consequences of any sex crime conviction before you accept any plea agreement and fight your battle in court when your innocence is at stake.
Drug charges like marijuana possession or the delivery of narcotics carry heavy penalties and severe restrictions. We can use legal defenses, such as those available under the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, to shield you from the consequences of a criminal offense or take advantage of alternative courts to ensure your successful recovery from addiction or mental health issues.
Out-of-state residents and commercial truck drivers, no less than Michigan drivers, need help defending their driving privileges from traffic violations and points on their record. We can minimize the amount of time you miss work and appear on your behalf to protect your driver’s license from unnecessary infractions and penalties.
Problems in your family or household can quickly escalate into domestic violence charges. Our attorneys can help you explore your options to defend against “he said, she said” allegations and avoid a misdemeanor conviction on your permanent record and the related consequences in family and/or juvenile court.
Aggressive drunk driving enforcement puts your license and freedom at risk. New roadside sobriety test standards and the pushback on “drugged driving” have opened the door for more arrests and life-changing consequences. We can help defend against OWI (or DUI) convictions and keep you or get you back on the road.
Theft and fraud have many different names and guises under Michigan law. From simple shoplifting charges to complex embezzlement schemes, we can explore the unique facts of your case, negotiate for a fair plea to lesser offenses, or defend you and your reputation at trial against theft and fraud charges.
Violent crimes like assault can be especially serious. They bring with them victims and defenses that aren’t at issue or available in other categories of criminal offenses. Working closely with you, we will develop your case and explore whether self-defense or other legal arguments can protect your rights in negotiation or at trial.
A felony or misdemeanor conviction can be a lead weight on your efforts to move on from a criminal past. The laws are more favorable now to get you out from underneath the mistakes of your past. We can help determine if you qualify for conviction relief and advocate for expungement of your criminal record at hearing.
Filing for and/or defending a personal protection order – or defending against a PPO – requires attention to evidence and detail and a well-drafted narrative of what actually happened at hearing. We can help you build a successful case around your fears of danger or harm to return your sense of security or restore your freedoms and rights after a PPO has been entered against you.
No one wants to spend months – let alone years – in probate court. A well-thought-out estate plan, including wills, powers of attorney, medical directives, and in some cases a trust, can keep your family out of court during your final illness or after you pass away. An experienced simple estate planning attorney can help you form a strategy to guide your family’s decisionmaking after you are gone and minimize their time in probate court.
After a person passes away, the probate court oversees the administration of his or her estate to ensure the proper execution of the will and distribution of assets. This is a highly emotional, technical, and often complicated process that can be difficult for family members in mourning. A thoughtful estate administration attorney can guide you through the process and shoulder the administrative burden so you can focus on your family’s wellbeing in a difficult time.
The probate court is responsible for overseeing decisions made on behalf of vulnerable individuals. When a child’s parents are unfit or unavailable, a disabled person is incapable of caring for himself or herself, or an elderly person is no longer able to make decisions for his or her own wellbeing, the probate court is asked to appoint and oversee guardians and conservators tasked with caring for these individuals. A knowledgeable probate attorney can help navigate this process and comply with supervisory requirements, enabling you to care for your loved one.
When a biological father’s name is missing from a child’s birth certificate, he can be cut off from the privileges and obligations of parenthood. Whether you are a father seeking visitation or a mother seeking assistance or support, a family lawyer can help lay the foundation by establishing legal paternity.
The Michigan Child Support Formula is confusing and complex. Without careful attention to detail, it can result in a number that doesn’t make sense. A family law attorney can help you understand the numbers, decide if the more tailored approach of a support deviation is necessary, and ensure your needs are met.
Family troubles don’t always end when a family court order is entered. Changes in your life, your co-parent’s circumstances, or the child’s needs can bring you back to court. A family law attorney can help with modification of family court orders to incorporate those changes or enforcement of existing orders.
Sometimes a child’s family of origin does not provide them with the security or stability they need for success. A family lawyer can help relatives, stepparents, and others step in to form a family of choice and provide a strong foundation that gives children (or adults) the support they need to grow and thrive.
Wrongful death lawsuits involve the most serious forms of personal injury. When someone dies because of another person’s misconduct, we can help the surviving family members through the legal process of preserving and protecting their future interests. The attorneys we work with will represent the estate and seek compensation for the decedent’s dependents for their unexpected loss.
Standing water on the floor of a store, a poorly-lit stairwell, and faulty construction can all cause serious harm resulting in slip & fall personal injury lawsuits. Michigan law says property owners must take reasonable steps to keep their properties safe. They must warn visitors, customers, and guests about hidden or unexpected dangers. At the Peter J. Johnson Law Office, PLLC, we know what a winning slip & fall premises liability lawsuit looks like, and we will help you determine if you have a case, so you can be compensated for injuries caused by problems on someone else’s property.
Dog bites can cause serious injury, especially when the victim is young or otherwise vulnerable. Even “sweet dogs” who have never bitten anyone before can suddenly become a problem through no fault of the person bit. Michigan law says dog owners are strictly liable for injuries caused in dog bite cases. If you or your child have been bitten by a dog, our personal injury attorneys can help you financially recover from your injuries.
One of the most common types of personal injury lawsuits is the auto accident claim. If you have been hit by a car, you could be looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills and lost wages and possibly permanent disability. Big-name firms handle cases like these across the state, but they are often strangers to our local courts in Southwest Michigan. The personal injury attorneys who work with the Peter J. Johnson Law Office, PLLC, know what it takes to win here at home. We will work with you to get the no-fault benefits you are entitled to and the negligence damages you need to move forward with your life.
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