Self-Help Law

Databases - Use your library card number to access these resources.

Web Resources by Topic

Michigan Laws & Bills   ~   Frequently Requested MI Laws

Bankruptcy, Debtor/Creditor, Foreclosure

Bankruptcy

• Glossary of Bankruptcy Terms
• US Bankruptcy Court for Eastern District of Michigan
• US Courts: Bankruptcy Resources and Forms

Debtor/Creditor

• Michigan Attorney General
• Consumer Protection Resource Guide
~ pamphlet by Michigan Legislature

Foreclosure

• Federal Trade Commission: Foreclosure
• HUD Avoiding Home Foreclosure ~ Michigan Resources
• Michigan Attorney General Avoid Foreclosure Now!
• Michigan State Housing Authority

Corrections & Offenders

• MI Department of Corrections (MDOC)
• MI Public Sex Offender Inquiry
• OTIS - Offender Tracking Information System
~ MI Dept of Corrections ~ Only offenders who have been under the jurisdiction or supervision of the MDOC within the last three years will appear. If more than three years has elapsed, the information will not be available on OTIS.
• U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
• U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons

Elder Law and Social Security

• ABA Commission on Law and Aging
• Changes and Choices: Legal Rights of Senior Adults

Social Security & Medicare

• AARP Social Security Center
• Medicare
• Social Security Online

Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody

• Child Support Formula
• Divorce Packets from County Courts
• Michigan Divorce Information
• Michigan Parenting Time Guidelines
• Michigan's Friend of the Court: Support, Custody and Visitation for Michigan Children
• PPO - Personal Protection Order

Find an Attorney

• Martindale-Hubble Law Directory
• State Bar of Michigan Membership Directory
• State Bar Lawyer Referral Service ~ OR call 1-800-968-0738 between 9am and 5pm, Mon-Fri to speak with a referral specialist.

Find Your Government Representative

• State Senate
• State Representative
• U.S. Senate
• Debbie Stabenow
• Carl Levin
• U.S. Congress
• 4th District of MI ~ Rep. Dave Camp

Landlord and Tenant

• Practical Guide for Landlord and Tenants ~ This guide includes forms.
• Michigan Legal Aid Housing  ~ numerous housing topics

Representing Yourself

General Self-Help Sites

• Consumers' Guide to Legal Help - Michigan
• Findlaw
• Legal Information Institute ~ Cornell University Law School
• Michigan Online Legal Help Center ~ State Bar of Michigan
• Michigan Courts Self Help Center
• MeL Legal Gateway
• Nolo Press Free Legal Information & Articles

Miscellaneous Topics

• Driver License Restoration
• Emancipation of Minors
• Setting Aside a Conviction (Expungement)

Court Procedure

• Court Forms ~ State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) ~ Approved Court Forms
• Filing Appeals and Original Actions: an Appellant's Guide to Navigating the Appellate Process ~ How to file an appeal
• Going to Court ~ from the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) ~ explains which courts cover what areas
• Michigan Rules of Court ~ procedures that govern the Michigan courts
• Michigan State Appellant Defender Office and Criminal Defense Center (SADO) ~ Self Help ~ excellent source of assistance on many legal topics
• Laws, Court Rules & Summaries of Cases from SADO ~ links to recent case law
• Trial Court Guidelines and Standards ~ documents from the State Courts clarifying legal issues

Midland Courts

• 75th District Court
• 42nd Circuit Court
• Probate Court
• Friend of the Court
• Michigan Court of Appeals & Supreme Court

• National Veterans Legal Services Program
• Project Salute ~ Legal help with federal benefits from University of Detroit-Mercy School of Law faculty and students
• Veterans Administration Benefits & Services
• Veterans Benefits and Services ~ publication from the MI Legislature

• Estate Planning from CNN Money
• Michigan Probate Court Forms
• Planning for Your Peace of Mind ~ publication from MI Legislature ~ includes forms

Health Care Advance Directives & Health Care Power of Attorney

• Advance Directives: Planning for Medical Care in the Event of Loss of Decision-Making Ability
• Consumer's Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning from the American Bar Association
• Put it in Writing:  Advance Directives