Family Law

• Divorce
  For individuals and families we provide estate planning, probate administration, divorce and family law matters, general civil litigation and personal injury.  See here for a more detailed look at our practice areas.
• Child Support
  Paternity, custody, parenting time, support, and change of domicile matters are more focused than divorces, but there is still a lot to do.  For example, there are 12 custody factors to argue in a custody case, and the Michigan Child Support Formula is complicated.
• Child Custody and Visitation
  When a fight erupts regarding who gets to take the children, you want experience, integrity, and confidence on your side. These attributes will be on display when Verspoor Waalkes handles your child custody matter.
• Adoption
• Premarital Agreement
  A prenuptial agreement can help couples who intend to marry define the terms of their relationship and the rights to their separate property in advance. This is often used in second marriages. This type of agreement can define expectations, ease tensions for children from prior relationships, and assist with the planning for an existing family business. Crafting an appropriate prenuptial agreement in advance of your marriage can not only help to avoid many of the difficult issues that unfortunately could develop in a divorce proceeding, but may also simplify the marriage path by defining expectations in advance. Our experienced attorneys would welcome the opportunity to advise you in this delicate area.
• Guardianship
  A conservatorship is similar to a guardianship, but pertains specifically to a person’s financial affairs. The situations where a conservator is appointed are often similar to those where a guardian is appointed. However, the conservator does not make decisions for the general welfare of another person, but rather specifically for their financial well being. Often, a conservatorship is accompanied by a guardianship, and we will typically review both options with you.
• Spousal Support

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  People often wonder if a criminal defense attorney is really worth the cost. Here is an example of exactly why one would want an attorney on one’s side.
• DUI/DWI
  In a case with facts as bad as my client’s, you want a deal. A jury would not like my client, who had allegedly been drunk driving. In my client’s case, we wanted an Operating While Impaired.

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  From 1985 to 2000, John served on the Board of Directors of Old Kent Financial Corporation (now Fifth Third) and for several years served as chairman of its Audit Committee.  Since being admitted to the practice of law in 1960, John has practiced in the areas of corporate law, real estate and estate planning.  While he has retired from active practice (he is now in his 80’s!), he remains available for consultation on a limited basis, and is a valuable resource for the firm.
• Business Formation
  Ryan Huizenga grew up in Hudsonville, Michigan, where his family was involved in a large family business. West Michigan family and business values have shaped Ryan in his law practice today, where he now devotes the substantial majority of his practice to the counseling of small and family businesses on the legal issues that confront them, such as business disputes, corporate governance, estate planning, business succession, and business formation, real estate sales, and acquisitions.
• Business Disputes
  In today’s environment, a good business lawyer is a valuable asset. We provide the legal experience to guide you through opportunities, guard against risks, and resolve business disputes before they become legal battles. Below are several of the largest areas in which we practice, although certainly not the only areas. Please explore our offerings: we would love to be your “in house” business counsel!
• Business Transactions
  The real estate attorneys at Verspoor Waalkes offer creative solutions and aggressive representation for your real estate needs.  Real estate law is a diverse area of practice which ranges from simple residential purchase agreements to multimillion dollar commercial transactions.  Click below to find out more about each of our real estate sub-practice areas – and please contact us if you have any further questions.
• Limited Liability Companies
  In fact, veteran owned entities in Michigan are entitled to a waiver of many of the fees required for filing various documents for your corporations and limited liability companies. This includes your annual filing fee!

Employment Law

• Employment Contract
  Many times we tell people not to sign something without having their attorney review it.  For some contracts, this is essential.  We also draft contracts for our clients, such as real estate purchase agreements, business agreements, consulting agreements, employment agreements, or even probate estate settlement agreements. Verspoor Waalkes also has significant experience in contract law litigation, such as insurance disputes, business agreement disputes, lease disputes and trust disputes. Contact us for more information.

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  Always known as “Chip” (he says just to keep you confused), Chip has been with the firm since 1994 after practicing in California for a number of years. He brings years of experience with a broad transactional practice that includes corporate and business entity formation and advice, business contracts and transactions, business purchases and sales, succession planning, and commercial real estate matters. He serves as general business and corporate counsel to an expansive spectrum of clients in the West Michigan area.
• Real Estate Transactions
  Whether you need to buy, sell, or lease commercial property, our attorneys have the experience and expertise to facilitate a smooth transaction.  Our experience ranges from small, single-use buildings to multimillion-dollar office and commercial buildings. Commercial real estate purchases and sales involve a variety of complicated issues ranging from ensuring environmental and zoning compliance to securing appropriate financing and investment backing.  We will guide you through the process to ensure that your transaction is handled thoroughly, thoughtfully and professionally
• Easement
• Land Use and Zoning
• Landlord-Tenant Disputes
  Our attorneys offer a wide range of experience to service you.  In the business area, we provide business formation and advice, contracts, planning, purchase and sales of businesses, succession planning, and more. We also handle matters involving commercial and residential real estate transactions, construction liens, landlord and tenant matters, general civil litigation and collections.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  We know litigation can be expensive and time consuming. Sometimes, however, you are required to assert (or defend) your rights in court. We regularly assert and defend our clients’ rights in court, whether in a contract, real estate, personal injury, or other dispute. In or out of the courtroom, our experienced team of litigators provides the creative and aggressive representation required to reach a favorable, cost effective resolution, whether by settlement or verdict.
• Medical Malpractice
  Tim Waalkes joined the firm in 2004 after honing his litigation skills at two medical malpractice law firms in the Lansing, Michigan area. He now practices in the areas of estate planning, probate administration, trust administration, probate litigation, business law, and general civil litigation. And yes, he is Tom Waalkes’ son (and yes, we are a family business!).

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Our attorneys have a wide swath of experience in all aspects of estate planning: from the relatively simple to the extremely complicated. We are highly regarded by other experienced estate planning and probate attorneys as well as the Courts for our integrity, creativity, and competency.
• Wills
  Your Last Will and Testament is a very important document. However, it is only as good as the paper it is written on unless you have the advice that goes along with it. Your entire estate plan must be coordinated and “in sync” with all related documents, starting with your will. Your will may be a “pour over will” or a “simple will” but you, at the very least, need to understand it. This is where the attorneys at Verspoor Waalkes can help you. We craft your will and estate plan documents and are always available to answer your questions later when they come up.
• Trusts
  From the smallest estate to considerations of wealth transfer and preservation, trusts, business succession planning, charitable planning, estate or trust administration, or litigation, our attorneys provide experienced guidance and advice.
• Power of Attorney
  A power of attorney is a written document that allows the person designated on the document to make certain financial decisions for you, or to represent you in specified matters. Most commonly a power of attorney, called a “durable” power of attorney, is included as part of a comprehensive estate planning package. However, each particular situation should be analyzed to determine whether a durable power of attorney or some other form of power of attorney, or none at all, might be more appropriate.
• Probate

Finance Law

• Bankruptcy
• Foreclosure
  Example 2: In another estate, a home is in foreclosure, and there is a good chance a balance will remain after the foreclosure. To protect the family from such a balance, we notified the bank holding the mortgage that it had 30 days to file a claim in probate court to preserve its interest. The bank did not file a claim for a year! Therefore, we denied the debt. This saved the family a lot of uncertainty and potentially money.
• Tax Law
  Our attorneys are experienced in these and other areas of Michigan real property tax law. We have successfully handled multiple appeals in the Michigan Tax Tribunal for owners of both residential and commercial real property. We have also assisted many families in avoiding the “uncapping” of the real property taxes for a family cottage or vacation spot, resulting in substantial savings to our clients.