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Pulled Over, Served, or Arrested in Michigan? Get Answers Now — Free, 24/7.

Whether you blew over 0.17 on I-94, got a demand for possession taped to your Detroit door, or just heard 'Friend of the Court' for the first time, you need answers tonight — not a form and a callback. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, any hour, from Grand Rapids to the U.P. Our AI legal assistant, trained on Michigan and federal law, explains your situation in plain English — that's legal information, not legal advice — then books a licensed Michigan attorney if you need one.

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Free legal information. Not legal advice. Available 24/7 across Michigan.

Need legal help in Michigan right now?

If it's the middle of the night and you need legal help in Michigan right now: call 1-844-690-0555 — it's free and answered 24/7. If you've been arrested, say as little as possible to police and ask for a lawyer; arraignment and bond happen fast in the District Court, often within about 48 hours. If a deputy served you with a summons or a demand for possession, note the date — Michigan's summary eviction and civil deadlines run in days, not weeks. Our AI assistant gives you legal information (not legal advice) so you understand OWI, no-fault, custody, or eviction before you make a move. If you need representation, we'll book a paid consultation with a Michigan-licensed attorney.


Choose your area of law in Michigan


How it works

1
Call 1-844-690-0555 free from anywhere in Michigan — day or night, no form, no waiting on hold.
2
Tell our AI legal assistant what happened. It's trained on Michigan and federal law and gives you clear legal information — not legal advice — about your OWI, custody, eviction, or injury situation.
3
If you need a lawyer, we book you a paid consultation with an attorney licensed in Michigan who handles your type of case.

The law in Michigan

Michigan runs a three-tier court system, and which courthouse your problem lands in shapes everything that follows. The District Court (around 100 of them, including Detroit's 36th District Court — one of the busiest limited-jurisdiction courts in the country) is where most people first meet the law: misdemeanors, traffic, landlord-tenant evictions, small claims, and civil cases up to $25,000. The District Court also handles felony arraignments, sets bond, and holds preliminary examinations before a case is bound over. The Circuit Court (57 circuits) is the trial court of general jurisdiction — felonies, bigger civil claims, and, through its Family Division, divorce and custody. Probate Courts handle estates, guardianships, and conservatorships. Above them sit the Michigan Court of Appeals (three-judge panels) and the seven-justice Michigan Supreme Court.

A feature you won't find spelled out the same way anywhere else is the Friend of the Court. Each circuit has had a Friend of the Court office since 1919; it investigates and recommends on custody, parenting time, and child support, mediates disputes, and enforces orders through income withholding and license or passport sanctions. The FOC can't issue an order itself, but its recommendation often becomes the order if you don't object in time — which is why deadlines matter so much in Michigan family cases.

The law itself lives in the Michigan Compiled Laws. OWI sits in the Michigan Vehicle Code at MCL 257.625; the Michigan Penal Code is MCL Chapter 750; auto claims run through the No-Fault Insurance Act (MCL 500.3101 et seq.), reshaped by the 2019 reform (effective July 1, 2020) that let drivers pick PIP coverage levels and raised the mini-tort cap to $3,000. The Child Custody Act (MCL 722.21 et seq.) governs custody, and the Clean Slate laws now automatically expunge many eligible records. Procedure follows the Michigan Court Rules, and attorneys are bound by the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct. You don't need to memorize any of this — that's what the free call is for. Our AI assistant translates the statute and the court process into plain English so you walk into the right courthouse knowing what's coming.

Court Hierarchy

  • Michigan Supreme Court (7 justices, court of last resort)
  • Michigan Court of Appeals (intermediate, 3-judge panels)
  • Circuit Court — general jurisdiction & Family Division (57 circuits)
  • District Court — misdemeanors, traffic, eviction, small claims (~100)
  • Probate Court — estates, guardianships, conservatorships

Key Legislation

  • Michigan Vehicle Code — OWI at MCL 257.625
  • Michigan Penal Code (MCL Chapter 750)
  • No-Fault Insurance Act (MCL 500.3101 et seq.)
  • Michigan Child Custody Act (MCL 722.21 et seq.)
  • Clean Slate expungement laws (MCL 780.621 et seq.)

Key Bodies & Courthouses

  • Friend of the Court (one per circuit, custody & support)
  • 36th District Court, Detroit
  • Third Circuit Court (Wayne County), Detroit
  • Oakland County Circuit Court (6th Circuit), Pontiac
  • Kent County Circuit Court (17th Circuit), Grand Rapids
  • State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service

The Two Words Every Michigan Driver Should Know: Super Drunk

In Michigan it's OWI, not DUI — and the charge that catches people off guard is 'Super Drunk,' the High-BAC enhancement that kicks in at 0.17 or higher even on a first offense. It carries up to 180 days in jail, a 45-day hard license suspension followed by up to 320 days restricted with mandatory ignition interlock, and steeper fines than a standard OWI. A third OWI is a felony. If you've been arrested after a stop on I-696, M-59, or anywhere else, what you say and do in the first hours before your District Court arraignment matters. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, any hour, and get the OWI process explained in plain English before you decide anything.


Free & low-cost legal help in Michigan

If money is tight, Michigan has a real safety net — and calling us first costs nothing. Our 24/7 line gives you free legal information any hour, but if you qualify for free representation or low-cost help, here's where to turn. The statewide starting point is Michigan Legal Help, the court-funded self-help portal with do-it-yourself forms and a Guide to Legal Help that matches you to aid by county and problem type. Civil legal-aid programs cover most of the state by region, and the State Bar runs an official referral service. These are independent organizations — separate from Legal Hotline.

Statewide court-funded self-help portal: free legal information, DIY court forms, and a Guide to Legal Help that matches you to legal aid, lawyer referral, and self-help resources by county and problem type.
The official statewide referral line at 1-800-968-0738 (Mon–Fri, roughly 8:30am–4:45pm). A $25 administrative fee gets you matched with a panel attorney for up to a 25-minute consultation; the fee is waived for tenants, Social Security and workers' comp claimants, and personal injury plaintiffs.
Free civil legal services for low-income people, seniors 60+, and domestic/sexual-violence survivors across Southeast Michigan (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair and beyond). Counsel & Advocacy Law Line (CALL) intake: 1-888-783-8190.
Free civil legal aid for low-income residents across central and southern Michigan, including Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti, Lansing, Jackson, Battle Creek, and Monroe — housing, public benefits, family, and consumer law.
Free civil legal help for low-income residents of West and Southwest Michigan, with offices in Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Holland, Kalamazoo, and St. Joseph. Apply at 616-774-0672.
The network's directory reaches programs serving specific populations and rural or northern counties not covered by the metro programs — useful in the U.P. and northern Lower Peninsula, where lawyers can be scarce.

Legal Hotline covers all of Michigan

Wherever you are in Michigan, the line is free and answered 24/7 — including:

DetroitGrand RapidsWarrenSterling HeightsAnn ArborLansingFlintDearbornKalamazooTroy

Frequently asked questions — Michigan

Is the call really free, and what's the catch?

Yes — calling 1-844-690-0555 is genuinely free, 24 hours a day, anywhere in Michigan. You speak with our AI legal assistant, trained on Michigan and federal law, and it gives you legal information in plain English — not legal advice. There's no charge for that. The only paid part is optional: if you decide you need representation, we can book you a consultation with a Michigan-licensed attorney. You're never charged just for calling and getting your questions answered, whether it's 2am in Flint or a Sunday in Marquette. So call first and find out where you stand.

I got a 'Super Drunk' OWI in Michigan — how bad is it?

The High-BAC or 'Super Drunk' enhancement applies when your BAC is 0.17 or higher, even on a first offense. It carries up to 180 days in jail, a 45-day hard license suspension followed by up to 320 days of restricted driving with mandatory ignition interlock, and higher fines than a standard first-offense OWI under MCL 257.625. A third OWI becomes a felony. Your arraignment in the District Court happens fast, so the early hours matter. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to understand the process, then book a Michigan OWI attorney if you want one.

What is the Friend of the Court and why does everyone in my custody case keep mentioning it?

The Friend of the Court (FOC) is a Michigan institution — each circuit has had one since 1919. The FOC investigates and makes recommendations on custody, parenting time, and child support, offers mediation, and enforces orders through income withholding or license sanctions. It can't issue an order itself, but its recommendation often becomes the court's order if you don't object within the deadline. That's why timing is critical. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to understand how the FOC fits your case under the Child Custody Act before a recommendation hardens into an order.

I was just served with eviction papers in Michigan. How long do I have?

Less time than you'd think. Michigan eviction runs as a summary proceeding through the District Court and moves quickly. After a notice to quit or demand for possession, once a summons issues you may have only days to respond before a hearing. Subsidized-housing and just-cause protections can change the picture. Don't ignore the dates on your papers. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, any hour, and our AI assistant will explain the eviction timeline and your options in plain English — then connect you with a Michigan tenant attorney or legal aid if you need one.

Michigan changed its no-fault law — what does that mean for my car accident?

The 2019 reform (effective July 1, 2020) ended mandatory unlimited PIP and now lets drivers choose medical coverage levels — $50,000, $250,000, $500,000, or unlimited — and raised the mini-tort property-damage cap to $3,000. Whether you can sue for pain and suffering still turns on the 'serious impairment of body function' threshold. After a winter crash on I-75, I-94, or US-23, these reformed rules decide what you recover. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to understand your PIP level and the no-fault framework, then book a Michigan no-fault attorney if your claim is disputed.

Can I get my record cleared under Michigan's Clean Slate law?

Maybe — and many people already have. Michigan's Clean Slate laws began automatically expunging eligible misdemeanors and some felonies in April 2023. But not everything is automatic: an OWI conviction is not auto-expunged. A first-offense OWI can become eligible to set aside by application — generally five years after you complete your sentence and probation — but it takes a court petition, and eligibility depends on your record. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to find out whether your record qualifies automatically or needs a petition, then connect with a Michigan expungement attorney.

I was just arrested in Michigan — what should I do tonight?

Stay calm and say as little as possible. You have the right to remain silent and the right to a lawyer — use both. Don't try to talk your way out of it; arresting officers write everything down. In Michigan, your arraignment and bond decision usually happen in the District Court within about 48 hours, often by video. Don't discuss your case on a recorded jail phone line. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7, and our AI assistant will walk you through what arraignment, bond, and a preliminary exam mean — then help you book a Michigan criminal defense attorney.

Do you have lawyers who speak Arabic or Spanish in metro Detroit?

Metro Detroit and Dearborn are home to one of the largest Arabic-speaking communities in the country, and Michigan has a significant Spanish-speaking population too — both underserved by English-only legal help. Our free 24/7 line is built to help you understand your legal situation in plain language first, whatever your case. If you need representation, we work to book you a consultation with a Michigan-licensed attorney who fits your matter. Call 1-844-690-0555 to get started — there's no charge for the call or for getting your questions answered.

I live in the Upper Peninsula and there's no lawyer for miles. Can you help?

Yes — that's exactly where a 24/7 phone line earns its keep. Much of the U.P. and rural northern Michigan have few local firms, and the ones there are often only open business hours. Call 1-844-690-0555 any time, free, and our AI legal assistant gives you clear legal information about your Michigan situation regardless of where you live. If you need representation, we can connect you with a licensed Michigan attorney or point you toward the legal-aid network through Michigan Legal Help's county-based directory.

Is the AI assistant giving me legal advice?

No — and that distinction matters in Michigan, where the unauthorized practice of law is prohibited under MCL 600.916 and only a licensed attorney may give legal advice. Our AI assistant provides legal information: it explains how Michigan law, the courts, and your options generally work so you can make informed decisions. It does not form an attorney-client relationship and does not represent you. When you need advice tailored to your specific case, or someone to actually represent you, that's when we book you a consultation with a Michigan-licensed attorney who is solely responsible for the legal work. Call 1-844-690-0555 to start.


Michigan Attorneys: Join Our Referral Network

Are you a Michigan-licensed attorney handling OWI, family, no-fault, or criminal matters in Wayne, Oakland, Kent, or beyond? We send you ready-to-talk clients who've already been screened by our 24/7 line. Flat-fee referrals, structured to comply with the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct — no fee-splitting. Get in touch to join.

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Reviewed by the Legal Hotline Editorial Team.

General legal information, not legal advice. We research every page from primary sources — legislation, the courts, and government legal-aid bodies — and check it for accuracy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at admin@platfirm.ai.

Don't Wait Until Monday. Call Now.

Whether it's a Super Drunk charge after a stop on I-94, a Friend of the Court letter you don't understand, eviction papers with a deadline ticking, or a no-fault claim from a snowy crash on US-23 — you can get answers right now. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7, anywhere in Michigan. Plain-English legal information from an assistant trained on Michigan and federal law — that's information, not advice — and a licensed Michigan attorney when you need one.

Free legal information. Not legal advice.

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