Michael F. Kelly Attorney At Law
Senior Member of the law firm of Kelly, Henkel, David & Missad, P.C. serving West Michigan and the Greater Grand Rapids Metropolitan Area for Four Decades
E-mail: mkelly@khdmpc.com · Phone #: 616-774-0125
TIRELESS - RELENTLESS - DEDICATED - CREATIVE - PASSIONATE
Practicing these principals, Michael F. Kelly has established himself as a go-to attorney for serious personal injury; criminal defense, with special emphasis on drunk driving; driver’s license restoration; wills; estate planning; and estate administration. Michael F. Kelly has earned the respect of his adversaries and the trust of his clients. His mission is to treat every client as unique. He approaches each matter by gaining a complete and thorough appreciation of the circumstances in which the client’s needs arise. He calls upon over 40 years of legal experience and, through creativity, sound legal reasoning, technical proficiency and old fashioned hard work, strives to achieve the results needed by the client. He is careful never to lose sight of how this specific dispute and its resolution will impact the client in the short and long term.
Membership and Associations
Michael F. Kelly is a member of the American Bar Association, Michigan Bar Association, Grand Rapids Bar Association - Litigation Section, Kent County Criminal Defense Bar, Michigan Association for Justice (formerly Michigan Trial Lawyers Association), and American Association for Justice (formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America) - Traumatic Brain Injury Section. He has been accepted as a Diplomat of the National College of Advocacy. He is listed in Martindale-Hubbell with an “AV” rating and is a member of the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. The Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register is limited to only the most distinguished lawyers who have achieved the “AV” rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. The “A” signifies the highest level of legal ability, while the “V” denotes “very high” adherence to the professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability and diligence.
Not Just an Attorney
In addition to managing a busy docket and administering a thriving firm, Michael F. Kelly is a member of the faculty of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE). He has also lectured and written on the Michigan Drunk Driving Law and the Michigan No Fault Law, and the use of video applications and trial practice techniques in the criminal and personal injury practice. He is President of the American Inns of Court - Gerald R. Ford Chapter, and former member of the Michigan State Bar Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee and the Grand Rapids Bar Lawyer Referral Committee.
Areas of Practice
- Serious Personal Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Criminal Law - Drunk Driving Defense
- Driver’s License Restoration
- Probate and Estate Administration
- Estate Planning and Wills
- Securities Law
- Medical and Legal Malpractice
- Worker’s Compensation
West Michigan/Grand Rapids Personal Injury Attorney
If you, or someone in your family, has been injured or suffered a wrongful death as a result of another’s negligence, you have the right to seek damages from the person or persons who caused the harm. Insurance companies are staffed with experienced attorneys who attempt to minimize the recovery to injured parties. To maximize your settlement, you need to have an attorney who is experienced with dealing with insurance company attorneys. Michael F. Kelly can provide you with personalized and aggressive representation when it comes to trial or settlement negotiations. The particular areas of specialty in the personal injury field are as follows:
- Car, Auto, Truck, Boat and Motorcycle Accidents
- Catastrophic Injuries
- Brain Damage
- Nerve & Spine Damage
- Paralysis
- Sight & Hearing Loss
- Defective Products
- Slip & Fall
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life (Emotional Distress or Injury)
- Wrongful Death
- Medical Malpractice
West Michigan/Grand Rapids Criminal Law/Drunk Driving Attorney
If you, or someone in your family, has been charged with drunk driving or OWI in Michigan, the penalties can be very stiff. Your license will be restricted for up to six months. With subsequent arrests, you could lose your license permanently. You could also face jail time, heavy fines, and community service.
Michael F. Kelly has been successfully representing clients who need an experienced and knowledgeable OWI (Drunk Driving) lawyer for four decades. In a large number of these cases the driver is a responsible citizen that has made a serious mistake. What they need is a competent, diligent, and aggressive attorney. Michael F. Kelly can offer this while providing personalized and aggressive representation when it comes to trial or in settlement negotiations. If retained, he will:
- Appear at initial hearing for Arraignment.
- Appear at Pre-Trial Conference.
- File motions when appropriate:
- Challenging the stop.
- Challenging the testing procedure and machines.
- To dismss the charge.
- Negotiate a satisfactory settlement or appear at Trial with you.
His services also include representing those charged with a Felony and/or Misdemeanor for Drug Possession, Larceny and White Collar crime.
West Michigan/Grand Rapids License Restoration Attorney
Driver’s licenses are issued by the Michigan Secretary of State. The same agency can suspend your license if you have accumulated too many points, incurred a drunk driving offense or for health reasons.
If you have two or more alcohol related convictions or are involved in a fatality, your license can be revoked. You may seek relief to have your license restored by appealing the the Driver License Appeal Division (DLAD).
Your petition will be heard by a hearing officer, at which time you can testify and bring witnesses who will testify on your behalf. If you are not satisfied with the decision of the hearing officer, you may appeal to the Circuit Court. To be successful in your appearance before the DLAD and in Circuit Court, you will need an attorney who is experienced in handling driver license appeals. Michael F. Kelly has been providing aggressive representation for those seeking restoration of their driving privileges for over 40 years.
West Michigan/Grand Rapids Probate and Estate Administration Attorney
The death of a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences that a person can go through. The last thing that a grieving family member wants to deal with during this tragic time is the probating of their estate. The probate process can be complicated, frustrating, and time consuming for the family. If you have recently lost a loved one, you need an experienced lawyer to guide you through the probate process. Michael F. Kelly has been compassionately guiding grieving family members through the probate process for over four decades. He is experienced in probating both testate estates (estates in which the deceased has left a will) and intestate estates (estates in which the deceased did not have a will). You do not need to carry the burden of probate alone.
West Michigan/Grand Rapids Estate Planning Attorney
Do not let the demands of the present prevent you from planning for the future. It is best to plan for the future while you are healthy and in a position to manage your own affairs. Michael F. Kelly provides estate planning and probate services for individuals and families constructing a flexible estate plan to address your individual needs through the utilization of:
- Last Will and Testament.
- Living Will.
- Health Care Power of Attorney.
- Durable Power of Attorney.
- Marital, Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Birth Information
-
1939, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Detroit, Michigan, 1965 J.D.
-
Aquinas College, 1962 B.S.B.A.
Bar Admissions
- All Michigan Courts, 1966
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Michigan, 1966
- U.S. District Court - Western District of Michigan, 1966
- “How to Protect Your Rights Under the New Michigan Drunk Driving Laws”
- “How to Protect Your Rights Under the
Michigan No Fault Laws”
Classes/Seminars Taught
- Lecturer,
Michigan Trial Lawyers Association Seminar - Lecturer,
Grand Rapids Bar Association - Lecturer, Business Law,
Davenport College - Drunk Driving Defense Law Update: Even More Changes, ICLE, 1995
Michigan Drunk Driving Defense Update, ICLE, 1996 - Fundamentals of Drunk Driving Cases, ICLE, 2003
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Grand Rapids Bar Association, Former Member, Lawyer Referral Committee
- State Bar of Michigan, Negligence Section, Member
- State Bar of Michigan, Former Member, Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee
- American Bar Association, Member
- Kent County Criminal Defense Bar Association, Member
- The American Association for Justice (formerly The Association of Trial Lawyers of America), Member
- Traumatic Brain Injury Section, Member
- Diplomat of the National College of Advocacy
- Michigan Association for Justice (formerly Michigan Trial Lawyers Association), Member
- President, American Inns of Court - Gerald R. Ford Chapter
Past Employment Positions
- City of Grand Rapids, Ordinance Enforcement Division, Assistant City Attorney