Areas of Practice
- Business Law, Labor & Employment
- Collections
- Criminal Defense
- Estate Planning &
Probate - Family Law, Divorce, & Juvenile Practice
- Litigation (Lawsuits) & Personal Injury
- Municipal Law & Public Utilities
- Real Estate & Mineral
Leases - Social Security Disability & Workers’ Compensation
Areas of Practice
Gillard, Bauer, Mazrum, Florip, Smigelski & Gulden prides itself on giving knowledgeable and experienced legal advice and representation in nearly every area of the law. In addition to the general areas listed below, the firm’s attorneys have successfully worked in many different specialized and nuanced legal matters.
- Business Law, Labor & Employment
- Collections
- Criminal Defense
- Estate Planning & Probate
- Family Law, Divorce, & Juvenile Practice
- Litigation (Lawsuits) & Personal Injury
- Municipal Law & Public Utilities
- Real Estate & Mineral Leases
- Social Security Disability & Workers’ Compensation
When you contact our office, your questions will be referred to the attorney best suited to provide you with assistance.
Click on a topic to the left or scroll down for a better understanding of what we do.
BUSINESS LAW, LABOR & EMPLOYMENT
Our attorneys offer a wide range of business services, including business organization, formation of corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies, contracts, buying and selling businesses, tax implications, and business wind-ups. The firm’s friendly contacts with many accountancy firms and experience in representing financial institutions ensure that the client receives both well rounded legal services and sound financial advice. Additionally, we strive to create long lasting relationships with our business clients, which results in lower legal fees for the business and more in-depth and focused service. For a listing of some of our business clients, refer to Clients.
The law firm is also experienced in labor law and employment law, and offers sound legal advice on hiring practices, retaining employees, providing employee benefits, and labor negotiations (generally for the employer).
COLLECTIONS
Much of the collections work done in Northern Michigan is conducted by downstate firms which specialize only in collections for mortgage companies, banks, and credit card companies. Our attorneys are happy to appear in court in the Alpena area for collections firms on a per-hearing basis, thus saving time and travel miles.
CRIMINAL DEFENSE
The law firm is ready to assist with any criminal proceedings. Our seasoned team includes several former prosecuting attorneys and provides knowledgeable counsel for all traffic infractions, misdemeanors, felonies, and driver’s license appeals. We provide experienced and aggressive defense for impaired driving, assault, domestic violence, and all other criminal matters. We work with both adults and juveniles.
ESTATE PLANNING & PROBATE
The law firm offers full estate planning in the form of wills and trusts and also takes into consideration how planning your estate will have an effect on Medicaid, insurance policies, retirement benefits, real estate, and your taxes. Many possibilities exist, and our attorneys will work to determine what extent of planning is most sensible and affordable for the client. An estate planning package is also rounded out with forms for powers of attorney and patient advocate designations (“living wills”).
We also offer a full probate court practice including decedent estates, guardianships, and conservatorships, and we can provide efficient and knowledgeable administration of estates and trusts when it comes time to begin the distribution of assets.
FAMILY LAW, DIVORCE, & JUVENILE PRACTICE
Family is often a client’s most important concern, and the law firm provides a steady hand through divorce and child custody proceedings. Our attorneys are highly knowledgeable and experienced in the realm of family matters; issues such as division of property, child custody, parenting time, spousal support, tax implications, and business assets will not be overlooked as we seek to reach the best possible result for our clients’ interests.
The law firm also offers a full practice in the family court in matters of juvenile delinquency, paternity, adoption, and guardianship.
LITIGATION (LAWSUITS) & PERSONAL INJURY
The law firm represents individuals and business in all types of disputes and lawsuits, from boundary disputes and breach of contract to no-fault auto claims and other personal injuries. We practice in all Michigan state courts, and in both jury and non-jury trials. The commencing of litigation often results in the negotiation of a settlement, and our attorneys put their long experience to good use when bargaining for the best settlements for our clients.
MUNICIPAL LAW & PUBLIC UTILITIES
We’re proud to act as counsel for several local governmental bodies at the county, township, and village levels, and our attorneys are experienced in working with road commissions and township boards of trustees to bring about road improvements, public utility projects, and proper enforcement of local ordinances. The law firm is also highly experienced in representing public utility companies. For a listing of our many municipal clients, refer to Clients.
REAL ESTATE & MINERAL LEASES
The firm provides a full real estate practice which includes assistance with deeds, passing land between family members, residential and commercial property transactions, easements, condominium and subdivision development, buying and selling hunting or recreational land, boundary line and access disputes, oil and gas leases, and environmental matters.
Buying or selling a home, business, or other real estate is a large step which invariably involves contracts, inspections, disclosures, deadlines, real estate brokers, accountants, banks, title insurance, deeds, public records, tax implications, and environmental considerations. Keeping it all straight can be a difficult task, and the law firm provides knowledgeable assistance and experienced representation through the entire process.
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY & WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
The law firm provides experienced representation in resolving your Social Security Disability and Workers’ Compensation claims. No attorney fee is charged unless the client’s claim is successful.
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