Criminal Defense Attorneys in Livonia, MI

Livonia residents charged with drunk driving, drug, or assault offenses face Wayne County prosecutors, and a record can cost you a job. A Michigan-licensed criminal defense attorney serving Livonia will review your case for free.

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How we match your Livonia criminal defense case

When you submit a Livonia criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Michigan law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Michigan who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

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Criminal Defense cases in Livonia

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Livonia is patrolled by its own police department, and traffic enforcement along I-96, I-275, Eight Mile, and busy retail corridors produces a steady volume of OWI, suspended-license, and drug-possession arrests, alongside retail fraud cases from the city's shopping centers. Misdemeanors and the early stages of felony cases are handled in Livonia's district court, and felonies proceed to Wayne County Circuit Court. Charge level, prior record, and how evidence was gathered at the stop drive the outcome. DearLegal matches you with a Michigan-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Livonia, with a free review.

Livonia misdemeanors, arraignments, and preliminary examinations are handled in the city's district court; felonies move to Wayne County Circuit Court.
Freeway and arterial traffic enforcement makes OWI and license-related charges common in Livonia.
Retail corridors along Plymouth Road and Seven Mile generate a steady number of retail fraud and related property cases.

Michigan criminal defense rules at a glance

Livonia cases run under Michigan law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the Michigan page.

Read the full Michigan criminal defense guide →

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, terrorism; 10 years for most non-violent felonies; 6 years for assault felonies (M.C.L. § 767.24)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 6 years
6 years for most misdemeanors (M.C.L. § 767.24)
Sentencing Structure: 23 year
Indeterminate sentencing under M.C.L. § 769.8; Sentencing Guidelines advisory after People v. Lockridge (2015); Habitual Offender enhancement (M.C.L. § 769.10-12); HYTA (§ 762.11) for 17-23 year olds
Expungement / Record Sealing: 7 years
Clean Slate Acts (2020/2021 PA, M.C.L. § 780.621-624) — automatic expungement of many misdemeanors after 7 years and certain felonies after 10 years (eff. April 2023); broad petition-based expungement
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail
Bail under M.C.R. 6.106; constitutional right to bail with exceptions for capital and certain violent offenses (Mich. Const. Art. I, § 15); pretrial risk assessment encouraged
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Exhibit D

How much do Livonia criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Michigan · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Criminal Defense matters in Michigan are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Criminal defense attorneys in Michigan work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under M.R.P.C. 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases use hourly billing. The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) and county public defenders represent indigent defendants — recent state-level reforms have improved indigent defense statewide.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

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Exhibit F

Livonia criminal defense questions, answered

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Misdemeanor cases and the first stages of a felony, including arraignment and preliminary examination, are handled in the district court serving Livonia. If a felony is bound over, it moves to Wayne County Circuit Court in Detroit. An attorney will confirm your court and appearance dates from the charging paperwork.

You will typically face both a criminal case and separate driver's license consequences through the state, and those tracks move on different timelines. How the stop was conducted and how any breath or blood testing was performed can be central. An attorney can review the reports and advise on both the charge and your license.

You are not required to answer questions, and statements made early are frequently used against defendants later. It is generally safer to say you want a lawyer and then stop talking. An attorney can handle contact with officers and prosecutors and identify deadlines that apply to your case, which in Michigan vary by charge.

No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. Michigan State Police, Detroit PD, county sheriffs, and city police use trained interrogation. Anything you say is admissible. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and Mich. Const. Art. I, § 17 right against self-incrimination.

Yes. Michigan misdemeanors carry up to 93 days, 1 year, or 2 years depending on the offense, plus fines under M.C.L. § 769.5. HYTA (M.C.L. § 762.11) can result in no conviction being entered for eligible defendants 17-23. Delayed Sentence under M.C.L. § 771.1 is similar for non-HYTA defendants. DV and OWI convictions trigger major collateral consequences.