Wills, Trusts and Powers of Attorney

While it is never easy to contemplate what would happen to your children or property after your pass on, it is something you must consider.  Refusing to contemplate these issues can result in the government disposing of your property and your relatives uncertain of your wishes and unprepared to raise your children.  You will be surprised at how little it will cost to deal with these matters and give you and your family peace of mind. 

Probate Proceedings

While the goal of estate planning is often to avoid probate, sometimes it is unavoidable.  The rules are complex, and you should not try to "go it alone."  You can make mistakes which can never be corrected. 

Divorce

Child Custody

Child Support

Parenting Time/Visitation

Often the most traumatic and unanticipated experience you can have,  divorce and child custody issues are an unfortunate reality.  The seriousness of these issues and the consequences, personal and financial, demand competent representation.  Call us before the process begins.  Having representation at the outset can minimize the trauma on you and your children, and manage the financial consequences involved.  We can also assist you with any issues that may arise after entry of a judgment, including child support, custody and parenting time issues.

Real Estate

Buying and Selling a Home

If you are buying or selling a home, legal representation is a must. A residential real estate sale is usually the largest single financial transaction we enter into in our lifetimes.  Even small businesses would not enter into such a transaction without legal help, and neither should you.  It is much less expensive to prevent a problem than to correct it.

Our office can normally represent you for a flat fee at a reasonable rate.  It can be the best investment you ever make.  Call us before you sign, and eliminate unnecessary and expensive headaches in the future.

Landlords

One bad tenant can cost you more than five goods ones.  Prompt action is essential to protect you investment.  Laws are written to allow for the relatively prompt removal of bad tenants. We can also help you draft a lease that protects both you and your tenants.  We have reasonable fee structures, normally based on a flat, rather than hourly rates. 

Personal Injury

Serious consequences, both personal and financial, can result from an unexpected injury.  It is important that you understand your rights and responsibilities after an accident so that you can protect yourself and your family.  Legal representation is a must, as the laws and insurance policies are constantly changing.  Never rely on what an insurance company tells you, because the company's main obligation is to its shareholders, not you.

Our office has years of experience to help you with accidental injury claims, including automobile accidents (and related insurance benefits), injuries on other's property, and on-the-job injuries.  Call us immediately after an accident to protect yourself and your family from serious financial consequences.

Criminal/Traffic Tickets

Even with relatively "minor" criminal charges, including traffic tickets, serious consequences can result, often effecting you for a lifetime.  Outside of the obvious trauma of potential incarceration, unexpected licensing sanctions, fines and inclusion in public databases are possible.  Never represent yourself or attempt to negotiate a "deal" on your own behalf. There is no substitute for experience, and having someone in "your corner" will insure that you are protected, understand your rights and the consequences of any decision you make, and get the best result possible.  Call us as soon as you are charged or ticketed. 

We can even help you with a previous conviction.  Under some circumstances, an old conviction can be "expunged."  Many criminal matters can be handled on a flat fee basis.

Collections   

Creditors

Customers who refuse to pay can put you out of business.  Worse, if "word gets around" that you do not aggressively pursue your debtors, a small problem can quickly become a large one.  Don't allow this to jeopardize your business.  Even small debts may be economically pursued.  Our office can work with you on a contingency fee basis, with the percentage decreasing as the debt amount increases.  Call us as soon as it becomes clear that you are not being paid.  Delay can allow your debtor or his/her assets to disappear.

General Civil Matters

Should you have concerns regarding any matter not discussed on this page, please call.  We have experience in a variety of areas, and reasonable fee structures to make legal representation work for you.

ATTORNEY PROFILE

Attorney Peter R. Tochman is a 1986 graduate of Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, with a Bachelor's Degree in Speech Communication. Mr. Tochman then earned admission to Wayne State University Law School, where he was awarded his law degree in 1989. 

Since graduation, Mr. Tochman has worked in private practice, counseling clients in a variety of matters, including real estate, probate and estate planning, contracts/collections, family law, personal injury, criminal, lemon law and general civil matters.  He has appeared before the Michigan Court of Appeals, most of the circuit and district courts in Southeastern Michigan, as well as the MESC, Bureau of Worker Disability Compensation and private arbitration panels.

Mr. Tochman is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.  He currently serves on the Lawyer Referral Service Committee of the State Bar of Michigan. He is also a member of the Board of Directors and Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association and the Delta Sigma Rho Tau Kappa Alpha National Forensics Honor Society.  Mr. Tochman also serves as a civil case evaluator for the Wayne County Circuit Court, Macomb County Circuit Court, the Oakland County Circuit and District Courts and the 36th District Court.  

Privacy Notice

Please be assured that in addition to those matters covered by attorney-client privilege, our office maintains the confidentiality of Social Security numbers, as required by Public Act 454 of 2004.  Such numbers are not disclosed except when required by law, and access is limited internally to such numbers.  When disposed of, documents which contain Social Security numbers are destroyed so as to prohibit unintended disclosure.  Internal penalties, up to and including termination, apply to any employee discovered to be in violation of this privacy policy. 

Be assured that our office never requests that a client disclose a Social Security number unless it is required in the course of representation.