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1. How do I know if I need a lawyer and how do I pick one?

Review the Practical Guide to Hiring a Lawyer (PDF) for advice on hiring a lawyer.

2. Where can I find standard court forms such as a criminal discovery order or a civil or criminal adjournment form?

Court forms are available through the 16th District Court.

3. Where is the 16th District Court?

The 16th District Court is located at:
32765 Five Mile Road
Livonia, MI 48154
Phone: 734-466-2500

Hours:
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The court is closed Saturday, Sunday and holidays.

4. How do I report a crime?

To report a crime, please contact the City of Livonia Police Department by calling 734-466-2470, if it is an emergency please dial 911.

5. Where is the Law Department?

The Law Department is located at:
Livonia City Hall
4th Floor
33000 Civic Center Drive
Livonia, MI 48154

6. What is the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)?

Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act provides that a person, upon making a written request, has the right to inspect, copy, or receive copies of a public record of a public body.

7. How do I obtain a Personal Protection Order (PPO)?

A personal protection action involves seeking an order from a circuit court to protect you from:

• Assault
• Beating
• Harassment
• Molesting
• Stalking by another person
• Wounding

The order can also prohibit a person from entering your premises and from removing minor children, unless the removal is part of court-ordered parenting time. The person filing the petition for personal protection is called the petitioner. The person to be restrained by the personal protection order is called the respondent. For detailed information on steps to take and necessary paperwork, please visit the Michigan Courts website.

8. How do I submit a Freedom of Information Act request?

How to Obtain Records

To obtain information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), please fill out the Request Form (PDF) and submit it to the Law Department. The FOIA request can be sent to the Law Department in one of the following ways:  

- Mail to: City of Livonia Law Department, 33000 Civic Center Drive, Livonia, MI 48154
- Fax to: (734) 466-2072
- Email to: law@livonia.gov

If you are seeking police records, please submit the FOIA request directly to the Livonia Police Department.

After receiving the request, the appropriate public body has 5 business days to respond to the request. Please note that the public body may invoke a 10 business day extension.

While information requested is generally available, there is a monetary cost associated with locating, copying, processing, and/or mailing the requested material. Note, some information is not subject to disclosure. In the event that information requested is not provided to you, an explanation will be given which sets forth the reasons for the denial.

Fees

Generally, the cost for copying is $0.10 per page. For requests totaling $50 or above, we will contact you prior to processing to receive authorization. Additionally, a deposit of 50% is required for requests in excess of $50.

9. What does the Law Department do?

The Law Department:

• Acquires private property for public use
• Advises the Mayor, City Council, and all City departments
• Drafts City Council resolutions, contracts, and ordinances
• Prosecutes misdemeanors and civil infractions in 16th District Court
• Represents the City in civil lawsuits; provides legal opinions
• Responds to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests

10. Where can I find a copy of the City Ordinances?

The City Ordinances can be found on the Municiode Library website.

11. Who do I call to report a barking dog?

To report a barking dog, please call the following:

• Animal Control Phone: 734-466-2655
  Hours:
  Monday through Friday
  8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Livonia Police Department Phone: 734-466-2470
  Please call the Livonia Police Department during the Animal Control's non-working hours

12. How do I report an ordinance violation?

Depending on the ordinance violation, there are different types of reporting. If you are not sure who to contact, please call the City of Livonia at 734-466-2201.

Some common examples and the appropriate offices to contact are as follows:

• Barking Dog
  • Animal Control Phone: 734-466-2655
    Hours:
    Monday through Friday
    8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Livonia Police Department Phone: 734-466-2470
    Please call the Livonia Police Department during the Animal Control's non-working hours
• Building Code Violations (dilapidated houses, etc.)
  • Please call Inspection at 734-466-2580
• Noise Violations
  • Please contact the city of Livonia Police Department by calling 734-466-2200.

13. How do I challenge a traffic ticket?

Please review the following regarding challenging a traffic ticket:

• Plead responsible
  • This is an admission of responsibility, and waives your right to be heard in front of the Court. As long as you pay the fine indicated on your ticket, the case will be closed. For information about paying fines, please visit the 16th District Court's page for more information.
• Plead not responsible
  • If you would like to challenge your traffic ticket, please contact the 16th District Court. The court will then notify you of a hearing date. If you would like a formal hearing, you must indicate so when you contact the court, otherwise you will be scheduled for an informal hearing.
  • Informal hearings are heard in front of a Magistrate. Both you and the citing officer may call witnesses and present testimony; however, you may not have legal representation. The Magistrate will issue a decision.  If you do not agree with the Magistrate’s decision, you can appeal and ask for a formal hearing.
  • In a formal hearing, your case is heard in front of a District Court Judge. The citing officer will be represented by the City of Livonia Law Department, and you can either represent yourself, or hire an attorney.