Attorney Advertising.
I believe in the right to protect yourself and your family. I also know that the moment after you use force to defend yourself can be terrifying, because the same system that failed to protect you can suddenly turn around and treat you like the criminal. If that has happened to you, you need someone in your corner who takes your rights seriously.
By Nicholas Somberg, founding attorney at Somberg Law, PLLC in Bingham Farms, Michigan. Licensed by the State Bar of Michigan.
What Michigan self-defense law actually says
Under Michigan’s Self-Defense Act, a person who is not engaged in committing a crime and is somewhere they have a legal right to be generally has no duty to retreat before using deadly force if they honestly and reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death, great bodily harm, or sexual assault. For non-deadly force, the standard is generally an honest and reasonable belief that force is necessary to defend against another person’s imminent unlawful use of force. That is the general rule, but self-defense is fact-specific, and whether it applies depends on exactly what happened.
Carrying a firearm in Michigan
Michigan allows lawful gun ownership and, with a concealed pistol license, concealed carry, but there are rules about where and how you can carry, and about who is prohibited from possessing a firearm at all. Things like where the gun was, how it was carried, and your record can turn a lawful situation into a charge, so the details matter.
Why you should not just explain yourself to the police
After a self-defense incident it is natural to want to explain that you were the victim. But anything you say can be used against you, and these cases are often won or lost on the facts and the law, not on a roadside explanation. Ask for a lawyer and let someone who knows this area speak for you.
If you defended yourself and now face charges
You should not have to choose between your safety and your freedom. If you used force to protect yourself or your family and now find yourself charged, I will look hard at whether the law was on your side.
Do not face it alone. Call me at (248) 270-5979 or start a free case review, and let’s talk about your situation.
Attorney Advertising. This post is general information about Michigan law and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship, and no result is ever guaranteed. Every case is different, so talk to a licensed attorney about your situation.
