Practice Areas: Family Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Estate Planning & Probate; view more
Licensed in Michigan since: 1978
Education: University of Notre Dame Law School
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2022 - 2024 Call today:
616-384-1331
Velzen Law Office, PLLC
230 Fulton Street EGrand Rapids, MI 49503 Visit website
Details
Randall L. Velzen is the founder of Velzen Law PLLC, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He concentrates his practice on family law and estate planning matters, and is well-known for handling collaborative divorce cases. He extends his services to the people of Kent and Ottawa counties in Michigan.
Mr. Velzen has been a sole practitioner for many years while intermittently working for other firms. Since founding the Velzen Law PLLC in 2010, he has been making decisions and prioritizing matters to serve his clients better. He uses collaboration and mediation to resolve his clients’ legal issues.
Admitted to practice law in Michigan, Mr. Velzen provides personal attention and carefully thought-out practical methods for each of his client’s unique case. He graduated with honors from Calvin University with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and received his Juris Doctor from the Notre Dame Law School in 1978.
Completing collaborative law training through the Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan (CPIM), Mr. Velzen co-founded the Collaborative Divorce Professionals of West Michigan. Additionally, he has served as the president of CPIM and the Grand Rapids Bar Association.
A member of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, Mr. Velzen is the co-chair of its Legislation Committees and the past co-chair of its Alternative Dispute Resolution Section. He has held several positions of responsibility in various reputed legal associations and organizations.
Mr. Velzen was a recipient of the President’s Award by the Grand Rapids Bar Association and the Most Influential Attorney Award by the Michigan Lawyers Weekly. He was also awarded the Michael S. Barnes Award by the Legal Aid of Western Michigan for his pro bono work. He was listed in the Grand Rapids Business Journal’s Top Lawyers, the Best Lawyers in America and the Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Hall of Fame. He has received an AV Preeminent* peer-review rating through Martindale-Hubbell and a 10/10 rating on Avvo.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Family Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Estate Planning & Probate, Legal Aid/Pro BonoFocus areas
Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Divorce, Estate Planning, Marital Property, Mediation, Mediation & Collaborative Law, Power of Attorney, Prenuptial Agreements, Probate & Estate Administration, Trusts, Wills
- 40% Family Law
- 30% Alternative Dispute Resolution
- 20% Estate Planning & Probate
- 10% Legal Aid/Pro Bono
First Admitted: 1978, Michigan
Professional Webpage: https://www.velzenlaw.com/attorney/velzen-randall-l/
- Admitted to the Michigan State Bar, 1978
- Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan, Board of Directors Chair.
- Michigan Supreme Court, Conciliation Workgroup on Friend of the Courts’ conciliation practice (current)
- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, Standards Committee
- Collaborative Divorce Professionals of West Michigan, Founder and Member (current)
- State Bar of Michigan, Member, Family Law Section, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section Chair, Parent Coordination & Legislation Committees (current)
- Kent County Courts, ADR Committee
- Grand Rapids Bar Association, Mentoring Program
- Grand Rapids Bar Association, Family Law Section, Chair (past)
- Grand Rapids Bar Association, Pro Bono Committee (past)
- Grand Rapids Bar Association, Membership Committee (past)
- Grand Rapids Bar Association, Library Committee (past)
- Grand Rapids Bar Association, Executive Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (past)
- Grand Rapids Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, Chair (past)
- Trained in Collaborative Law by the Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan, 2006
- In February 2014, Randy participated as a judge for the Great Lakes Mediation Tournament., 2014
- Board of Directors, Camp Roger (Past President). Camp Roger is a summer camp for kids.
- Board of Directors for the Easter Seals of Michigan
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America
- Recipient, Most Influential Attorney by Michigan Lawyers Weekly, 2014
- AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
- Exemplary Contributions Toward the Provision of Free Legal Assistance to the Poor and Elderly in Western Michigan., Michael S. Barnes Award, Legal Aid of Western Michigan, 2005
- The President's Award recognizes a GRBA member's special contributions in service and/or support to the GRBA Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, and Executive Director. , President's Award, Grand Rapids Bar Association, 2011
- Volunteer of the Year, Easter Seals of Michigan, 1987
- B.A. with honors - Calvin College, 1975
- I spoke on mediation in family law cases., Speaker at the Grand Rapids Bar Assortation's mid winter conference, 2017
- I spoke a current Family law issues, Speaker at the Family Law Section's Mid-Summer Conference, 2012
- I spoke on my observations of the practice of law over the last 40+ years., Speaker at Family Law Section's mid summer conference, 2021
- Most influential attorney by Michigan's Lawyer's Weekly. , 2014
- Hall of Fame by Michigan Lawyers Weekly, 2019
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2022 - 2024
