Attorney
Richard S. Victor |
Recognized in "The Best Lawyers in America"
Victor named 2006
Fellow of the Year by AAML
Named as a Michigan Super Lawyer by
"Super Lawyers Magazine"
Named one of the "Top
Ten Lawyers of the Year" in the State of Michigan for 1999 by
Michigan Lawyers
Weekly.
Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the State Bar of
Michigan Family Law Section (1999).
Recipient of the
Distinguished Alumni Award from the National Alumni Association of
Michigan State University-Detroit College of Law for the year 2000.
Recipient "Meritorious Service to
the Children of America Award" - National
Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 1993;
Recipient "Distinguished Service
Award" Oakland County Bar Association, 1994
Named to Oakland County
Domestic Relations Task Force - Author of Attorney Code of Conduct
(2001)
President, Michigan Chapter American Academy
of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2003-2004
Recipient of the 2004 "Champion Of Justice"
Award, from the State Bar Of Michigan
Recipient of the 2005 "Respect For Law"
Award, from the Bloomfield Hills Optimist Club
National Chairperson for Continuing
Legal Education, American Academy of
Matrimonial
Lawyers, 2004 - 2007
National Board Of Governors, American
Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2004-2007
Named to "Who’s Who In American Law"
every year since 1987.
Named to "Who’s Who In The World"
every year since 1989
Founder and Executive Director, National Non
profit Grandparents Rights Organization
Co-Founder State and National SMILE Parent
Education Program
Author and General Editor of Michigan
Family Law and Practice, West Publications three volume treatise on
family law.
Published in The Law Review of Michigan
State University Detroit College of Law, 2000
Guest Lecturer and Commentator for Emory Law
Review and Emory Law School's Thrower Symposium on "Family Law in the
21st Century", 2005
Presentation at Michigan
State University-
Detroit College of Law
"New Frontiers in Family Law" |
EDUCATIONAL
BACKGROUND:
B.S. Wayne State University 1971
J.D. Detroit College of Law 1975
TEACHING/LECTURE POSITIONS:
Faculty Member 1975 through 1992 Oakland University, Rochester,
MI, Author and Instructor in Family Law;
Guest
Lecturer on Child Custody at the Detroit College of Law, Wayne State
University Law School, and University of Detroit Law School
Guest
Lecturer for Institute for Continuing Legal Education; Family Law
Section State Bar of Michigan; American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers;
and American Bar Association.
Keynote speaker
for State Bar Convention-Family Law Section for the Arizona Bar
Association-1994; Delaware Bar Association-Family Law Section-2002
AWARDS
AAML News In Brief (notification of Champion of Justice Award)
Alumnus Richard Victor Receives MSU-DCL Distinguished Alumni Award
Lawyer of the Year
State Bar Honors
2004 Award Recipient
State Bar Honors 2004 Award Recipient (in PDF format, Adobe Reader
required)
NATIONAL
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Named to "The Best Lawyers in
America"
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Named a Michigan Super Lawyer by
"Super Lawyers Magazine"
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Founder/Executive Director National Non-Profit
Grandparents Rights Organization -
(Nation's largest grandparent support group per Newsweek Magazine
12/2/91);
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Elected to the National Board of
Governors, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers;
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National Chairperson for Continuing
Legal Education, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2004-2007;
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Recipient "Meritorious Service to the
Children of America Award" - National Council of Juvenile and
Family Court Judges, 1993;
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Presenter at Second World Congress for the Rights
of Children, Co-Sponsored by the United
Nations, American Bar Association, and International Academy of
Matrimonial Lawyers, June, 1997, San Francisco, California;
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Guest Presenter American Academy of
Matrimonial Lawyers National Convention, Chicago, IL, 1993;
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National Board Member Stepfamily
Association of America (1979-90);
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National Founder of "Stepparents Day";
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Testified before the United States House
of Representatives Select Committee on Aging (12/16/82) and the
United States Senate Subcommittee on Separation of Powers (11/15/83)
regarding Uniform and Reciprocal Grandparents Rights legislation;
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Speaker/Panel participant to the
American Bar Association Annual Meeting on "Third Party Rights in
America" (1988 and 1991);
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Technical Adviser for Aaron Spelling
Productions/ABC movies: "Whose Mother Am I?";
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Chairperson of National Legal Panel for
4th Annual Conference of Stepfamily Association of America, Inc. -
Washington, D.C.;
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Featured Speaker/Presenter Association
of Family and Conciliatory Courts, Tucson, Arizona, 1994
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Member of National Advisory Council of
Hear My Voice Children's Rights Group.
STATE/COUNTY
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Certified Fellow American
Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers - Elected
to State Chapter Board of Managers and Board of Examiners;
Secretary, 1999-2000; Treasurer,2000-2001; Vice-President,2001-
2002; President-Elect, 2002-2003; President, 2003-2004; CLE
Co-Chair, Michigan Chapter, 1995- present;
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Sustaining member of the Oakland County
Bar Association; Chair of Lawyers Admission Committee (1981);
Chair of Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee (1982); Chair of
Old-timer Night Holiday Dinner (1984 and 1985); Chair Speakers
Bureau (1985). Participant in OCBA Bench/Bar Conference, 2001-2005.
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Member of Oakland County “COPE”
(Co-Parenting Effectively), Coordinating Committee, Trainer/COPE
Educator;
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CoFounder/Chairperson and Panel
Participant in the State and Oakland County "SMILE" (Start Making It
Liveable For Everyone) Parent Education Program;
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Recipient "Distinguished Service Award" Oakland
County Bar Association, 1994;
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Recipient "Child Advocate Award" and Award of
Appreciation from Child Abuse and Neglect Council of Oakland County
(1994 and 1995);
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Recipient of special honor by Joint
Legislative Resolution #454 - Michigan Legislature, 9/93;
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Recipient of 24 "Awards of
Appreciation" from the Family Law Section of the State Bar of
Michigan from 1986 through 2000;
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Family Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan:
Chairperson (1990-1991); Chairperson Elect
(1989-1990); Corresponding Secretary (1988-1989); Treasurer
(1987-1988); Chair of Continuing Legal Education (1986 through
1990);
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Lifetime Fellow of the Michigan State
Bar Foundation;
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Recipient of 1984 and 1989 Honor Roll -
Oakland Livingston Legal Aid Society;
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Member of the Case Review Committee for
the DeBoer Committee for Children's Rights - The University of
Michigan Law School/Child Advocacy Clinic 1994 through present;
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Recipient of "Award of Appreciation"
Oakland County Circuit Court (1990,1991 and 1999);
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Chairperson Community Advisory Board
Triad Mental Health Clinics (1990 through 1995);
COMMUNITY
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Member Board of Directors Agency for
Jewish Education (1990-1992);
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President Bloomfield Square Home Owners
Association (1987-1990);
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Former Board Member and Chairperson,
Legislation Committee, Birmingham, Michigan School PTA;
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Coach BBSC Soccer, Boys Teams and Girl's
Teams (1986-91);
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Manager Franklin Junior and Senior
Girl's Softball Teams (1993-1998).
AUTHOR/PUBLICATIONS:
Author and General Editor, 3 volume“Michigan
Practitioners Series: Family Law and Practice”,West Group
Publications, 1997
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Editor Grandparents Rights Organization
(GRO) Newsletter 1989 through present;
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"Legally Speaking", a national legal
column for the "Stepfamily Bulletin" (1984 through 1989);
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"The Extended and Psychological Family
of Children in the 1980's and Beyond" (1985 Michigan Family Law
Journal);
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"The Right to Visit" (1986 Michigan
State Bar Journal);
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"Rights of Third Parties in Child
Custody Disputes" (1988 Michigan Bar Journal);
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"Grandparent and Stepparent Rights"
(1989 Trial Magazine);
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"The Changing American Family -
Grandparent/Stepparent Rights" (1989 Michigan Family Law Journal);
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"Grandparents Law" (Legal Secretaries
Association Magazine);
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"Common Sense Doctrine for the Changing
American Family" (1989 Oakland County Bar Association Magazine -
Laches);
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"Family Law Needs Considerate Language,
Divorce Training" (1989 Michigan Lawyers Weekly newspaper);
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"When Third Parties Come First" (1989
American Bar Association Magazine Family Advocate);
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"Some Common Sense Custody and
Visitation Doctrines" (Fairshare Magazine 1989);
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"Third Party Custody - A Conflict in
Laws" (Michigan Family Law Journal 1990);
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"Divorce in Michigan" (1990);
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"Psychological Evaluations - Waiver of
Confidentiality" (Michigan Family Law Journal 1991);
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"Statutory Review of Third-Party Rights
Regarding Custody, Visitation and Support" - American Bar
Association Family Law Quarterly, Volume XXV, No. 1, Spring 1991;
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"History of Grandparent Visitation in
Michigan" (Michigan Bar Journal, Vol. 71, No. 3, 1992);
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"The Rights of Children in Child Custody
Disputes" (Michigan Family Law Journal, 1993);
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"Update on History of Grandparent
Visitation in Michigan" (Michigan Family Law Journal 1993);
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"Grandparents Rights to Visitation" -
American Bar Association Family Advocate Magazine, Volume 16, No. 1
(1993);
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Guest Columnist Detroit Free Press
Advisory Board relating to family law issues (1990 through 1995);
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"Biology, Destiny and Children's Rights"
- The Nation Law Journal, Volume 16, No. 30, (March 28, 1994);
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"Did the Candidates Really Understand
Family Values?" Grandparents Rights Organization Newsletter, Volume
4, No. 1 (1992);
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"Grandparents and Other Third Party
Rights to Visitation" Grandparents Rights Organization Newsletter,
Volume 5, No. 1 (1992);
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"What Happens if You Find Yourself in a
Dispute Requiring an Evidentiary Hearing or Trial?" Grandparents
Rights Organization Newsletter, Volume 6, No 1 (1993);
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"Protecting the Rights of Children in
Child Custody Disputes" Grandparents Rights Organization Newsletter,
Volume 7, No. 1 (1993);
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"Fighting Over Jessica" The Brandeis
Brief Vol. 2, No. 1 Winter (1994-95);
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"What is a Family?" Grandparents Rights
Organization Newsletter, Volume 8, No. 1 (1994);
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"Georgia Takes a Giant Step Backward"
Grandparents Rights Organization Newsletter, Volume 9, No. 1 (1995);
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"Examining the Proposed Divorce Bill"
Eccentric/Observer Newspapers (June 15, 1995);
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"Making Divorce Harder" Oakland County
Bar Association #360 (January 1996);
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“Are Grandparents Rights Laws
Unconstitutional?” GRO Newsletter, Vol. 12, No. 1, January , 1998;
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“Good News/Bad News For Grandparents and
Grandchildren”, GRO Newsletter, Vol. 13, No. 1, April, 1999;
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“Protecting the Children of Divorce Via
Parent Education”, 13 Michigan Lawyers Weekly 1352, July 19,
1999.
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“Grandparent Visitation Laws Are
Constitutional According to Justices”, Oakland County Legal News,
June 30, 2000.
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“Grandparent Visitation Rights in the
Twenty-First Century”, 2000 Law Review M.S.U.- D.C.L. 793
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“Grandparents Have Rights!”, Michigan
Bar Journal, February, 2001
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“How to Find an Attorney”, GRO
Newsletter, Vol.14, No.1, March,2001
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“Third Party Custody Rights Examined By
Appellate Court” Detroit Legal News and Oakland County
Legal News, November 9, 2001
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“Third Party Custody Rights Examined By
Michigan Court Of Appeals”, Michigan Family Law Journal,
Vol.30, No. 9, December, 2001
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“Alternative Dispute Resolution in Child Custody
Cases”, Michigan Family Law
Journal Special Edition,
February, 2002
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“Recent Court Rule Changes That Impact
Family Law Practice”, Michigan Bar Journal, June, 2002
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“Court Examines Grandparent Visitation
Law’s Validity”, Oakland County Legal News, Volume 75, Number
42, October 18, 2002.
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“MSC To Consider Whether Grandparent
Visitation Law Is Unconstitutional”, Michigan Lawyers
Weekly, Vol.16, No.51, October 28, 2002
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“Visitation Should Be Allowed If It’s In
The Child’s Best Interest”, Oakland County Legal News, Vol.
75, No.52, December 27, 2002
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“Parents Working Together Serve
Children’s Best Interests”, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Vol 17,
No. 10, January 13, 2003
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“DeRose v DeRose-What The Supreme Court
Did Regarding Grandparent Visitation”, Michigan Family Law
Journal, Vol. 33, No.8, October, 2003
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“DeRose v DeRose. What the Supreme Court
Did Regarding Grandparent Visitation and Why They Did It,
Michigan Bar Journal, January, 2004
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“How to Resolve Third Party Disputes
Before They Get Out of Control”, Michigan Family Law Journal-A
Guide Book for the Newly Divorced Person, 2004 Special Edition
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"Neither
Harm Nor Clear And Convincing Evidence Are Required To Meet
Constitutional Requirements, Says U.S. Supreme Court Regarding
Grandparent Visitation", Michigan Family Law Journal, Volume
36, Number 6, June/July 2006
MEDIA APPEARANCES:
"Oprah Winfrey Show"; NBC "Today Show"; ABC
“Good Morning America”; CBS ”The Early Show”; PBS "Late Night America";
NBC "Trial Watch"; CBS "Night Watch"; ABC "Special Reports with Joan
London"; CBS "Nightly News with Dan Rather"; CNN "Crossfire";CNN Burden
Of Proof”; Fox “Dayside with Linda Vester”; CNN News Programs; "Jerry
Springer Show"; "Larry King Radio Program"; Legal Advisor for "Good
Afternoon Detroit"; Several guest appearances "Kelly & Company" -
"Company"; On Air Family Law Advisor/Consultant Network and Local News
Programs including ABC, CBS, NBC, WKBD; WKBD "Straight Talk"; CNN
"Impact"; Family Law Advisor/Consultant and Guest Host "Ask the Lawyer"
WXYT Radio 1985 through 1993; On-air Legal Analyst/Consultant/Advisor,“Good
Afternoon Detroit”, WXYT-TV (ABC Affiliate) 1982-85; Several MSNBC, CNN
and FOX news show appearances.
RESOURCE FOR:
New York Times; Washington Post; Better
Homes and Gardens; McCall's Magazine, Changing Times Magazine; Daily
Tribune; Observer and Eccentric Newspapers; Parent Magazine; USA Today;
Detroit Free Press; Detroit News; American Bar Association Journal;
Family Circle Magazine; Oakland County Legal News; The Wall Street
Journal; Michigan Lawyers Weekly; AARP Newsletter.
CASES OF NATIONAL
INTEREST:
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Co-Counsel for James Atkinson,
Atkinson v Atkinson, Michigan Court of Appeals and Supreme Court
(1986) Author and Creator of the "Equitable Parent Doctrine";
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Counsel for Jessica DeBoer in the interstate and
nationally known custody case regarding "Baby Jessica",
(In re Clausen 442 Mich 648; 502 NW2d 649
(1993);
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Amicus Curiae counsel for State Bar of
Michigan Family Law Section, Tallman v Milton, 192 Mich App 606;
482 NW2d 187 (1992), which dealt with rights of foster parents
to secure custody of children left in their care for extended
periods of time.
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Co-Counsel for the Grandparents in
DeRose v DeRose, Michigan Supreme Court, April, 2002,
regarding the issue of whether Michigan’s Grandparent Visitation
Statute is Constitutional.
Member of the Bare Assets
Jazz Quartet (www.lawyersplayjazz.com)
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The Bare Assets Jazz Quartet, "Live
at Latreille's," CD recording, June, 2000.
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The Bare Assets Jazz Quartet, "Lawyers
Play Jazz Live," CD recording, December, 2000.
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