Kenneth V Zichi

Helping Livingston County residents navigate the legal system for 30 years. I focus on Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning and Probate, with a significant portion of my practice also concerning Real Estate and general civil litigation. If you have questions or issues with your home, a cabin up north, or want to insure your family is cared for after you are gone, I'd be happy to meet with you, perhaps bust some myths, and certainly insure YOUR and your family's needs are met. Call for an appointment today!

• Free Consultation
  Telephone [(810) 299-5222] or office conferences, 20 minutes or less. Longer conferences may incur a minimal fee.
• Contingent Fees

Michigan

Since 1986

Owner

Kenneth V . Zichi J.D.

1991 - Current

Mayor

City of Williamston (Michigan)

2000 - 2010

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

J.D.

1983 - 1986

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

A.B. | History / Communications

1977 - 1981

Honors: LS&A Honors College 1977-1979

State Bar of Michigan

Member

1986 - Current

estate and probate section Michigan bar

member

1986 - Current

Law and Media committee - State Bar of Michigan

member

2010 - 2015

Newsroom Seminar, WNEM TV/AM - Saginaw MI

March 15, 2013

State Bar of Michigan - Law & Media committee

An hour-long seminar addressing some of the common practical and substantive difficulties journalists encounter in covering the legal system in Michigan.

Q. Legal actions for issues with lease and alleged late rent payments after moving out.

April 8, 2025

A: If I understand correctly, you verbally 'sublet' part of your mother's rental for $200 a month, but somehow your name is on the lease? How did that work exactly? What does the WRITTEN lease say about your obligations?

Without seeing that document I can't even hazard a guess as to what your remedies may be let alone what your responsibilities are or how they may or may not have been breached.

I suggest you take that written lease and a spreadsheet (don't panic, that can just be a legal pad with your payment history -- not anything fancy!) and documentation of the money you paid (cancelled checks, money order stubs etc).

With that in hand, a local lawyer can review everything and provide an opinion.

Just a 'heads up' -- your story doesn't track. You don't have BOTH a written lease with your name on it and a 'verbal agreement' with someone to sublet. Be ready to address that inconsistency with the lawyer you hire! Good luck. ... Read More

Q. Is a rent increase from $520 to $690 at my MHP excessive?

April 5, 2025

A: Absent rent control or some other local codes, private landlords can choose to charge whatever the market will bear for rent.

This is the disadvantage of renting.

You can also choose to move somewhere else with little to no notice.

This is the advantage of renting.

Moving a mobile home is expensive and occasionally not physically possible so you're 'locked into' a specific park if you don't site the home on your own land.

That is the 'fatal flaw' of mobile home parks.

Unfortunately, I don't know of a legal fix for that. The practical solution is to not rent in a mobile home park unless you also rent the mobile home, and can simply move your stuff out and leave when the rent gets too high. (Making this a 'detached apartment' in other words.) I'm sorry but whoever told you mobile homes were a good 'investment' was blowing smoke up your skirt. They are a depreciating asset that has more costs than benefits. Your BEST option is to sell the home as is where is and move onto either an apartment (if you simply want someone else to fuss with maintenance) or your own privately owned land/house if you're willing/able to manage your own home maintenance.

Stay away from condos or home owner association areas -- those are just 'landlords' with all the costs and none of the benefits. Either get a real 'rental' where the landlord is responsible for all maintenance and you just pay rent, or get your own place without all of those 'fees'...

I'm sure this is more of a 'long term' fix because you're not going to do this overnight, but it is the only practical solution.

Good luck. ... Read More

Q. Can my ex-girlfriend avoid eviction and change her mind after dismissal?

April 4, 2025

A: I think you know the answer, or you wouldn’t be asking the question in the first place. A verbal agreement, in general, is worth the paper that it is written on. Yes she can just change her mind again.

You DO need to serve her however, but so long as you are only looking for eviction and not a money judgment her ignoring the papers served and not being PERSONALLY served should not matter — in MOST courts. But, note the weasel words — you should hire a local attorney to help because each judge is different and you need certainty as you proceed toward trial.

Yes proceed with the case. If she actually moves out before the case is heard that’s fine. But if not it is your ‘back u p’. ... Read More