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Mike Branum
Gallian Welker & BeckstromBadges
Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&AResponsive Law
Summary
After spending most of my adult life running into burning buildings or keeping people alive in the back of ambulances, I went to law school. I have lived and worked in North Carolina, Arizona, Colorado, Alaska, Nevada, and now I have settled into the beautiful red rock surroundings of southwest Utah - Utah's "Dixie."
With over fifteen years of nursing experience on top of my career in emergency medicine, I have the background to understand the medical aspects of personal injury cases and to assist veterans in making compelling cases for the grant of benefits they deserve.
As an attorney licensed in Arizona and Nevada in addition to Utah, I have a general law practice in the North Canyon Justice Court in Colorado City and Mesquite Justice and Municipal Courts. I will assist or refer clients with any matter heard before these courts including criminal and traffic cases, family law, and other civil matters.
I have spent my life standing between those I serve and danger; I merely traded firefighting gear for a suit and moved the battle from the streets to the courtroom.
Practice Areas
- Criminal Law
- Family Law
- Personal Injury
Additional Practice Area
- Veterans Disability Benefits
Fees
- Credit Cards Accepted
- Contingent Fees
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- Arizona
- State Bar of Arizona
- ID Number: 34464
- Nevada
- State Bar of Nevada
- ID Number: 15018
- Utah
- Utah State Bar
- ID Number: 17003
Professional Experience
- Associate
- Gallian Welker & Beckstrom
- - Current
Education
- UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law
- J.D. (2018)
- -
- Honors: Pro Bono Honors
- University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
- Masters in Public Administration (2005)
- -
- Excelsior College
- Associates Degree in Nursing (2003)
- -
- North Carolina State University
- B.S. (1991) | Biological Sciences
- -
Professional Associations
- Utah State Bar
- Member
- - Current
- Southern Utah Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
- Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Member
- - Current
- Nevada Justice Association
- Member
- - Current
- State Bar of Nevada
- Member
- - Current
- State Bar of Arizona
- Member
- - Current
- Utah Association for Justice
- Member
- - Current
- American Inns of Court
- Member
- - Current
- Clark County Bar Association
- Member
- -
Publications
Articles & Publications
- Identifying Methods of Reducing Distracted Teen Driving in Bullhead City
- National Fire Academy
- Preliminary Damage Assessment in Bullhead City, AZ
- National Fire Academy
- A Risk Assessment for Bullhead City Residents Over 65 Years Old
- National Fire Academy
Websites & Blogs
Legal Answers
123 Questions Answered
- Q. Can my ex's sister, temporary guardian of our 16 month old daughter, legally restrict my visitation?
- A: I agree with Mr. Wood that your situation is likely complicated by the fact that your husband also consented to the guardianship. My impression is that you are not ready to take back full custody at this time but are Yosemite about the restrictions on your visitation. The other concern I would have is that if you make demands and your ex's sister refuses to be a guardian anymore, what is your plan? Can you care for her? Do you have someone else who you and your ex could entrust get to? If your baby daddy's sister is trying to do what is in your daughter's best interest, you are not going to win any points with the court if you pull her out of a safe home with no plan.
- Q. Filed for divorce , ex-husband has lawyered up and I don't understand these papers given to me just that he wants all.
- A: https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter has a lot of helpful information and is easy to navigate. Although it is not your state, https://www.familylawselfhelpcenter.org/ is another great source of information. If you are near Tucson or Phoenix, you can check with the law schools and see if they have either a free clinic or self-help classes. There also may be ask-a-lawyer opportunities in your area if you have specific questions. The most important thing is to not miss any deadlines. You do not want to have a default judgment entered against you. And for heaven's sake do NOT miss any court dates! I hope that helps!
- Q. What do I do if I request assistance of counsel at my arraignment because I am indigent and the judge refuses?
- A: I am going to venture a guess that you are charged with a misdemeanor and the prosecutor is not seeking jail time. Under those circumstances, the courts have found that you do not have a constitutional right to counsel because your liberty is not at risk.
- Q. No father present in any aspect of child's life. How to get adopted by stepfather?
- A: Two things could complicate your attempts to have your fiance from adopting your eldest: if you were married to the sperm donor at conception, at birth, or anytime between; or paternity has been previously established. You are still going to have to explain to a judge why the male who was present at conception does not deserve to be the child's legal father. You should still serve notice on him when you file the adoption paperwork. You would be well-advised to hire an attorney to assist you with the paperwork and the argument in court. Good luck!
- Q. can you take 30 year old male relative sending 15 year old niece naked photos from snap chat app, pictures weren’t saved
- A: The short answer is yes, you can sue. You could file a suit claiming negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, etc. The real question is does the pervy cousin have assets worth the fight? If he owns a home, has a high-paying job, or there is some other asset which may be able to be seized; I would highly recommend the parents/guardians of the minor try to find an attorney who would be willing to represent them (the parents/guardians likely have a claim for the distress inflicted upon them due to the acts perpetrated upon their child). If the reprobate drives a Prius, lives in an apartment, and works in electronics at Best Buy; you would likely find it difficult to obtain counsel on a contingency fee basis.
- Q. I want to file a divorce from my husband of 42 years but can’t afford to hire a lawyer.
- A: If you and your husband have no minor children and your assets are not complex, you may be able to navigate the process without an attorney. Visit https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter for all the forms you will need to file. If you open a business or have substantial assets, the process will be very difficult to complete without representation. The other important factor is how much cooperation you anticipate getting from your husband. If he is amenable to an equal split of assets and debts and you are not selling spousal support, the endeavor will be much less challenging. Divorce is always stressful and a competent, compassionate attorney can be an extremely valuable partner; assisting you with managing the stressed and ensuring everything is done properly. Not everyone, however, can afford to hire an attorney, so we are fortunate the Arizona courts have developed an excellent self-help website to assist those who are forced to "go out alone." Remember through the process to take care of yourself and tell on your support systems. Even if you cannot afford an attorney, in guessing you have people who you can rely on to keep your spirits up and ease the transition to life after divorce. I wish you the best.
- Q. I have been charged with a criminal misdemenor. I plead guilty and now will attend a pre-trial conference. I am canadian
- A: It is highly unlikely that a nonviolent misdemeanor conviction would have any effect on your admissibility into the US. 8 USC 1182 lists the factors which may make a non-citizen inadmissible to the US. The two sections which most closely relate to your question are (2)(A)(i)(I) crime involving moral turpitude or (II) crime relating to a controlled substance and (B) conviction of 2 or more offenses for which the aggregate sentences to confinement were 5 years or more. I am not an immigration attorney, but I would imagine the bar is MUCH lower if applying for permanent residency / citizenship. To be deemed inadmissible, however, you have to be a pretty bad actor.
- Q. My best friend is about to have a baby and the babies father got arrested last night. Is there any way he can be release
- A: I would go one step farther than Mr. Wood: this question is IMPOSSIBLE to answer without further information. (I also would not refer to someone who has, to date, merely impregnated someone as a "father." You have to earn that title.) Misdemeanor? Felony? Ties to the community? Criminal history? Violent offense? Other reasons the subject might or might not be a flight risk or danger to the community? Many offenders are eligible for pre-trial release, but there are a LOT of factors that affect the Court's decision regarding setting of bail (and then you have to address the subject's ability to MAKE bail once it has been set).
- Q. I have a dcs case in arizona and it's super complicated...
- A: First, I cannot imagine what you are going through. I wish you the strength to weather this storm, the patience to deal with the government bureaucracies, and the resiliency of spirit to bounce back from this ordeal when you reach the other side. Unfortunately, unless you can afford an attorney or find a pro bono attorney to assist you, you are likely in for a long wait. It is unlikely that most attorneys will have a clue what you are talking about when you use terms like pre-eclampsia. This attorney, however, is familiar and would caution you from making statements which sound like you know more than you may actually know. It is not going to gain you any points with the Court or other individuals who may have some power to make your life easier or more difficult. Babies do not die due to pre-eclampsia once safely outside the womb. I do not dispute that you may still be sick with pre-eclampsia, but I would guess you lost your newborn to SIDS; I do not see how your pre-eclampsia had anything to do with it. Hang in there. When the bloodwork comes back clean, DCS should close the case and return your child. As overworked as they are, they should be excited to close a case and return a child to their family.
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