Attorney Robert P. DeWitt Jr. knows about success in the big city, but wants more of a presence in the Ortonville area.
Although he works out of the offices of Richards & DeWitt, P.L.C. in Troy, DeWitt is also working out of the Horton-Renn Insurance office building on M-15.
After graduation from the University of Michigan and the Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University, DeWitt started his career with a small solo office in Detroit. He has been a local resident for 13 years now, operating his local office for nine years.
‘I wanted to be closer to home and build something in this area,? he said. ‘A lot of competition exists in the legal field today. There is a need to be more productive in less time.?
Along with partner David L. Richards, DeWitt offers legal counsel in areas such as auto accidents, bankruptcy, business and corporate litigation, collections, divorce, drunk driving, incorporation and other business relationships, personal injury, probate procedures, real estate closings and transactions, traffic violations and wills and trusts.
DeWitt also has his own real estate license, so he has a special interest in helping folks in that field.
DeWitt wants to take some of the mystery out of the legal field, and a brochure from his office lists a number of questions that people may ask, including issues of starting a business, buying or selling a home, whether bankruptcy is an option, the next step after a drunken driving arrest, how to put together a will and what happens when child support payments stop coming.
Clearly explaining options and procedures is part of the ‘hometown? approach DeWitt wants to demonstrate to everyone.
‘I try to make it a personal approach. Having an office here has helped,? he said. ‘Someone once said to me, ‘You seem to make friends of your clients.??
He has been an active member of the community in a number of ways, including being a member of St. Anne’s Catholic Church. He has also served on the township fire board. It’s all part of the hometown lifestyle that he enjoys.
‘I like the community because it is family-oriented and has a small-town atmosphere,? he said. ‘It has maintained that quality.?
As time goes on, DeWitt hopes to make the Ortonville area his full-time business address, perhaps within the next 12 to 18 months.
DeWitt also has personal reasons for being closer to home ? an eight-year-old daughter and five-year-old son.
‘I really like it when I get to help somebody work out a problem,? DeWitt said. ‘It makes me feel good to see my clients around town.?
Attorney Robert P. DeWitt Jr. is located at 1839 Ortonville Road (M-15). Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment. Telephone is (248) 627-3489. E-mail is RDeWitt@Home.msen.com