Randall L. Velzen

Randall L. Velzen almost exclusively practices in the area of family law (including estate planning). He helps his clients through the often complicated divorce process and is highly experienced with such sensitive matters as custody issues, property divisions and support.

Randy was one of the first attorneys in West Michigan to complete Collaborative law training through the Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan("CPIM"), which is the state board for Collaborative professionals. He is currently the Board of Directors Chair of CPIM. In addition, Randy is part of the training team PRISM, LLC which trains professionals for Collaborative divorce. Randy is a founding member of the Collaborative Divorce Professionals of West Michigan. In a Collaborative divorce, the parties and attorneys sign a contract committing to try to settle the case. All issues are settled prior to any court involvement. The primary benefit of Collaborative law is that from the onset of the divorce process all parties are committed to settling the case, rather than pursuing litigation. Only attorneys trained in the Collaborative process can handle a truly Collaborative case. Randy is of the strong conviction that this process of resolving marital disputes with dignity is usually a better and less damaging approach for the families involved.

Currently Randy’s practice is about ⅓ Collaborative, ⅓ mediation/arbitration, and ⅓ litigation. There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to dissolving a marriage.
 
He began his professional career in 1978 as an associate with the Law Firm of Murphy Burns & McInerney. In 1981, he was a founding member of the law firm of Napieralski Walsh & Velzen, leaving that firm to become a sole practitioner in 1985. He continued as a sole practitioner until December 1999, when he joined Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge. In August 2010, he became a founding member of Velzen, Johnsen & Wikander, P.C.

Randy is married to Laurie Velzen and they have two sons, Andrew and Benjamin.