About Patrick M. Duff

Patrick M. Duff of Duff Chadwick & Associates

Admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1983. Patrick M. Duff practices in Portland.

Married to Lois Duff, has two children, Eamon and Erin, two dogs and a cat.

Education

• University of Michigan, BA 1974
• Western Michigan University, MPA 1978
• Thomas M. Cooley Law School, JD 1982
• Michigan State University graduate credits in Labor and Industrial Relations 1983-1986
• Numerous Mediation Training Courses
• Numerous Michigan Association of School Boards Courses
• Numerous Institute for Continuing Legal Education Courses

Affiliations

• 40 Hour Civil Mediation Certificate Program through ICLE
• 40 Hour Divorce and Custody (Domestic Relations) Mediation Training
• Special Education Mediation
• Agricultural Mediation
• Small Claims Mediation
• Restorative Justice Advocate
• Portland City Council - 14 years (eight years as Mayor Pro Tem)
• Member of the Portland and Ionia Chamber of Commerce since 2011
• Former high school, college, adult and community educator
• Member of the Portland Public School Board
• Former High School Baseball Coach
• Former Portland Middle School Cross County Co-coach for several years
• Former Portland High School Boys Cross Country Coach
• Former Dispute Resolution Center of Central Michigan Board Member

Practice Areas

• Estate Planning and Administration
• Personal Injury
• Drunk Driving / MIP defense
• Driver License Restoration
• Social Security / Disability Appeals
• Mediation (Civil, Divorce, Custody, Special Education, Agriculture, Small Claims)
• Restorative Justice
• Expungement of Criminal Matters

Hobbies

• Running - over 100 marathons, ultra-marathons, two one hundred mile runs
• Music - fiddle player
• Art - cartooning, drawing, watercolor
• Biking

Community Involvement

• Portland Strings
• Portland Community Orchestra

Representative Matters:

• Over 40 years of experience successfully assisting in the establishment of estate plans including special needs, trust, revocable living trusts, basic estate plans.
• Successfully assisted in administering a trust of a deceased estate with assets in excess of $1,000,000.
• Successfully assisted in administering the probate of a deceased’s estate with assets in excess of $1,000,000. 

• Successfully expunged several felony records of clients.
• Successfully expunged several misdemeanor records of clients.
• Successfully represented juvenile individuals in criminal matters.
• Successfully argued a fishing ticket matter before the Michigan Supreme Court.

• Successfully negotiated dog bite matters where the individual was bitten on the dog owner’s property.
• Successfully negotiated dog bite matters where the individual was bitten by a dog on their own property.

• Successfully mediated matters where parties amicably resolved issues pertaining to real estate, divorce and other civil matters.