Michigan Administrative Law Attorneys — License Restoration & CPS Appeals, Handled Statewide
When you're facing a state hearing or appeal, you need someone who knows exactly how the process works — and who's ready to fight for the outcome you deserve, no matter where in Michigan you're located.
• License Restoration • CPS Appeals • Statewide Representation • Bilingual Attorney • Payment Plans Available
• License Restoration • CPS Appeals • Statewide Representation • Bilingual Attorney • Payment Plans Available
We Handle the Legal Side, So You Can Focus on What Matters
Wood & Associates PLLC provides administrative law representation from offices in Battle Creek and Lansing, serving clients across the state of Michigan. The firm handles driver's license restoration hearings before the Michigan Secretary of State and appeals of CPS findings and Central Registry listings. Both matters are handled statewide, so clients don't need to find a firm near a specific courthouse to get help.
Whether you've lost your license and need a way back to work and family, or a CPS finding is following you into background checks, custody proceedings, or your career, an administrative ruling can affect nearly everything else in your life. We've guided Michigan clients through both processes for years, and we know exactly what a hearing officer or appeal board needs to see.
Areas of Administrative Law We Handle
License Restoration
Lost your license after a DUI or repeated violations? We represent clients statewide through Michigan Secretary of State restoration hearings.
CPS Appeals
Already have a CPS finding or Central Registry listing? We help you challenge it and protect your record, your career, and your parental rights.
Why Clients Trust Us With Something This Serious
Administrative hearings and appeals can feel like fighting an invisible system alone. This is the firm's own list of what sets it apart — and it's the same list behind every case we take on, regardless of practice area.
Exceptional communication and responsiveness.
We answer calls live, and chat messages get a callback within about 15 minutes during business hours — because when your license or your record is on the line, you deserve an actual person, not a voicemail box.
Welcoming, real people.
From the attorney handling your hearing or appeal to the team supporting them, you'll be treated like a person working through something difficult, not a case number.
Inclusive service, with deep ties to the LGBTQ+ community.
Whether your case involves your license, your family, or both, you'll get the same respect and advocacy as anyone else who walks through our door.
A bilingual Spanish/English attorney on staff — a rare asset in this region.
Spanish-speaking clients can work through their plan directly with an attorney, not just a translated page. (Front-desk reception is not currently Spanish-speaking — let us know when you call, and we'll connect you with an attorney who speaks Spanish.)
Proven results and experience.
Our attorneys have guided Michigan clients through license restoration hearings and CPS appeals for years, and we bring that same experience to every case we take on.
Flexible payment options.
A third-party Pay Later financing option means cost doesn't have to decide whether you get help fighting a state decision.
The People Behind Your Case
Every hearing and appeal here is handled by real people, not a call center and not a rotating cast of strangers. Meet a few of the attorneys and staff who might be the first friendly face you see.
Kent Wood II
President & Founder
Brigette Booser
Attorney and Counselor
Paul Umlauf
Attorney
Jennifer Reed
Attorney
Jami Rosado
Senior Paralegal
Hannah Robinson
Attorney
Sarah Hayes
Legal Secretary
Kent Wood II
President & Founder
Brigette Booser
Attorney and Counselor
Frequently Asked Questions
What is administrative law, and how is it different from a regular court case?
Administrative law covers hearings and appeals before a state agency or board rather than a traditional courtroom — for example, a Michigan Secretary of State license restoration hearing or a CPS appeal board review. These proceedings follow their own rules and procedures, and Wood & Associates represents clients through both.
Do I need a Michigan-based attorney if I don't live near Battle Creek or Lansing?
No. License restoration and CPS appeal matters are handled statewide, since Secretary of State hearings and Central Registry appeals aren't tied to a specific local courthouse. Wood & Associates represents clients across Michigan for these matters, regardless of how far they live from either office.
How do I get my license back after a DUI-related revocation in Michigan?
You'll need to complete a substance abuse evaluation, submit an application, and appear at a Michigan Secretary of State administrative hearing where a hearing officer decides whether to reinstate your license. Wood & Associates prepares the documentation and testimony needed to give you the strongest possible case.
What's the difference between CPS Defense and CPS Appeals?
CPS Defense represents parents during an active, ongoing CPS investigation or petition. CPS Appeals is for parents who already have a finding or Central Registry listing and want to challenge it after the fact. Wood & Associates handles both, and can represent you whichever stage you're in.
How long do I have to appeal a CPS finding in Michigan?
Michigan sets specific, firm deadlines for appealing a CPS finding or Central Registry listing, and missing that window can mean losing the right to challenge it. Because timing is critical, Wood & Associates recommends contacting an attorney as soon as you receive a finding, not after the deadline has passed.
Why does a CPS finding matter if the case is already over?
An unappealed CPS finding can appear on background checks and affect employment, licensing, and future custody proceedings for years afterward. Appealing it isn't just about the past case — it's about protecting your record and your parental rights going forward. Wood & Associates helps clients address this before it causes further harm.
Serving Clients Across Michigan, With Offices in Battle Creek and Lansing
Unlike family law or probate matters, license restoration hearings and CPS appeals aren't tied to your local county — they're handled at the state level, so Wood & Associates represents clients from anywhere in Michigan for these matters. Our two offices in Battle Creek and Lansing remain your closest points of contact for meetings and consultations.
Battle Creek Office
2943 W Dickman Road, Battle Creek, MI (269) 841-5426 Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–5:00 PM · Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM ·
Lansing Office
901 N. Washington Ave., Lansing, MI (517) 481-4023 · Toll-free (888) 209-7348 Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–5:00 PM · Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM ·
Talk with a local attorney team today
A denied license or an unresolved finding doesn't have to be the last word.
However you're most comfortable reaching out — a call, a chat, a text, or a quick form — we're ready to help, no matter where in Michigan you're located. Walk-ins welcome during business hours; consultations by appointment.