What’s the difference Between a Legal Appeal & a Hardship Appeal

Legal appeals allege that the Secretary of State Hearing Judge or Officer committed a legal error—called an “abuse of discretion”— making a ruling regarding license suspension and revocation.  A driver must prove that the SOS decision was faulty and didn’t adhere to the law, or was arbitrary. The burden is on the driver to prove it so it’s important to have the best license appeals attorney in Michigan on your side.  Most legal appeals require the driver to order transcripts of the hearing or decision being appealed, pay a filing fee, and then go up against the Attorney General or Prosecutor representing the State. These legal appeals are often uphill, unwinnable battles.  

With hardship appeals the driver must convince a Circuit Court Judge that he or she has a hardship without a license and needs that license to get to work, or go to school, or attend medical appointments, or some similar hardship.  If the Judge agrees, he or she can override the suspension and grant restricted privileges for the remainder of the suspension.  

If you have questions regarding legal or hardship appeals, read more here or contact Dan Gehein, a license appeals attorney in Ann Arbor to get your questions answered. Call 24/7 (734) 263-2780 .