Michael Fanous

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Michael Fanous Criminal Defense Attorney

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About

Michael Fanous is a Criminal Defense attorney at Jetton & Meredith, PLLC, representing clients across Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus, Gaston, and Iredell counties. A Union County native, Michael earned his undergraduate degrees in Criminal Justice and Philosophy from East Carolina University before graduating from Elon University School of Law in 2019. During law school, he interned with the Union County District Attorney’s Office, the Guilford County Public Defender’s Office, and a private defense firm in Union County—experiences that gave him a balanced and comprehensive view of the criminal justice system.

After passing the North Carolina Bar in 2020, Michael began his legal career with a private defense firm in Raleigh. He later returned to Charlotte to serve as an Assistant District Attorney in Mecklenburg County. Over the course of three years, he prosecuted a wide variety of cases, including DWIs, domestic violence, felonies, and habitual felon matters, and conducted numerous jury trials. He also led the Scarlett Task Force, a joint state and federal initiative focused on dismantling large-scale auto theft rings.

Michael is an active member of the Mecklenburg County Bar and serves as a volunteer judge with the Teen Court program. Raised in Weddington, he graduated from Weddington High School, where he ran track and played baseball. His parents are longtime Union County residents—his father owns a local business, and his mother has worked for over 18 years as an after-school teacher in the Union County Public Schools. Outside of the office, Michael enjoys staying active and bass fishing with his brother on Lake Wylie.

  • When Do I Need an Attorney?

    Attorneys are trained legal professionals who can explain the laws to you, help you evaluate your options, negotiate or mediate conflicts with other people, prepare letters and court forms or other legal documents for you, and represent you in court.

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  • Should I Handle it Myself?

    There are a couple of questions that will help you decide whether you need to hire an attorney.

    What is at stake? Is it my liberty, my livelihood, my home, or my property? If anything significant is at stake, it is usually a good idea to at least meet with an attorney to discuss your options.

    The second question is: How complicated is this? Unfortunately, when it comes to the law, there are not very many things that are simple and easy to understand. Little mistakes in procedure or wording can seriously compromise your rights.

    Many people hire attorneys for their advice and counsel all the time. They are thinking about a problem and are not sure how to proceed, so they make an appointment to discuss their options.

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  • How Should I Prepare?
    • Organize your papers.
    • Make copies of the most important papers to give to the attorney. Keep the originals yourself.
    • If there are a lot of papers, you may want to make a summary sheet that includes important information such as account numbers. You may need to separate the papers into multiple file folders.
    • Be prepared to briefly outline your problem for the attorney.

    Write down your questions before you visit the attorney so that you will not forget to ask something important.

    Common questions you should ask:

    • What is the timeframe for your case or legal matter? Some cases have long periods of inactivity. If this is likely to happen to you, you need to know that and why.
    • How often are you and your attorney likely to talk, and who will call the meeting?
    • Will it be face-to-face contact, by mail, or on the phone?
    • If you are handicapped or have other limitations, be sure to alert the attorneys’ office at the time you are making the appointment so that appropriate accommodations can be made.

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  • Do Attorneys Always Accept Cases?

    The simple answer is no. There are many reasons why an attorney may need to decline your case. Below are a few of the common ones.

    • If the case does not meet the legal standard of a meritorious claim, attorneys cannot accept the case.
    • If the attorneys have a conflict of interest—for instance, if they have a relationship with the people or company on the other side of your problem—they cannot accept the request for representation.
    • If the attorneys are not sufficiently knowledgeable or qualified to handle the problem, they are required to decline representation.
    • If you and the attorneys cannot agree on the scope and strategy of a case, they will decline to be involved. This includes the fundamental question of whether the legal fees to be expended are proportional to the likely outcome.

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Client Testimonials*

The Opinions that Matter Most
    "Fabulous lawyer, highly recommend for any family law cases!!"
    Prompt, thorough, understanding and knowledgeable, are only a few of the adjectives that describe Jetton & Meredith. Fabulous lawyers, highly recommend for any family law cases!!
    - Former Client
    "A True Professional"
    Eric Meredith represented me during what turned out to be a lengthy divorce settlement. During the first meeting, he fully explained the process ahead and answered all my questions and concerns. I still remember the feeling of relief after that meeting knowing I had a true professional in my corner. Eric, along with his Paralegal Julie, kept me updated along the way and were quick to respond with any additional issues. Not only did he call with any updates to the case, he also would ask how I was doing. I cannot recommend Eric at Jetton & Meredith enough.
    - Tim
    "I highly recommend Mark should you ever need an attorney."
    I highly recommend Mark. I hired him to handle a simple assault charge that was filed against me. Mark handled it professionally and expeditiously. He explained each step in the process, and everything happened just as he described. He is exactly the type of lawyer you want representing you.
    - J&M Client
    "Great service and very personal."
    Great service and very personal. Jetton & Meredith are very hardworking attorneys. I will recommend Jetton & Meredith to anyone in need.
    - Former Client
    "I cannot stress enough how great the customer service was with Jetton & Meredith"
    I cannot stress enough how great the customer service was with Jetton & Meredith, with my case being a little more complicated I had the opportunity to work with both Mr. Jetton and Mr. Meredith. I can say they know their stuff, Mr. Jetton was able to get my case dismissed the first time we went to court, no questions asked. Working with Mr. Meredith was a longer process but he walked me through the steps and gave me realistic expectations of an outcome that he was able to provide just as he stated he would do. I couldn’t be more pleased with my decision to hire Jetton & Meredith as my attorneys, and I would highly recommend them to anyone in need of an attorney!
    - Former Client
    "Far exceeded my expectations"
    This law office far exceeded my expectations. All options and possible outcomes were set before me from the start and everything was handled in a professional and timely manner. Not only will I use this law firm again, but I would also and have already recommended them to the people I care most for. Thank you for all you’ve done.
    - Former Client

Awards & Accolades

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