Best Lawyers Near You in Birmingham, Michigan for Trusts and Estates
J. Thomas MacFarlane works extensively with individuals on estate planning, tax planning and probate matters and with businesses on succession planning and corporate restructuring. Thomas counsels clients on the various wealth preservation strategies which are available to high net worth individuals. He is also frequently asked to represent beneficiaries or fiduciaries in complex estate contests and trust disputes. Tom has represented clients in all aspects of corporate law and has counseled ...
Mr. Larsen is vice chair of Bodman's Executive Committee and a member of the firm's High Net Worth Practice Group. He represents individual clients and financial institutions in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration, trust litigation, estate and gift tax, real estate transactions, the purchase, sale and lease of aircraft and watercraft, and closely-held business transactions and succession. Mr. Larsen has been named 2016 "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation- Trusts and ...
Alan A. May is a shareholder with Kemp Klein in Troy, Michigan. His practice focuses on Litigation - Trusts and Estates , Tax Law , and Trusts and Estates , including matters involving guardianships and conservatorships. Mr. May has written and lectured on probate and fiduciary issues and has taught courses at Wayne State University and Oakland University addressing these topics. Mr. May has received numerous peer recognitions within the legal community. He was selected for inclusion in Michi...
Julius H. Giarmarco, J.D., LL.M., is chair of the firm's Trusts and Estates Practice Group. Julius received his law degree from Wayne State University, and his master of laws from New York University. He is licensed to practice law in both Michigan and New York. Julius' primary practice areas include estate planning, business succession planning, wealth transfer planning, and life insurance applications. He is a former instructor in both the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Certified Fina...
Ms. Lentz concentrates her practice in representing high net worth individuals in estate planning, probate, and trusts. She regularly advises nonprofit and tax exempt organizations regarding obtaining and maintaining exempt status, corporate governance, and general operational issues. Ms. Lentz has been named 2016 "Lawyer of the Year" for Trusts and Estates by The Best Lawyers in America. She is listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2008-2017 under Trusts and Estates and in Michigan Super Law...
Elizabeth Luckenbach is a member in the firm’s Troy office, where she specializes in probate and fiduciary litigation, trust and estate administration, estate planning, and special needs planning. With more than 20 years of experience representing fiduciaries and individuals in all aspects of litigation, administration, and planning, Liz works tirelessly to advocate for her clients, treating each of them with the individual attention they deserve. Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® as an ...
Susan M. Sutton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Susan M., who practices law in Southfield, Michigan, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Susan M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Mr. Hempstead concentrates his practice primarily in the areas of income, estate and gift tax planning for high net worth individuals, estate and trust administration, trust litigation, and charitable trusts and foundations. He is a member of the Probate and Estate Planning and Taxation sections of the State Bar of Michigan. He is also a member of the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Detroit. Mr. Hempstead was admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court in 1979. Crain&rsqu...
Ralph A. Castelli Jr. is an attorney with Kemp Klein in Troy, Michigan . His practice focuses on Corporate Law , Real Estate Law , and Trusts and Estates , with an emphasis on advising businesses and individuals on planning, transactions, and long‑term business and ownership strategies. Mr. Castelli works with closely held and family-owned businesses on a wide range of corporate matters, including business planning and structuring, exit planning , shareholder and partner separations, and comp...
Joan Skrzyniarz, a member in Dickinson Wright’s Nashville and Troy offices, focuses her practice on Trusts, estate planning, and probate law. She has served as counsel to personal representatives, trustees, and beneficiaries in probate, trust administration, and litigation and has advised individuals and families about guardianship and conservatorship matters.
Tyler Knurek is an associate attorney with Kemp Klein in Troy, Michigan. His practice focuses on Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates matters, including probate and trust litigation as well as estate and trust administration. Tyler represents clients in a wide range of probate-related disputes and court proceedings, including will contests, trust disputes, estate disputes, guardianships, conservatorships, and other general equity matters. He works with individuals and famili...
Casey W. Callahan is an associate attorney with Kemp Klein in Troy, Michigan . His practice focuses on estate planning , business and corporate planning , and post-death administration . Casey works with individuals, families, and business owners to address legal needs involving Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law , Corporate Law, and Trusts and Estates. He advises clients on structuring and maintaining business entities, ...
William E. Haines, II is an attorney with Kemp Klein in Troy, Michigan. His practice focuses on matters involving trusts and estates , elder law , and related litigation. William assists individuals, families, and business owners with legal issues involving estate planning , estate and trust administration , probate disputes, and planning for long-term care. William earned his Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, including th...
Nicole H. MacWilliams is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Nicole H., who practices law in Southfield, Michigan, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicole H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Margaret Lindauer is an associate attorney with Kemp Klein in Troy, Michigan. Her practice focuses on Elder Law , Tax Law , and Trusts and Estates . She works with individuals and families on estate planning, helping clients design, prepare, and implement plans that reflect their goals and personal circumstances. Margaret also assists clients with probate and trust administration, guiding them through the legal and practical steps involved in managing and distributing assets. Before joining K...
Christopher Rambus is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Christopher, who practices law in Detroit, Michigan, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christopher is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.