Best Lawyers Near You in Troy, Michigan for Trusts and Estates
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...
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 ...
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...
Brian R. Jenney is an attorney with Kemp Klein in Troy, Michigan who advises individuals and families on matters involving Elder Law , Trusts and Estates , and Tax Law . His practice focuses on helping clients plan for the future while addressing the legal and financial considerations that arise as families age or experience major life changes. Mr. Jenney works with clients on estate planning strategies designed to protect assets, address health care and financial decision-making, and provide...
Neal Nusholtz is a tax attorney with more than 40 years of legal experience advising individuals, businesses, and fiduciaries on complex tax matters. Based in Troy, Michigan, he practices at Kemp Klein and represents clients in matters involving Tax Law , Litigation and Controversy – Tax , and Trusts and Estates . His work includes guidance on federal and state tax issues, audits, administrative proceedings, and tax-related disputes. Mr. Nusholtz assists clients with income tax matters,...
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 ...
Andrea DeFrain has moved to of-counsel status after practicing since 1981 and as a member of the Bodman High Net Worth Practice Group since 2005. Ms. DeFrain concentrated her practice in the areas of estate planning, estate and gift taxation, and probate administration. During her career, she was an adviser to individuals and families on a variety of personal and related tax matters. She continues to participate in the firm’s representation of certain clients. In addition, Ms. DeFrain h...
William B. “Bill” Acker is a shareholder, director, and corporate vice president at Kemp Klein in Troy, Michigan. His practice focuses on Litigation and Controversy – Tax , Tax Law , Trusts and Estates , and Real Estate Law. Bill represents businesses, property owners, and individuals in complex tax disputes, estate planning matters, and real estate transactions and controversies. Bill holds an “AV” peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, the hi...
Mr. Cracchiolo is an adviser to high net worth individuals and families on a variety of personal, business and tax matters, including estate planning, estate, gift and generation-skipping tax issues, closely-held business transactions and succession, family office formation and operation, private trust companies, real estate transactions and philanthropic strategies. He also represents professional and individual trustees on trust and estate administration matters and works closely with famil...
Kara Ferrara is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Kara, who practices law in Troy, Michigan, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kara is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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.
Cynthia L. Umphrey works with individuals, families, and business owners on legal matters that affect both their personal lives and their companies. Based in Troy, Michigan, Ms. Umphrey advises clients through Kemp Klein on estate planning, estate and trust administration, and business planning matters. Her practice includes Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law , and Trusts and Estates . She assists clients in structuring p...
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...
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...
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...
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.