Best Lawyers in Michigan, United States for Trusts and Estates
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Pam helps individuals, families, and business owners preserve their legacy through proper estate planning and by working with them to resolve family strife during times of disability or death. This includes listening and understanding the client’s concerns so that she can recommend and prepare proper estate plans, establishing guardianships and conservatorships where appropriate, working through various potential tax issues, attending hearings and other matters at the probate court when...
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...
Robert M. Huff is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Robert M., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Practice Areas - Business and Tax Planning, Business Tax, Estate and Gift Taxation, Estate Planning, Estate/Income Taxes, Probate Law and Trust Administration, Tax Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Tax Planning Neal Nusholtz is an acclaimed tax attorney whose legal practice spans over 40 years. He specializes in all areas of taxation ranging from income tax audits to litigation and state and federal appeals. Mr. Nusholtz serves on several committees of the State Bar of Michigan, and he was s...
Aaron H. Sherbin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Trusts and Estates. Aaron H., who practices law in Southfield, Michigan, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Aaron H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Lindsay M. Cummings is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law and Trusts and Estates. Lindsay M., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lindsay M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Lauretta K. Murphy is a Member of the firm and has been practicing law since 1988. Her practice areas include elder law and disability planning, and probate and estate planning. She knows how to explain things in plain English and puts people at ease even in complex estate planning or elder law situations. She recently edited Advising the Older Client or Client with A Disability for the Institute for Continuing Legal Education. Wills and Trusts Trust and Estate administration Estate and gift ...
Brian Jenney helps families and individuals with elder law and special needs issues as well as estate planning and administration. For those planning ahead, Mr. Jenney prepares wills, trusts and powers of attorney to ensure proper future handling of medical decisions, finances and the distribution of assets. For family members with more immediate elder care issues, Mr. Jenney can assist with guardianships and conservatorships of ailing family members. In addition, Mr. Jenney helps families wo...
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 ...
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 ...
Rachael W. Roseman represents clients in a variety of litigation matters, primarily focused on probate and commercial disputes. She has successfully represented clients through all types of probate proceedings, disputes, and litigation matters, including guardianships, conservatorships, limited guardianships, and probate and trust disputes. Rachael has prosecuted and defended claims related to undue influence, lack of testamentary capacity, and breach of fiduciary duties. She counsels and rep...
Robert D. Brower is a Member of the firm and has been practicing law since 1972. His practice is focused on representing a wide range of closely held business owners and executives, their families, fiduciaries, and other individuals in matters involving business and estate planning, probate and trust administration, and contested estate matters. Contested Trust, Estate and Fiduciary Matters Mr. Brower has extensive experience in representing individual and corporate personal representatives, ...
Bill Acker is a shareholder, director and corporate vice president. He maintains an “AV” peer review rating with Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, the highest peer review rating for attorneys. He was also selected for inclusion in the 2010-2019 issues of Michigan Super Lawyers magazine featuring the top 5% of attorneys in Michigan in the practice area of Estate Planning & Probate. He has also been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020 in...
Neil P. Jansen received his bachelor's degrees in Political Science and International Studies from Michigan State University in 1984 and his law degree from Wayne State University in 1988, where he was a member of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court team and Chancellor of the Moot Court Program. Neil practices in the areas of civil and real estate litigation, probate litigation, estate planning and eminent domain. He is a member of the Grand Rapids and American Bar Associations,...
David Malson has more than 30 years of experience in estate planning for high net worth clients; business succession planning for owners of privately owned companies; and the representation of dentists, orthodontists and other doctors regarding practice purchases and sales, general business advice and dispute resolution. David also serves as outside general counsel for privately and publicly held companies. David works on estate plans ranging in size from moderate to extensive. Typical projec...
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.