Ingham County Elder Law Lawyers

Lawrence J. Buckfire earned his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Michigan in 1986 and his juris doctor degree from Wayne State University School of Law in 1989. He is admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan and the State of Ohio. He was recently named a "Best Personal Injury Lawyer" by a Detroit business magaizne. Lawrence is a highly skilled trial attorney with a reputation for meticulous trial preparation and presentation. Mr. Buckfire has achieved the highest possible rating for ability and integrity in the legal profession. He specializes in child lead paint poisoning, wrongful...

S. Christopher Hunter is the founding member of Hunter Law Offices, PLLC. Prior to opening his own practice, Mr. Hunter was an associate attorney with Garrison Lawhouse, PC in Dearborn, Michigan, served as a staff attorney at the Elder Law and Advocacy Center, and most recently managed and supervised the Great Lakes Legal – Elder Law Division’s reduced-fee program. Mr. Hunter focuses his practice in the areas of Elder Law, Long Term Care Planning, Estate Planning, Probate, Trusts, Guardianship/Conservatorships, and Social Security Disability. Mr. Hunter graduated from the University of Maine School of Law with a...

Jane A. Bassett has been practicing for over 20 years and is the principal of Bassett Law in Ann Arbor. Her practice focuses on probate, elder and disability law, LGBT law, and adoptions, including estate planning, special needs trusts, Social Security benefits, Medicaid, probate administration, vulnerable adult abuse and exploitation, and adoption. Ms. Bassett sits on council for the Elder Law and Disability Rights Section of the Michigan State Bar Association and is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Bassett Law is a firm of five attorneys, a full-time care manager, two masters...

David has practiced law for 15 years and specializes in estate planning, wills, trusts, probate and defense of medical malpractice and civil rights lawsuits. He is a shareholder of Chapman Law Group and is licensed in both Michigan and Indiana. David is a Special Fiduciary at the Oakland County Probate Court. He is dedicated to educating the public on issues in estate planning including providing assets and care to loved ones, limiting taxes, and establishing healthcare protocols. David strives to serve each individual clients estate planning needs, tailoring each plan to address wealth preservation and family financial security. David holds a Certificate...

Phil was admitted to practice law in 1991 and he is now in his 28th year as an attorney. Phil is one of the founding partners of Serafini, Michalowski, Derkacz and Associates, P.C. and he focuses his practice in the areas of personal injury, automobile accident claims, no-fault claims also known as personal injury protection benefits, third party automobile negligence claims, slip and fall injuries, motorcycle injuries, trucking accidents and general civil litigation. Phil grew up in St. Clair Shores and Royal Oak and he has been fortunate to return to Macomb County to practice law.

From 1995 to present, Phil...

Benjamin J. Herbert, a partner with Herbert Machnik Law Firm in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is committed to helping people understand their rights and plan for their future. His practice focuses on competent, knowledgeable advice and representation in the areas of estate planning, probate, Medicaid planning and real estate law as well as elder law, estate and trust administration, and guardianship and conservatorship matters. Attorney Herbert’s client base includes young professionals, senior citizens, retirees, and entrepreneurs among others. Attorney Herbert is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and is licensed to appear before the United States District Court for...

One of the founding partners of Serafini, Michalowski, Derkacz and Associates, P.C., Jeff focuses his practice in the areas of elder law, estate planning, trust administration, probate administration, and corporate law. Jeff grew up in Sterling Heights and is happy to have returned to Macomb County to practice law.

Prior to establishing Serafini, Michalowski, Derkacz & Associates, P.C., Jeff worked with a large regional accounting and business consulting firm, an insurance defense law firm and a business law firm specializing in corporate law, business formation, business consulting and private equity matters. After working with an elder law and estate planning firm...

Former Assistant Prosecutor. I am also a landlord. UM Law graduate.

Benjamin Schock is a skilled, experienced elder law attorney who successfully assists seniors in passing their hard earned assets on to their loved ones while allowing them to receive additional benefits that help them offset the cost of long term care.

Rachel M. Sexton has spent her entire career as an attorney representing people who find themselves in difficult financial situations. Rachel’s passion is helping people get out from underneath crushing debt and harassing creditors. She has helped hundreds of clients find solutions through bankruptcy. Whether that is saving their homes from foreclosure, getting their cars back after repossession, lowering their car payments, eliminating credit card debt, or dealing with overwhelming IRS debt. Rachel chose to practice bankruptcy because she enjoys helping people in some of the most stressful times of their lives. Rachel’s goal is to help clients move toward...

Thomas N. Economy received his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 1996, and his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law in 1999. His practice is devoted to representing seriously injured persons in cases involving no-fault insurance, automobile negligence and premises liability. He has successfully handled numerous important cases before the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court. He is an active member of both the American Association for Justice and Michigan Association for Justice. Email: tom@buckfirelaw.com

I reside in Frankenmuth, Michigan, and practice in my Frankenmuth office. I specialize in Elder Law, Estate Planning, Probate and Estate Administration, Business Organizations, Real Estate Law, and I am VA certified. I am a frequent speaker and seminar presenter on estate planning and elder law. My practice in the field of elder law covers Medicaid qualification, estate planning, Guardianship, Conservatorships, and Veterans benefits. I am a member of the Frankenmuth Morning Rotary. I am an active member and have served on the Board of Directors for the Northeastern Michigan Estate Planning Council and the Covenant Health Care Foundation....

Located in Troy, Michigan (near Detroit), I am a litigation attorney with an emphasis on probate litigation (will and trust contests, guardianships, beneficiary rights, estate administration, undue influence, fraud, elder abuse and related litigation), as well as commercial litigation, business planning, real estate, and personal injury. I am co-author of Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights!

Mr. Boroja focuses his practice on Probate Administration, Litigation, Estate Planning, and Elder Law. He prides himself on his comprehensive and detailed approach to each client. He works diligently to find solutions to every situation. Mr. Boroja was selected for inclusion in Michigan’s Super Lawyer list and as a Rising Star in 2016, and he has maintained this rating ever since. No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in each state are selected by the research team to receive this honor. He performs best in high-risk, high-rewards, high-pressure systems, which makes him perfectly suited for the courtroom. Progressive,...

Erin R. Solaiman (Erin Randall) is a senior partner at Schock Solaiman Ramdayal, PLLC, with several years of experience in Elder Law, Estate Planning, Probate, Trust Administration, Wealth Preservation, and Veteran’s Benefits. Prior to founding Schock Solaiman Ramdayal, PLLC, Erin R. Solaiman earned her Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University and her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Erin’s career focuses on Elder Law and Estate Planning. For the past several years, she has been representing individuals and families while guiding them through some of the most difficult times of their lives. Erin’s...

Mr. Small is a transactional attorney specializing in strengthening business relationships through strategic counseling, legal risk analysis and contract management. He also serves as a FINRA Arbitrator assisting in the resolution of claims in the investment and financial industry.

He is experienced with Corporate Governance, as well as state and federal casework relating to Commercial Litigation. Mark has served as General Counsel for privately held corporation and LLC's., and as a Special Assistant Attorney General (SAAG) for the State Attorney General's Office. He previously served as a Pre-Hearing Attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals.

My training taught me to be a detail oriented, analytical thinker, problem solver and effective communicator. My experience in diverse settings fostered that skill set. I have marketed my practice and businesses, mentored teams with high retention rates, and served businesses and consumers with a focus on empathy and integrity. I have substantive knowledge in the following areas of expertise: Estate planning, probate, employment, healthcare, real estate, banking, corporate, transactional, environmental and contractual law. My strengths include: - Mentoring, coaching and encouraging - Effectively communicating, both verbally and in writing - Accepting Responsibility and Accountability - Managing projects...

I manage the business of life. A life well lived is a business. When I represent a client, I look at their life as a whole and put together a comprehensive plan to assure that they are better off after my representation of them. This applies to their divorce settlements as well as their estate planning.

At the Law Office of John V. Deku, PLC, I provide my clients with personal and dedicated attention directly from the attorney who will handle their case. I take the time to walk you through all of the steps of your case, give you advice about all of your legal options and make sure that any questions you have are adequately answered. Your best interests are the driving force behind my representation of you. If I am unable to provide you the representation your situation needs I will help find you a competent attorney who can.

Aric K. Melder has assisted each of his clients with the finest legal representation possible while upholding the ethics, spirit, and intent of the law. He was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 1996. He graduated from Detroit College of Law, at Michigan State University with a Juris Doctor, in 1996, and Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1993. Aric K. Melder has concentrated his expertise and experience in the areas of Family Law, Divorce, Adoption, Bankruptcy, Debt Collection /Debt Collection Defense, Asset Protection, Real Estate, Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning, Criminal Defense, Drunk Driving, Traffic...

Mike's passion is helping people. Whether it’s his career in estate planning, business coaching, or the gym he runs out of his garage, helping others gets him out of bed everyday (at 4:30am!). Mike’s legal career started in workers’ compensation insurance defense, where he would focus the majority of his practice until 2010, when many people in Mike’s life began having children. Out of this change, bore his love for estate planning, where he was able to use his skills as an attorney to help others plan for the future. From there, Mike’s passion expanded into Elder Law, where he...

Danielle B. Mayoras is a shareholder at Barron, Rosenberg, Mayoras & Mayoras. She is an estate, elder law and special needs attorney who is passionate about helping individuals and families plan for their future generations to come. She applies her considerable knowledge and experience (almost three decades) to help clients and their families. Danielle and her husband are co-authors of the best-selling book, Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights! and are co-hosts of the TV show Fortune Fights airing on the REELZ Channel as well as Trial & Heirs: Protect Your Family Fortune! airing on PBS affiliates. She is also a...

Sean Patrick Cox has represented hundreds of clients since 1994 when he was admitted to practice. In addition, he was admitted to the State Bar of Florida in 1995. Sean practices in two main areas, family law and elder law. When Sean was a teen, his parents divorced, giving him personal knowledge of how devastating the divorce process can be to all family members involved. Sean has represented clients in complex divorce cases since 1994, he is considered to be one of the top divorce attorneys in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has taken hundreds of cases to trial and he...

Compassionate estate planning and estate administration with a focus on the unique needs of each client.

John B. Payne, Attorney, established his practice in 1983, becoming a full-service general practice and litigation firm in 1988, when John received his LL.M. in Taxation. John lectures on estate planning and other topics to groups interested in legal issues. He is the author of Michigan Probate and Counseling the Elderly Client in Michigan, plus numerous articles and seminar manuals. Experienced in appellate matters John has appealed many criminal, civil rights and tax cases in state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

I am an Estate Planning and Business Succession Planning Attorney, with the Saginaw - based law firm of Smith Bovill, P.C. I have been a Partner in the firm since 1991. I enjoy working with families and their estate planning and family businesses to help them with succession planning. We work with clients, most often on a flat fee basis, with a no-fee, no-obligation initial consultation. Clients meet with me personally on a one-to-one basis in all cases. Our staff is courteous, professional, knowledgeable and friendly. My philosophy is to build long-term relationships with clients.

Sanford J. Melder has helped thousands of people as an attorney. He was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 1974. He graduated from Wayne State University with a Jurist Doctor in 1973, and Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Science in 1968. Sanford J. Melder has practiced law for over 30 years, representing clients in legal matters including Family Law, Divorce, Adoption, Real Estate, Debt Collection/Debt Collection Defense, Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning, Asset Protection, Criminal Defense, Traffic Matters, Drunk Driving, Business Law and Personal Injury. Areas of Practice: Family Law Divorce Adoption Real Estate Debt Collection/Debt Collection Defense Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning Asset...

Sandy is the founder and senior partner of Mall Malisow & Cooney, P.C. - The Holistic ElderCare Special Needs & Estate Planning Law Firm located in Farmington Hills, Oakland County, Michigan. Sandy is a past Chairperson of the Elder Law & Disability Rights Section of the State Bar of Michigan. He is a nationally board certified as an elder law attorney (CELA) by the National Elder Law Foundation, a VA Accredited Attorney and is a member of NAELA's Council of Advanced Practitioners (CAP). Mr. Mall is a contributing editor and faculty for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE).

Sandy's credentials...

Doug McPhail has more than 30 years experience helping families, like yours, protect their estates from nursing home poverty, taxes and unnecessary probate expenses. Doug earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Mass Communications from Taylor University where he was active in student government leadership roles. After college, Doug enrolled at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law where he graduated with honors in 1988. Doug earned the American Jurisprudence Award for Academic Excellence in the area of professional responsibility and was published member of the University of Detroit Law Review. While in law school, Doug...