Shepherd Estate Planning Lawyers

My practice is focused on family law and estate planning. I assist clients with various matters such as divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, prenuptial agreements, civil litigation, preparing trusts, and wills. I have worked on hundreds of family law cases with excellent results for my clients.

Melissa K. Allen has served the Greater Lansing area since 1995, offering compassionate and professional estate planning services. A University of Michigan and then Thomas M. Cooley Law School graduate, she earned multiple honors, including Cum Laude distinction and top 7% of her class. Ms. Allen has been recognized with the "People's Choice Award for Favorite Attorney" seven times and frequently speaks on estate planning. Her approachable manner and expertise simplify complex issues, such as second marriages and beneficiaries with disabilities, making the process easy and rewarding for her clients.

I founded my own firm in 2022 following admittance into the State Bar of Michigan. I graduated from Ferris State University and Western Michigan's Cooley Law School. I have always been passionate about helping others in their time of need, so I chose estate planning as my profession. I am committed to helping clients navigate planning for the future and the uncertainty it brings. Before law school, I was an elder law and estate planning paralegal for over 10 years. My passion for that area of law drove me to become an estate planner to assist clients with all their...

I live in the world of ideas and strategic planning. I value intelligence, knowledge, and competence, I have high standards in these regards, which I continuously strive to fulfill. I can objectively see the reality of a situation, and I’m adaptable enough to change things which aren’t working well. I am a strategist – always scanning available ideas and concepts and weighing them against my current strategy, to plan for every credible contingency. I am ready to work for you.

My practice is focused on business and estate planning. I regularly counsel business clients on operations and legal concerns, including drafting, reviewing, and advising on contractual matters, such as employment, buy-sell, and other corporate related documents. I place a strong emphasis on counseling my clients on risk management strategies ensuring their interests are met. Frequently, I speak to other professionals and professional groups, assisted living centers, hospitals, and government agencies across Michigan on various business, estate planning, and health related topics.

My practice is concentrated in four principal areas: consumer rights, lender liability, estate planning, and probate litigation. In the field of consumer rights, I have represented individuals and classes in litigation under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. Most frequently my clients are individuals or businesses pursuing or defending their legal rights against banks, financial institutions, mortgage servicers and other large corporations. Westbrook Law PLLC also provides services to clients in the areas of estate planning and probate and trust administration...

Wyatt Wells is a partner attorney at Kimball & Wells, PLLC. He currently services clients in Grand Rapids and its surrounding areas, focusing on estate planning, probate, and other related issues. Wyatt graduated Magna Cum Laude from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Before attending law school, he earned a B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Michigan, as well as a Masters of Public Health from the University of South Florida.

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...

Attorney Michael Haddock earned a Master of Laws in Commercial Real Estate Law and Development and a Juris Doctor JD with an emphasis in litigation and has years of corporate insurance law and litigation experience. His clients are individuals and businesses throughout the U.S. with a large percentage from Saugatuck, Douglas, Holland, South Haven, Chicago, and Kent, Van Buren Ottawa, and Allegan Counties. He serves our expanded community in issues regarding real estate, wills and trusts and litigation defending contractors, developers, real estate holding companies, assisted living communities, condominium associations, businesses and individuals and...

Attorney Tim Klisz is a full service lawyer for over 20 years in metro Detroit. Assisting individuals and small businesses in the following areas: personal injury, car accidents, wrongful death, criminal law, probate and estate planning, real estate law and collections. Free phone consultation available for any area of law.

William A. Lamb is an estate planning and elder law attorney in Chelsea, Michigan. Bill and his wife Amy live in Chelsea with their three daughters.

Ms. Arnold graduated with her Juris Doctor in 2008 from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and holds a Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning from Michigan State University. Prior to starting her own practice Ms. Arnold was an Associate Attorney at a boutique elder law firm, and also worked for several years in legal aid. In her current practice Ms. Arnold focuses in the areas of elder law, probate, and estate planning. She also regular presents and speaks on these issues.

Attorney Keilen is licensed to practice law in the State of Michigan, the Federal US District Court for the Western District of Michigan, and the Federal US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Attorney Keilen is a Board Member and Attorney Representative for Kalamazoo Plus; he is an Advisory Board Member for the Michigan Medical Device Accelerator.

Attorney Keilen is a commercial litigator specializing in closely held business disputes; he is also the founder/owner of a local medical device company, giving him a unique appreciation for the legal issues in today’s business environment. Attorney Keilen has been a guest...

Christopher has lived in Grand Rapids since 1st grade, He graduated from City High School, and then moved on to Grand Valley State University, where he met his wife, Devon. After receiving his Bachelor's in English and Political Science, Christopher moved on to complete his legal education at Thomas M. cooley Law School, and was admitted to the bar in 2011. His practice at The Grand Rapids Law Group handles criminal defense, divorce & child custody, business law, drunk driving defense, social security & disability, and other legal matters.

Ms. Breen specializes in family law which includes divorce, child custody disputes, child support, spousal support, and prenuptial agreements. She also prepares estate plans which includes the preparation of trusts, wills, powers of attorneys for finance and medical care, and setting up guardianships/conservatorships. Ms. Breen has litigated hundreds of cases and has the experience to represent her clients in court.

Joe has been practicing law for over 20 years. He serves the greater Grand Rapids area and has worked with the majority of the courts in Kent and the surrounding counties. He is well known to other attorneys in the area and has a positive working relationship with court officers and law enforcement agencies.

My practice focuses on criminal defense including misdemeanors and felonies in both the trial and appellant courts. He has a strong interest in complex constitutional law issues and their applicability in the criminal justice system. I am an active member of the Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System commonly known as the MAACS; an organization responsibly for nearly 84% of all assigned criminal appeals cases in Michigan. My practice also includes a strong emphasis in family and estate law including: parent’s rights, divorce litigation, custody, parenting time, child support, guardianships, estate planning, probate litigation and juvenile matters. I...

Frank Hathaway studied at the University of Detroit-Mercy graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. He studied law at Michigan State University College of Law graduating with the degree of Juris Doctor, Cum Laude. Mr. Hathaway is admitted to practice in all Michigan Courts, the United States Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, and the United States Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan. He is an active member in good standing with the State Bar of Michigan, a former member of its Representative Assembly, a member of the Criminal Law...

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....

George Zulakis has successfully represented clients in criminal and juvenile matters for over 30 years. He is a recognized leader in the field of criminal defense and has been nominated by his peers for Lead Counsel Rating in state felonies and misdemeanors and for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (DUI subspecialty, 2009-2016). Mr. Zulakis has experience in many areas of criminal defense, including DUI/drunk driving, domestic violence, assault, breaking and entering, drug crimes, sex crimes, juvenile delinquency, embezzlement, fraud, shoplifting, MIP/minor in possession, and traffic offenses. For more details on Mr. Zulakis's extensive legal experience, honors, and...

With over eighteen years' experience in both law firm and large corporate environments, handling local, national, and international transactions of various types, I am able to assist clients in structuring and completing complex transactions while maintaining a personalized focus. Our firm appreciates each opportunity we have to learn a client's needs and provide customized solutions to the client's legal issues. I have substantial experience in real estate, corporate structure and governance, commercial contracts and procurement, mergers and acquisitions, estate and succession planning, and construction.

Ivan is a dedicated Divorce and Family Law attorney that works diligently to fight for fairness for Men and Fathers. He is proud of his affiliation with the American Divorce Association for Men (ADAM).

Clay Wittman served 26 years in the Active Duty US Air Force, retiring as a Colonel in 2009. He is now "retired" in Grand Rapids. He has "been around the block" a few times and knows what it means to serve others. As a Lawyer, Clay Wittman takes a very limited number of clients, so that he can serve those few clients with the care and attention they deserve. Clay is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, and the Western Michigan Law School. He graduated Law School Magna Cum Laude and...

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...

Blake Lipman has been a practicing attorney in Michigan since 1995. He worked as a real estate lawyer for a number of title companies for approximately 5 years. He is a graduate of Wayne State University Business School and Wayne State University Law School. Mr. Lipman practices in the greater tri-county area, which includes Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, Washtenaw, and Monroe counties. Mr. Lipman has a reputation as a tough, fair, and experienced litigator.

Our legal team is just that, a team. We work as one, highly experienced unit when dealing with complex and often personal legal matters. When clients want a question answered, any available lawyer can answer it. You need that level of advocacy when a life-changing event occurs and puts your future in doubt. Sheehan & Associates, P.L.C is a litigation firm founded by Robert Sheehan. While we recognize the value of negotiation to resolve cases, we do not hesitate to take a legal matter to trial if that provides the best outcome. Our hope is that the first...

Sabrina Cronin is the Founder and President of The Cronin Law Firm. Following Sabrina’s lead, the breadth and depth of knowledge at The Cronin Law Firm is quite expansive. She and her team handle family law, business law, criminal defense, estate planning, entertainment law, personal injury, real estate, bankruptcy, civil litigation, employment law and immigration. In more than two decades as an attorney, Sabrina has fed her curiosity and challenged herself to become intimately involved in multiple areas of the law. Her professional experience is distinctive and varied. She began as an associate attorney for Sullivan, Ward, Bone, Tyler,...

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...

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.

Associate Attorney