South Haven Estate Planning Lawyers

I am a U.S. Navy Veteran.

In 2015, my family and I moved to St. Joseph, Michigan where I manage the Saint Joseph, Michigan office of Kreis Enderle. My legal practice consists of helping clients throughout Southwest Michigan (Kalamazoo, Van Buren, Berrien and Cass Counties) with divorce, child custody, estate planning and business matters.

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

Albert W. Laaksonen II, is the founding attorney of Laaksonen Law Offices, P.C. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his JD from the Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington, Indiana.
Attorney Laaksonen is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, Van Buren County Bar Association, and the Kalamazoo County Bar Association. He is certified as both a Civil Mediator and a Domestic Relations Mediator.

He currently serves on the Community Corrections Board for Van Buren County, and the the Kalamazoo Christian School Association Board.

Attorney Laaksonen specializes...

Tim Slais graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science. In 1995, he became a Michigan State Police Trooper, and he was assigned to the South Haven Post where he investigated both traffic and criminal complaints. After being shot in the line of duty, Tim retired from the State Police in 2005, and he went on to study law at Thomas M. Cooley Law School. In 2009, Tim graduated Magna Cum Laude in the top 3% of his class with a concentration in Litigation. Following law school, Tim was an Assistant Prosecuting...

I've been a lawyer in Lansing since 2005 and live in the area with my wife and two young children. I started Family Wills & Trusts, PLC after deaths in my own family revealed critical short-comings in the way estate plans fall apart, or are never quite put together correctly from the beginning. I pride myself on offering certainty and satisfaction to clients and their families. I usually work with with clients over a period of 5 weeks, addressing each nuance of their estate plan and making sure that when our time working together is through, they leave my...

Hello! My name is Thomas Trent Harris and I go by my middle name, Trent. I was born and raised in Jackson, Michigan and went to the Jackson Public Schools, graduating from Jackson High School in 1995. I earned my bachelor's degree from Albion College in 1999 and my juris doctor degree from Chicago Kent College of Law in 2008. I am licensed to practice in Michigan and Illinois, and my law practice today is focused almost completely on estate planning for individuals, families, and business owners.

Robert Gavin is the Senior Associate at Shifman & Carlson, P.C. He has been practicing law since 2008, and was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2015, 2018, and 2019. He was also listed by DBusiness Magazine as a Top Lawyer in the Metro Detroit Area for Public Finance Law in both 2014, 2017, and 2018.

Rob brings a wide variety of skills and a diverse background to bear for his clients, including his experience with contract negotiation, employee issues, construction issues. Rob's undergraduate degree is in engineering, which has also been useful to clients during construction issues and in...

The best part of being a lawyer is helping others with their legal issues. I don’t pay for TV advertisements or premium on-line placements. Instead, I do the best I can at a fair price for my valuable clients who in turn pay me the ultimate compliment by referring me to others who may need legal services. Here are a few things I ask you to consider.

- I deal directly with my clients. I do not pass you on to a junior associate; I do the actual work, which I continue to find interesting and rewarding.

-I work...

Mrs. Herson is a 2013 graduate of Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School. During her tenure at Cooley, she was a student attorney in the Sixty Plus Clinic performing over 270 hours of Pro bono service in Estate Planning. She is a current Board member for the Sixty Plus Clinic and continues to advocate for protecting our elderly. In addition to zealously advocating for her clients, Mrs. Herson is an adjunct law and MBA professor for several universities and has co-authored a nonprofit law book.

Nicholas Leydorf is a graduate of Michigan State University and The Catholic University of America: Columbus School of Law. Nicholas has extensive experience in all types of criminal defense cases, including high profile criminal cases. He enjoys spending time with his family and has previously served the East Lansing Rotary Club as a board member.

The Law Office of Eric J. Sheppard represents clients in criminal cases and divorce/custody cases, as well as many other areas of law. We fight for our client's rights. We provide diligent representation and give personalized attention to all of our cases. Contact us today at 517-618-1580.

Born in the small town of Hart, Anna is a lifelong Michigan resident. She moved to Muskegon to practice law, joining Parmenter Law in 1997—fulfilling her goal of staying close to Lake Michigan. Anna enjoys helping people which is reflected in her legal practice that focuses on elder law, estate planning and trust and estate administration.

In helping clients and their families, Anna takes a solution-oriented approach that goes far beyond addressing the immediate problem. Her comprehensive, integrated strategy includes a full evaluation of the client's and family's needs and goals, both short-term and long-term. In addition to providing the right...

Raymond A. Harris is a shareholder with Buhl, Little, Lynwood & Harris, PLC in East Lansing, Michigan. He practices in the areas of estate planning, elder law, probate and trust administration and litigation, guardianships and conservatorships, special needs planning, and Medicaid planning. Raymond is licensed to practice in both Michigan and Florida. He is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and serves on the board of directors for the Michigan NAELA chapter. Raymond is a frequent speaker and author on topics relating to Medicaid planning, special needs planning, elder law, probate,...

Howard "Jack" Weyers, Jr. is a well-loved attorney practicing in the greater Lansing area. Jack spent the first portion of his career helping his father, Howard Weyers, Sr. to build WEYCO Inc. in Okemos, MI where they specialized in administering employee benefits to businesses across the state. Growing up, Jack had always thought about attending law school, and after his father sold WEYCO Inc., he decided to finish his Bachelors Degree at Spring Arbor University and pursue his J.D. at Cooley Law School shortly after. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in January of 2015. Days before taking the Bar Exam,...

My practice is focused on estate planning, family law, and probate. I assist clients with various matters such as preparing trusts and wills, estate planning administration, guardian and conservatorship, health care directives, divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and prenuptial agreements.

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...

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...

Harold Leo Emelander was raised in Newaygo, Michigan. After graduating from Newaygo High School, he attended Grand Valley State University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. He then went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2006. To further his education he then moved to Florida where he attended The University of Florida College of Law and received his LLM in Taxation in 2007. Mr. Emelander began his legal career in Miami, Florida at an accounting firm. He utilized his degree in taxation law by advising clients on individual,...

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...

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

Assistant Attorney General for the State of Michigan since 2011.

My practice is focused exclusively on estate planning. I take great effort to stay up-to-date with changes in the law and implement new drafting techniques to provide thorough and comprehensive planning for our client’s specific needs. I also strive to draft documents in plain English so that my clients can understand them. My practice is unique in that we do not operate out of a traditional brick and mortar office. We come to you!