Sears Probate Lawyers

About half of my practice consists of local government representation. The remainder is real estate, estate planning, probate, collections and general business matters. We strive to provide prompt and professional services with personal attention and care.

I am an attorney licensed to practice in Michigan, Illinois and Minnesota. I primarily practice in bankruptcy, foreclosure, real estate, estate planning and probate.

David T. McAndrew, Attorney at Law, PLLC, was licensed in Michigan in 1998 and admitted to practice in Federal Courts. David McAndrew can assist you in stopping the harassment, the late night phone calls, wage garnishments, lawsuits, judgments, and the aggressive debt collection techniques used by many debt collectors. He will work directly with you to determine the best course of action for your individual situation.

David T. McAndrew is a member of the following:
Michigan Bar Association
Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of Michigan
Federal Bar Association, Western District of Michigan
National Association of...

A native Michigander and veteran of the United States Air Force, Patrick Cherry received his B.A. degree with high honors from University of Michigan in 2012. He then worked as a judicial intern and law clerk while attending Wayne State University Law School, graduating in 2015. After graduation, Patrick moved with his family to Interlochen to enable his oldest son to attend the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy. Patrick joined McCurdy, Wotila & Porteous in April 2016 as the newest Associate Attorney in the firm. As a trial lawyer, Patrick represents our clients in all types of litigation including...

I enjoy the interaction with people where I can explain something that may seem complex in a way that helps them understand. As a former teacher, I do enjoy those ah-ha moments where things click. I enjoy talking with clients and getting to know them and their situation, so that I can find the best possible solutions for their needs. I believe that effective estate planning is a critical component of my client’s life planning. I believe that family fights over inheritance are unnecessary and wasteful. Families achieve better outcomes through planning rather than fighting. While it is...

My mission is to assist clients in making informed and educated decisions with no false representation, and to provide realistic expectations for their outcomes. Over the course of the last several years, I have represented thousands of clients, handled multi-million dollar trusts, and provided pro-bono work for select local residents in need.

Brandon is passionate about helping individuals, families, and business owners achieve peace of mind by developing and implementing creative cost effective plans tailored for each client. He aims to be his clients' attorney for life, helping to develop strategies that minimize risk, maximize returns on investment, and create legacies that last for generations to come.

Brandon received his undergraduate degree with honors from Michigan State University in History with a concentration in Mandarin Chinese, and his JD from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 2011. While at Case, he focused his studies on Federal income, estate, gift, and generation...

Brent Geers specializes in helping people empower those they trust and provide for those they love. Brent has been an attorney since 2012, working with individuals and families to marshal their time, talent, and treasurer for the benefit of their children, family, and community. He is a Grand Rapids Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” honoree, and currently operates his own practice, Geers Law. Brent is married to an educator, who employs his services as a chaperon for various school functions. He is also his daughter’s father – a girl who will become a president, not a princess.

Estate Planning Attorney – Biography Matthew V. Piwowar is the founder of Legacy Architects PLLC. His practice focuses on Estate Planning, Trusts and Wills, Special Needs Children, Business Succession, Long-Term Care, and Probate. He has over 30 years of experience advising on estate planning, business law, mergers & acquisitions, finance, and international law. Mr. Piwowar was born in Marquette, MI and grew up in West Michigan. He provides services to his clients statewide, from Grandville and Grand Rapids, south to Three Rivers and Kalamazoo, north to Boyne City and St. Ignace. Experience Piwowar’s background includes such transactions as: the sale of a...

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,...

I am rated AV by Martindale Hubbell. I completed my Certificate of Completion for the Probate and Estate Planning Certificate Program in Michigan in 2010. I practiced in the area of insurance defense litigation from 1989 through 2012. I have tried over 60 civil jury cases. My practice now focuses on estate planning, probate, and trust administration.

I live in Northern Michigan, married with two adult children and a dog. I play guitar in 3 different rock n roll cover bands. I also attempt to sing...

Scot focuses on business law, real estate development, employment law, estate planning, probate, and commercial litigation. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan and his J.D., with cum laude honors, from the Notre Dame Law School. While at Notre Dame, Scot was an editor with the Journal of Legislation and clerked for the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Flint, MI, and the Michigan Supreme Court in Lansing, MI. After graduating from Notre Dame Law School, Scot clerked with the Michigan Court of Appeals in Grand Rapids, MI. In January of...

KELLY G. LAMBERT was born in Omaha, Nebraska and graduated from Ottawa Hills High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1981. In 1985, he received his Bachelor of Arts in international relations from Michigan State University where he was a National Merit Scholar. In December 1988, he received his law degree from University of Michigan Law School, where he was the recipient of the Wolverine State Bar Association Scholarship. In 1989 he was licensed to practice law in New York. In 1990 he was admitted to practice law in Michigan. He was admitted to practice...

BUSINESS LAW. With my education (JD, MBA, CPA) and experience (Attorney and Business Executive) I bring an unusual extensive knowledge and experience in both the business legal world and the business operations world. As a result, I understand both the business and legal aspects of most situations.

ESTATE PLANNING. I have developed an unique process to help clients understand how an estate plan works in order to help them make informed decisions so they have a peace of mind knowing what how their estate plan will unfold as life progresses.

PROBATE. For those looking to keep...

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...

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.

Robert Banner has 28 years experience serving clients in Northern Michigan. Areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, Divorce, Child Custody, Parenting Time, Drunk Driving, Estate Planning including drafting Wills and Trusts. We serve clients in Boyne City, Charlevoix, Petoskey, Boyne Falls, Bellaire, Central Lake and Gaylord. Mr. Banner was appointed by the Attorney General's Office in April 2018, as Public Administrator for Charlevoix County, Michigan.

Benjamin Stoltman focuses on Adult and Minor Guardianships, Wills, Trusts and Estates, Adoptions, Non-Profit Formation, Business Transactions, and Appeals.

Ben graduated magna cum laude from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. While in law school, Benjamin served as a member of Law Review and was the recipient of numerous awards for academic merit, including top marks in civil procedure, military law, and the professional responsibility seminar.

Benjamin was also inducted as a member of the Justice Frank Murphy Honor Society, an honor reserved for students graduating in the top ten percent of their class.

Prior to starting...

Amir practices Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, VA Planning, Probate, Estate Planning, and Business Transactions. He has an extensive background of helping the elderly through his family-owned Licensed Assisted Living Homes. At Serenity Assisted Living, Amir assisted the elderly in their medical needs. Now, he hopes to help even more elderly in their legal and planning needs.

Bailor Bell has extensive experience representing victims and their families harmed or killed in notable cases across the nation and has achieved unprecedented results in civil cases involving mass shootings, sexual assault and abuse, catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, carbon monoxide poisoning, and vehicular negligence. Before joining The Fierberg National Law Group, Mr. Bell practiced as a general civil litigation attorney for eight years. Mr. Bell has represented clients in the Michigan Supreme Court, the Michigan Court of Appeals, the Michigan Court of Claims, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, the United States Court of...

Julie A. Gafkay graduated from Michigan State University in 1992 with a dual major in criminal justice and political theory. She graduated from Whittier Law School in 1995 with honors. Her first position was in Flint, Michigan focusing on civil rights and employment discrimination. In 2003, Attorney Gafkay opened her own statewide practice in Frankenmuth, Michigan. The practice's attorneys provide a general practice to the local area providing legal services in Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning, Elder Law, Business Planning, contract review, landlord/tenant issues, real estate, employment issues and other general practice areas. Attorney Gafkay has...

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...

We opened our office in Manistee, Michigan in 1995 and have been providing excellent, affordable legal services ever since. We have experienced a variety of challenges that have assisted us in developing a law practice that is particularly suited for the needs and desires of Manistee residents and visitors. We offer free initial consultations for criminal matters and personal injury cases, we only charge $100 for initial consultations for all other matters. Admitted to Practice in the State of Michigan in 1995 and Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Tribal Court in 2004. If you...

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 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.

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.

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....

With a passion for helping her community, Brandi sought a career that allows her to make a positive impact. Prior to attending law school, she worked alongside probate attorneys for nearly 10 years. She is experienced in guardianships, conservatorships, estates, and trusts. Brandi is a compassionate and dedicated advocate for her clients.

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...

Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan.