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Mike is a managing shareholder who joined Ferguson Widmayer & Clark PC in 2015. Mike focuses his practice on estate planning, trust and estate and administration, wealth and tax planning for high-net-worth clients, and elder law. Prior to joining Ferguson Widmayer & Clark, Mike advised small business owners on entity formation, general business law and employment matters, contracts, and general litigation. Over time he gravitated towards estate planning, wealth and tax planning, and elder law, because he enjoys developing long-term relationships with his clients and assisting them in identifying and achieving their goals in all stages of life. As an estate planner, he helps individuals, families, and business owners plan and prepare for all life’s events. Mike enjoys assisting clients prepare for marriage, starting a family, temporary illness or injury, and end of life decisions.
Mike often advises clients and other attorneys on matters involving inherited retirement accounts; reducing gift tax, estate tax, and generation skipping transfer tax exposure; and related property tax and income tax issues. In addition to more complex tax matters, Mike helps clients navigate through the later stages of life to ensure that clients or their loved ones receive a high quality of life and care, while at the same time, if possible or appropriate, reducing the financial impact on the family.
Mike is a veteran of the United States Army and the Michigan National Guard, where he served as a paratrooper in the infantry and as a crew chief and helicopter repairer on Black Hawk Helicopters. After separating from service, he graduated from Oakland University with a B.S. in Human Resources Development in 2008, magna cum laude, and then from Wayne State University Law School in 2011, cum laude. Mike met his wife Stephanie while studying for the bar exam. They have a lovely daughter and enjoy spending their free time with their extended family.
Published Works
- Chapter in Trust Administration Under the Michigan Trust Code (Administering Retirement Accounts Payable to the Trust) (Institute of Continuing Legal Education 2017)
- A Glance at Gun Trusts (Co-Author Nicholas Reister), Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Journal (Vol. 33, Winter, 1987)
Honors and Awards
- Michigan Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Estate Planning and Probate Attorney, 2014-2016 & 2018-2021
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Michigan Bar Association
- Probate and Estate Planning Council, 2022-present
- Chair of Legislative Monitoring and Analysis Committee, 2022-present
- Member of Uniform Power of Attorney Act Ad-Hoc Committee, 2021-present
- American Bar Association
- Real Property and Trusts and Estates Section, 2015-present
- Taxation Section, 2015-2022
- Homes for Generations Program, Pro Bono Attorney
- Washtenaw County Estate Planning Council, 2015-present
- Washtenaw County Bar Association, 2015-present
- Probate and Estate Planning Section
- Western Michigan Estate Planning Council, 2014-2015
Areas of Practice
- Trusts and Estate Planning
- Estate Planning for Retirement Benefits
- Wealth and Tax Planning
- Trust and Estate Administration
- Medicaid Planning
- Elder law
- Real Estate Law
- Business Law
Bar Admissions
- Michigan, 2011
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, 2011
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, 2011
Education
- Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan
J.D., Cum Laude, Oder of the Coif, 2011 - Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan
B.S. Human Resource Development, magna cum laude, 2008
Education
- Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan
J.D., cum laude, Oder of the Coif, 2011 - Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan
B.S. Human Resource Development, magna cum laude, 2008