Ross Legal Group, PC | 3824 Elizabeth Lake Rd. | Waterford, MI 48328
Michelle J. Doherty
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Estate Planning
- Wills
- Revocable Living Trusts, including drafting of new documents and amendments to existing documents.
- Power of Attorney for Health Care (also know as Living Will or Health Care Directives)
- Power of Attorney for finances
- Estate planning through beneficiary designations
Quit Claim Deeds and Lady Bird Deeds-- to either fund the trust or to disburse of real estate outside the probate estate.
Probate Administration--handling all aspects of the probate estate including large asset and/or high conflict cases.
Trust Administration, including deed transfers and complete trust funding.
Certificate of Trusts--necessary for the continued management of the trust.
Guardianship - Conservatorship
- Guardianship over a minor child
- Guardianship over an incapacitated adult
- Guardianship over a individual with a developmental disability
- Conservatorship for a minor child
- Conservatorship for an incapacitate adult
Elder Law and Medicaid planning--Working with the family to assist the older individual to qualify for medicaid to pay for long-term nursing home care.
LEGAL EXPERIENCE:
I have been a practice attorney for 27 years. I have always focused my practice in the estate planning, probate, and elder law realm so that I can provide my clients with the best legal representation while planning their end of or after life choices.
I will always remember my first semester of my first year of law school when I learned that after paying income tax your entire life, you may have to pay federal estate taxes after your death because you saved money. I was shocked and offended by this. I was further shocked when I learned that this estate tax was paid by the average upper middle class family, not just the super wealthy. It was at that time I learned ways to avoid paying that tax.. After graduation, I opened my own law practice and honed my knowledge in probate and estate planning and my skills as a lawyer. I have assisted hundreds of families in planning the business of their life. Because of the respectful relationships I foster with my clients and the superior services I provide them, I continue to receive referrals from the first clients I assisted in 1997.
In 2004, I joined Ross Legal Group, P.C. to focus my practice and balance my life because my first son was born. My second son was born in 2008, making balance even more important. At Ross Legal Group, P.C. I continue to provide my old clients and now my new clients with wonderful service. Recognizing that each client’s needs are different, I provide them personalized service, educate them about the law, and guide them through their legal process on a level they understand.
Over the years, I have provided legal services at various legal aids centers across the metro Detroit area; I have moderated several seminars for the Institute for Continuing Legal Education; and assisted many clients by making home and hospital visits when they are unable to come to my office. For several years, I tried cases for Department of Human Services. I assisted the Department by removing children from neglectful families, including terminating parental rights when necessary.
EDUCATION:
1992 – Graduated from the James Madison College of Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan with a Bachelors of Arts degree in American Public Affairs, Minor in History
1997 – Graduated with Distinction from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan
2009 – Certificate of Completion in Probate and Estate Planning by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, the education provider of the State Bar of Michigan.
