Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C.

  • Established in 1902
  • Firm Size 97

  • Peer Reviews

    4.7/5.0 (225)
  • Profile Visibility [ i ]
    • #9 in weekly profile views out of 259 Law Firms in Lansing, MI
    • #1,022 in weekly profile views out of 314,629 total law firms Overall
Attorney Awards
  • Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV Preeminent Rating
  • Champion Badge Reviewed
About Attorney Awards

Trust & Estate Administration

Trust and estate administration can often be unintentionally challenging due to a variety of reasons such as changing laws, family dynamics, and the estate planning tools selected.

Institutional and individual clients such as business owners, professionals, families, and retirees are among the clients who seek our counsel. The issues our trust and estate administration attorneys regularly handle on behalf of administrators include: 

  • Identification of proper tax-planning techniques
     
  • Discretionary distributions of income or principal to one or more beneficiaries
     
  • Acquisition, disposition and expenditure of assets
     
  • Complex will contests
     
  • Trust administration disputes
     
  • Fiduciary malpractice defense 
     
  • Probate and trust litigation matters
     
  • Preparation of notices, accountings, petitions, and orders for the Court in addition to both estate and income tax returns

Foster Swift attorneys practicing in this area are highly regarded by peers and clients for their legal skills and professionalism.  More than half the group is recognized in Best Lawyers in America and three are members of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, an elite organization of the top estate planning and administration attorneys in the country.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

Obtained a full refund of assessed penalties on large estate due to professional tax preparer error

Analysis of Decedent's Income Tax Issues whom Failed to File Year Prior

Successfully defended trustee in probate court litigation against a disgruntled sibling's allegations

Drafting of Tax Planning Trusts

People (97)

sort and filter SORT & FILTER
0 Applied Filters
Refine Results
no photo
Richard A. Dietz
Attorney
No Reviews
Detroit, MI

Business & Commercial Litigation, Insurance Defense, Maritime Law, Transportation Law View More

no photo
Mallory Reader
Attorney
No Reviews
Grand Rapids, MI

Administrative & Regulatory Law, Appellate Practice, Religious Liberty Law, Government, Real Estate, Litigation View More

no photo
Frank Defrancesco
Shareholder
No Reviews
St. Joseph, MI

Business Law, Collections / Creditor - Debtor Rights, Construction Contracts, Construction Law, Employment Law, Environmental Law, Finance, Real Estate & Bankruptcy Law, Foreclosure, Municipal & Public Entity, Municipal Law, Real Estate Development, Real Estate Law, Zoning & Land Use, Probate & Estate Planning, Government Law, Real Property Law, Labor & Employment Law, Land Use & Zoning, Landlord & Tenant View More

no photo
John Kamins
Shareholder
No Reviews
Farmington Hills, MI

Governance & Securities, Appellate Practice, Arts, Business & Corporate, Comm., Corporate Finance, Entertainment & Sports, Government Law, Public Finance - Bond, School Law Services, Startup Entrepreneurial Emerging Development (S.E.E.D), Securities Offerings View More

no photo
Julie Hamlet
Associate
No Reviews
Grand Rapids, MI , 
Holland, MI
+ 1 more

Taxation, Employee Benefits, Health Care, HIPAA Privacy & Security Compliance View More

no photo
Paul Millenbach
Shareholder
No Reviews
Detroit, MI , 
Farmington Hills, MI
+ 1 more

General & Commercial Litigation, Litigation, Mass Tort, Negligence Law, No-Fault Litigation, Transportation Law View More

no photo
Dirk Beckwith
Shareholder
No Reviews
Farmington Hills, MI

Arbitration & Mediation, Business & Commercial Litigation, Construction Contracts, Construction Law, General & Commercial Litigation, Litigation, No-Fault Litigation, Real Property Law, Transportation Law, Negligence Law View More

no photo
Brian Renaud
Shareholder
No Reviews
Farmington Hills, MI

Administrative & Regulatory Law, Business Law, Commercial Litigation, Condemnation & Eminent Domain, Environmental Law, Labor Relations, Licensing - Professional - Business - Government, Municipal & Public Entity, Real Property Law View More

Peer Reviews

4.7/5.0 (225 reviews)

  • Legal Knowledge

    4.7/5.0

  • Analytical Capability

    4.7/5.0

  • Judgment

    4.7/5.0

  • Communication

    4.7/5.0

  • Legal Experience

    4.7/5.0

  • 5.0/5.0 Review for Michael Oliva by a Partner on 07/27/14 in Administrative Agency Practice

    I've known Mike for almost 40 years. He's a first-rate lawyer and a first-rate individual.

    Flag review

  • 5.0/5.0 Review for Michael Oliva by a Sole Practitioner on 07/19/14 in Business Law

    An absolutely excellent attorney.

    Flag review
Peer reviews submitted prior to 2008 are not displayed.

Client Reviews Write a Review

Location

Contact Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C.

Required Fields

Required Fields

Clear All Fields

By clicking on the "Submit" button, you agree to the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms and Privacy Policy. You also consent to be contacted at the phone number you provided, including by autodials, text messages and/or pre-recorded calls, from Martindale and its affiliates and from or on behalf of attorneys you request or contact through this site. Consent is not a condition of purchase.

You should not send any sensitive or confidential information through this site. Emails sent through this site do not create an attorney-client relationship and may not be treated as privileged or confidential. The lawyer or law firm you are contacting is not required to, and may choose not to, accept you as a client. The Internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent though this site could be intercepted or read by third parties.