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Frank N. Soave

Frank N. Soave

Francis N. Soave & Associates
201 North Riverside Ave.
Suite 103
St. Clair, MI 48079

Phone: (810) 326-7000  |  Fax: (810) 815-2923
http://michigan-lawoffice.com/

Contact Frank N. Soave

Estate Planner, Elder Law Attorney, 20 Years Experience

Legal Topic

Wills, Trusts & Estates

Preferred New Clients

I prefer to handle cases involving estate planning, probate matters and LLC transactions.

Sub-Categories

Banking & Loans
  • Credit Unions
  • Savings & Thrifts
Insurance
  • Annuities
  • Auto Accident & Property Claims
  • Bad Faith
  • Health Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Property & Casualty
Securities & Investments
  • Capital Markets
  • Commodities
  • Foreign Investment
  • Private Placements
  • Public Offering
  • Shareholder Disputes
  • State Blue Sky Laws
  • Warrants
Taxes
  • Audit Defense
  • Estate Taxes & Gift Taxes
  • Income Taxes
  • IRS Disputes
  • IRS Filing & Compliance
  • Negotiating IRS Payments & Settlements
  • Payroll Taxes
  • Power of Attorney
  • Property Taxes
  • Sales Taxes & Use Taxes
  • Tax Evasion Defense
  • Tax Planning
Estate Planning
  • Charitable Giving
  • Charitable Trusts
  • Drafting Trusts
  • Drafting Wills
  • Estate Administration
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trusts
  • Living Wills
  • Probate
  • Asset Protection
  • Guardianship
  • Power of Attorney
  • Business Succession Planning
  • Special Needs Trust
  • Supplemental Needs Trust
  • Revocable Trust & Irrevocable Trust

Legal Topic

Bankruptcy

Preferred New Clients

I prefer to meet with clients experiencing financial difficulty arising from job losses, pay cuts, death or illness in the family, business distress or failure, divorce, or simply unmanageable bills. We counsel clients on options to deal with financial distress including debt settlements, workouts, bankruptcy, reorganization, and asset protection. Clients facing garnishment, lawsuits, collection calls and letters, tax liens, foreclosure, repossession and executions should call for a free consultation right away.

Sub-Categories

Bankruptcy
  • Chapter 13
  • Chapter 7
  • Collections & Repossessions
  • Credit Disputes
  • Debt Relief
  • Garnishments
  • Chapter 11
  • Business Bankruptcy
  • Credit Repair
  • Credit Restoration
  • Creditor Harassment
  • Family Farmer Bankruptcy Chapter 12
  • Municipality Bankruptcy Chapter 9
  • Personal Bankruptcy
  • Foreclosures

Bar Admissions

NY, Apr 1988
Bar Number: 2196194

MA, Jan 1988
Bar Number: 551050

MI, May 1987
Bar Number: P41167

Specialty Certifications

Estate planning certified.

Other Court Admissions

Michigan, New York, Massachusetts state courts, and the United States District
Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan.

Association Memberships

• Institute for continuing legal education
• St. Clair County Bar Association
• Real property and probate sections, State Bar of Michigan
• Detroit Consumer Bankruptcy Association

Continuing Education

I am a member of the Institute for Continuing Legal Education Partnership at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. I attend, either in person or via online webcasts, a variety of continuing education courses throughout the year covering areas such as estate planning, probate, real estate, tax, and business transactions.

As a member of the Consumer Bankruptcy Association, I also attend annual seminars on bankruptcy.

Papers and Publications

I published several papers on my websites. I also distributed them to attendees at the seminars I taught.

Example Cases

I have worked with various types of businesses (like C corporations, S corporations, limited liability companies or partnerships). I have prepared contracts and agreements, assisted clients when a legal action was taken out against their business, and assessed businesses for liability and risk issues.

I have been advising many of my clients for years. I have assisted clients through innumerable issues, controversies and transactions. That they continue to seek my services is testament to the long term practicality of my legal approach. I don't subscribe to the "scorched earth" approach in my clients' cases, and remain open to a continuing relationship after each case is concluded.

Education

Degree:

Juris Doctor

School:

Boston University School of Law

City:

Boston

State:

MA

Year:

1987

Honors:

American Jurisprudence Book Award for law and economics.

Focus and Accomplishments:

Society for Law and Public Policy Studies, Research Assistant, and Harvard Law School Negotiation Project.

 

Degree:

Bachelor of Arts

School:

Wayne State University

City:

Detroit

State:

MI

Year:

1984

Number of Attorneys

2

State Licensed In

Michigan, New York, and Massachusetts

Firm Focus and History

I opened Francis N. Soave & Associates in 1994.

Our business practice is focused on starting new businesses, existing business transfers, business tax credits, estate transactions and development.

The trusts and estates portion of our practice is focused on advising and preparing wills, trusts, estate plans, buy-sell agreements, and business succession plans for individuals, families and small business owners. We assist in the administration of probate estates, trusts, guardianships and conservatorships. We also advise clients in dealing with and planning for long term nursing care expenses.

The insolvency portion of our practice is focused on assisting individuals, families, and small businesses who are in financial distress. We help these clients to form and execute plans to work out, restructure, and/or liquidate debts and assets, allowing for a fresh start.

Previous Employment Summary

I have been an attorney in Michigan, New York, and Massachusetts since
1987.

I was the director at Soave Enterprises, LLC, a venture capital and private equity industry, from 1989 to 1994.

Activities and Awards

I am rated highly by my peer attorneys for my abilities and ethics. I am a former city planning commissioner, and former assistant city attorney. Currently I am a city economic development commissioner.

What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?

The first thing I do when consulting with a client is educate them about their matter. Some clients come prepared and have educated themselves to some degree, and it is always welcome when it is accurate. At times clients come misinformed, and then I have twice as much work to do. Quality of self education is key.

Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?

I charge my hourly rate to review documents. If the document is lengthy or complicated it usually takes longer for me to review and explain its strengths and shortcomings in writing, than it would to draft my own. However, I will do it if requested.

Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?

I don't have a trial practice, so I don't think this question relates to my practice areas. As far as I know, the local judges frown on this practice. I have heard them say that if an attorney is involved in a case in their court, their appearance should be on the record, so that they can be made accountable for their actions. I think this makes sense.

Why did you decide to be a lawyer?

I have a strong innate desire to help people solve problems. I am also an excellent listener.

What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?

I grew up in a family of very independent, hard working, entrepreneurial people. This gives me a unique insight into the issues facing the budding business client.

My accounting background gives me a very fundamental understanding of financial matters. Whether it's a new business, the personal finances of a struggling bankruptcy client, or the tax implications of a large net-worth client trying to plan their estate, I am confident handling the legal issues involved.

Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?

I chose my practice areas based on what I am knowledgeable about, the type of work I enjoy doing, the types of issues I enjoy assisting people with, and the practice areas that complement each other in the daily operation of my office and the fluctuating economy at large.

What do you like best about your career?

I like the independence, the personal contact, and the gratitude from people I have helped.

Tell us about your law firm:

First of all, I have a very friendly, personable, and outgoing legal assistant who is the first point of contact for any caller. Her name is Kelly and she has over 20 years of experience in a law office setting. She has an Associates Degree in Paralegal Studies, and has worked in the areas of tax, real estate, estate planning, litigation, domestic relations, bankruptcy, corporate, probate and business.

There are other attorneys that I associate with as needed. In the event I am unavailable due to illness, vacation, or any other reason, I have attorney with whom I reciprocate "covering" emergencies. I also have relationships with attorneys whose practice areas are different from mine. When an issue comes up outside my area of expertise, I have a resource that is confidential, non-conflicted, knowledgeable and available to assist my client without the necessity of separately locating and retaining another attorney for an ancillary issue. Of course, in the event of a new unrelated matter outside my practice areas, I would refer the client, if requested, to a known qualified attorney. Finally, depending on the complexity of the assistance required, support is available through other associated attorneys in my practice areas who are willing to take on a secondary role in completing work on large matters of mine, as well as part-time and/or temporary associated attorneys and paralegals who are brought in to work on specific matters.

What are your strengths and style?

My strengths lie in my listening abilities, attention to detail, creativity, effective education of clients, negotiation, and appreciation of life balance.

My style is to consider all aspects, circumstances and consequences of a clients' matter. No representation can be pursued in a vacuum without concern for the consequences. The client is in the best position to choose their priorities, after being fully informed about the possible results.

Personal Interests:

I am married with four children who range in age from 2 to 14. Many of my interests revolve around their activities (dance, sports, scouting, video games, and school activities).

My family also enjoys traveling to Torch Lake in Northern Michigan, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We do a little boating, fishing and hunting too. My wife and I also enjoy landscaping, decorating and maintaining our home in St. Clair, Michigan, especially around Halloween and Christmas.

Office Manager/Assistant

Kelly.

Fax

(810) 815-2923

Office Hours

Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Emergency After Hours

Yes

Fixed-Price Services and Fees

Here are several examples of types of cases where we quote a fixed fee: organizing a new corporation or LLC, preparing a will, trust, or estate plan, preparing a deed, handling a residential real estate sale from purchase agreement through closing, handling a consumer bankruptcy case, a private workout, and an IRS offer in compromise.

Hourly Rates

The hourly rates are $150 to $200, depending on the legal issue, risk and complexity.

Free Initial Consultation?

There is an initial ½ hour free consultation for those clients seeking to retain an attorney. The free consultation is not offered for cases outside of our practice areas or cases that we determine over the telephone that we would not be able to take. The free consultation is also not for the purpose of self-help, coaching, or reviewing client documents. If a potential client misrepresents the purpose of scheduling the appointment, we reserve the right to charge for the first ½ hour.

For clients who do not intend to retain us, but wish to pay for a consultation on any type of matter within our practice areas, the hourly rate is $200, and there is a ½ hour minimum. The fee for a paid consultation is due at the time of the appointment.

Typical Retainer

Retainers vary depending on the type of matter, the amount of time expected to be spent on the matter, and the urgency of the matter.

Understanding Fees

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