Wills, Trusts & Estates

My clients are often small business owners, farmers, or professionals with a medium to large estate (ranging from $100,000 to several million). Every client can benefit from some kind of estate planning, and I do not limit my services or representation to any particular category of client.

• Estate Taxes & Gift Taxes
• Power of Attorney
• Tax Planning

• Charitable Giving
• Charitable Trusts
• Drafting Trusts
• Drafting Wills
• Estate Administration
• Estate Planning
• Living Trusts
• Living Wills
• Probate
• Power of Attorney
• Business Succession Planning
• Supplemental Needs Trust
• Revocable Trust & Irrevocable Trust

MI, Nov 1984
Bar Number: P36623

Michigan State Courts; U.S. Tax Court, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan.

Michigan Bar and Saginaw County Bar Association; Member of Northeastern Michigan Estate Planning Council (past President, 1996-1997).

Smith Bovill, P.C. is a "Partner" in the Michigan Bar Association's Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) and I regularly attend their continuing legal education seminars, several times a year.

I publish a regular Newsletter for Professional Advisors, "Issues for Advisors," which can be found and read at issuesforadvisors.blogspot.com. I also publish regular articles on my legal blog, Michigan Estate Planning, which can be found at michiganestateplanning.blogspot.com.

I represent numerous multi-generation family businesses. I have represented one large, multi-generation farm family with its succession planning through three generations. Beginning with Grandpa and Grandma, their CPA and I successfully transferred the farm to his two sons guiding them through federal estate tax avoidance, legal transition and management. Six years ago, we again transitioned ownership and management to a son, son-in-law and nephew. The three of them currently operate a successful several million dollar agribusiness operation. During the years, I have continued to assist them with corporate and partnership issues, their individual estate planning, commercial transactions and real estate issues. They are a family-business "success story."

I have represented a large, family-owned regional farm implement dealership for many years. When I met the family, a father and son were the owners. I worked with the wife and mother through the father's tragic and untimely death from cancer, and helped them transition a younger son and brother into the business successfully. It has been one of my most satisfying accomplishments, helping this family work through their legal matters, including personal estate planning for each of the individual family members and managing the legal aspects of the rapid multiple-dealership expansion of this multi-million dollar family business.

9

Michigan

I believe in building long-term relationships with clients and providing them pragmatic, quality legal advice. I counsel clients in a manner that helps them deal with real-world problems in a realistic and constructive way. I do emphasize client education and helping them to become legally self-sufficient. At the same time, however, I want them to recognize circumstances in which they need expert advice and assistance. I spend a significant amount of time staying up to date in my areas of expertise and try to always find an innovative, but practical approach to solving client problems. I am always personally approachable and try to make myself available to clients. We have tried to stay abreast of technology at Smith Bovill, and I am very receptive to correspondence by e-mail, as well as other traditional methods of communication.

The firm was established in 1964 by Albert A. Smith and William S. Bovill. Over the ensuing 45 years, we have grown to our current nine-lawyer size. We have developed a reputation in the Mid-Michigan legal community as a high quality, boutique-style firm offering services in estate and business planning, environmental and municipal law, and commercial litigation.

I began my legal career as a Staff Assistant for U.S. Senator Dan Quayle, of Indiana, while attending Law School, in 1981. While in Law School, I did year-long stints as a Law Clerk in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of General Counsel (1982-83) and U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Railroad Administration Office of Chief Counsel (1983-84). During the summer of 1983, I worked as a Law Clerk in the Saginaw Office of the Bay City, Michigan Law Firm of Smith & Brooker, P.C. Upon graduation from Law School, Smith & Brooker hired me as an Associate Attorney. I practiced with that firm for 6 years, before joining Smith Bovill, P.C. in 1990. I have been a partner in Smith Bovill, P.C. since 1991. I am currently the President-Managing partner of the firm.

I believe that good lawyers involve themselves in community service, activities and leadership. I joined the Saginaw Area Jaycees in the mid-1980's and served as its President during 1988-1989. I joined the Northeastern Estate Planning Council, also in the mid-1980's and served as its President in 1996-1997. I remain an active member of the Council. In 1995, I formed a steering committee with several other area professionals and we formed the Mid-Michigan Planned Giving Council. I served as its charter President during 1995-1996. I have served as a member of the Board of Directors of the St. Mary's of Michigan Hospital Foundation from 1999 - 2007, and was elected again in 2008, where I currently serve as the Chair of its Finance Committee. I have served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Saginaw Valley State University Foundation since 2007 and am a member of its Planned Giving Committee. I have served as an Adjunct Professor of Business Law at Saginaw Valley State University for several years; and am currently an Estate Planning Instructor for its Certified Financial Planner Education Program.

I am a frequent presenter and speaker on Estate Planning and Business Succession topics in Seminars sponsored by the State of Michigan Department of Agriculture, Farm Bureau of Michigan and Greenstone Farm Credit Services. I teach a regular class to Insurance Professionals at the Continuing Legal Education Program at Farm Bureau Insurance Company's Home Office in Lansing, Michigan. Each year, I fulfill my pro bono obligation by assisting one or more non-profit organizations in establishing their tax-exempt status with the State of Michigan and the Internal Revenue Service.

(989) 652-3607

Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

No

Saginaw, MI
200 St. Andrews Road
Saginaw, MI 48638
(989) 792-9641

I offer fixed fees for most estate planning and business setup. We find that it is better to focus on the product than the hours and that using fixed fees allows us to focus on a quality process rather than on the ongoing cost.

$225.

I generally offer free initial consultation on estate planning and business succession. We do not generally limit this consultation, but the average meeting is between 1 and 1 1/2 hours.

On fixed fee work, we will ask for 50% prior to beginning work on the file.