FAMILY WILLS & TRUSTS, PLC
https://www.familywillsandtrusts.com/
Areas of Focus: Kids Protection Planning, Life and Legacy Planning
Licensed States: Michigan
Stuart lives in the Greater Lansing Area with his wife and two young children. Stuart received his law degree from Michigan State University in 2003 and received undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Washington in 1998.
At the end of law school Stuart spent time offering pro bono legal services at the MSU College of Law Legal Clinics before moving on to the Consumer Protection Division of the Michigan Office of Attorney General. Stuart has been an attorney for 12 years and belongs to the Trusts & Estates Section of The American Bar Association, The Probate & Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan, and the Ingham County Bar Association.
Recognition
Stuart has completed the only Probate & Estate Planning Certificate Program sponsored by the State Bar of Michigan and co-sponsored by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017).
Stuart has also received the Avvo “Client’s Choice” Award (2017), is rated a “Top Attorney” by Avvo and was selected by RatedTopThree.com as one of the top 3 “Best Estate Planning Lawyers in Lansing.”
An Interesting Story
Stuart attended a world-class secondary school in Honolulu, Hawaii that was established in 1887 by the husband of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop (last heir to the Royal Kingdom of Hawaii).
In her will, Princess Bernice provided that her nearly $500,000 estate should be used to establish what would become a private school for “the children of Hawaii.”
As the initial trustee of his wife’s estate in 1887, Mr. Charles Reed Bishop established what is now the Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate (KSBE). Today KSBE is an 11 billion dollar educational and philanthropic enterprise, that still carryies out the wishes and legacy of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, as she provided in her estate plan over a hundred years ago.
Stuart is very grateful to Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop and Charles Reed Bishop for their gift of education and for demonstrating how a person’s vision can become reality through solid estate planning.
We begin with a comprehensive inventory of everything you own, and everyone you love, and consider it all in a working meeting, called a Family Wealth Planning Session, to guide you to clarify your financial life and legacy goals before we draft a single document.
We work with you throughout every life stage to map out the most likely scenarios for you and the people you love, planning for each as your life, the law, and your assets change over time.
Our Life & Legacy Planning process ensures everything that matters most -- from your financial assets to your values, insights, stories and experience -- are captured and documented during your life and cared for over the generations to come.
Transparency in our process, and our fees … all of which are flat fees, agreed to in advance, based on your choices and with no surprises, ensuring we stay on the same side of the table - supporting you to make a lifetime of great decisions - every step of the way.
Our systems help you get clear and organized, overcoming the exact issues that keep most estate plans from actually working when they are needed most. We help you leave your family with a gift of love, and not a mess.
One-and-done estate plans focused only on money are a recipe for a big mess. We help you throughout every stage of life and be there for the people you love, when you can’t be.
Complete the form below to reach out and schedule your 15-minute discovery call.