DARREN FINDLING
Will attorney
As the President of The Probate Pro, I take great pride in having built the largest, most successful, and trusted probate coordination firm in the country. My daily focus is on upholding and executing our firm’s vision, ensuring that we consistently deliver unparalleled service to our clients.
Born in the backseat of a 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass, my mother says the world was ready for me faster than her body was. She was right. When I was three, my Jamaican nanny brought me to an inner-city Baptist church where I promptly danced down the aisles. As a teenager, I charmed my way into a hotel to hang out with the Jackson Five. As an adult, I bought a beat-up, 40-passenger bus that I painted maize and blue to drive the neighborhood kids to U of M football games. I have also appeared on The View and on the front pages of The New York Times and Wall Street Journal — all for different reasons.
I am both quick thinker and talker, and am obsessed with puns — very much to the dismay of my four children. I take the phrase “it can’t be done” as a challenge in both my professional and personal life. When I’m not in court or behind a desk, you can find me spending time with my family, bungee jumping, sky diving, heli-skiing, trekking mountains, running marathons, and re-inventing philanthropy. Usually performing a few of these simultaneously.
Kimberly Browning
Will attorney
Kimberly Browning is a Partner at Great Lakes Family Probate & Estates. Kim is passionate about building personal connections with her clients and delivering thoughtful, cost-conscious services.
Kim began her legal career right out of high school in the Theodore Levin Memorial Law Library for the U.S. District Court in Detroit, then working her way through college as a paralegal for large Detroit defense firms. Kim spent more than twenty years assisting corporate clients defend claims in toxic tort and commercial litigation as well as maintain environmental compliance. After graduating from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Kim discovered her passion to provide comprehensive estate planning services to families.
Using her solid legal foundation, Kim has built a practice as one of Southeastern Michigan’s pre-eminent estate planning and elder law attorneys. Kim has helped a diverse profile of clients achieve their estate planning goals. As an elder law attorney, Kim has devised countless plans to maximize the autonomy and independence of seniors facing catastrophic long-term care expenses. Her talent in assisting persons with special needs has helped them to preserve funding and achieve their quality-of-life goals.
She has represented clients in a range of capacities including trustees, beneficiaries, personal representatives, heirs, guardians and conservators in probate courts throughout Southeastern Michigan and the Thumb. Kim believes in providing straightforward, pragmatic legal representation and her clients rely upon her to be their trusted advisor and passionate advocate.
Howard H. Collens
Will attorney
Howard H. Collens, as an attorney and counselor, listens to his clients, understands their goals and offers creative, effective solutions to meet their needs.
He advises clients in estate planning for estates of every size. Focusing on the unique aspects of each representation, Mr. Collens tailors trusts, wills and powers of attorney to meet the present and changing needs of his clients.
Mr. Collens is a trusted counselor for those seeking representation for estate administration. He helps families following the death of a loved one as they navigate the complexities of the probate process or trust administration. He regularly guides his clients through the sale, distribution, of real estate holdings by probate and trust estates. With litigation experience in the probate courts throughout metropolitan Detroit, Mr. Collens is a strong advocate for those involved in contested estates, trusts or other probate cases.
With understanding and compassion, Mr. Collens assists individuals and their families in planning for their long-term care needs. He eases the process of applying for and obtaining Medicaid benefits to pay for such care. Since estate recovery is a reality for those receiving long-term care in Michigan, proper titling of real estate is even more important today than ever.
He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the State Bar’s Probate and Estate Planning Section and the Elder Law and Disability Rights Section and the Wayne County Probate Bar Association. He has obtained the Certificate of Completion from The Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s Probate and Estate Planning Program. He is currently a Council Member of the Elder Law and Disability Rights Section as well as a member of ELDRS’s Legislative Committee. He participates as a member of the Legislation Development and Drafting Committee of the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan. He was instrumental in enacting a Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets law in Michigan. Mr. Collens has been named Leading Lawyer by dbusiness Magazine several years running, is a regular contributor as an The Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) lecturer and serves on the ICLE’s Elder Law Advisory Board. He enjoys speaking to groups on various estate planning, probate and technology topics.
Michael J. Willis J.D., C.P.A.
Will attorney
Michael is registered as a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Illinois and is licensed to practice law in both Florida and Michigan. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (recognized as a Lawyer of the Year in 2020, 2022, and 2023), Superlawyers and Leaders in the Law, and has the highest possible rating from his peers (AV Martindale). Before forming Willis Law, Michael worked for Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett LLP, and Kerr, Russell, Weber, PLC.
Michael received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. He graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame. He belongs to the Florida and Michigan Bars, the Kalamazoo County Bar Association, and the Christian Legal Society. He recently left 9 years of service on the Board at Holy Cross College in Notre Dame, Indiana, currently serves as co-president of the Corporal Christopher Kelly Willis Foundation which provides college scholarships to children of American heroes, and also serves on the finance council at St. Monica Catholic Church, on the local advisory council to Hackett Catholic Prep Highschool, and on the advisory council to the Catholic Foundation of Southwest Michigan.
Michael’s wife Susan and their children, Isabella, Christian, Mary, Michael Joseph, Marie Therese, and Gabriella, are the lights of his life. They live in Kalamazoo. Willis Law dedicates its practice to God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the founders’ fallen brother, Corporal Christopher Kelly Willis.
Sean J. Nichols, PLLC
Will attorney
Sean J. Nichols, PLLC is a law firm based in Plymouth, Michigan that specializes in elder law, estate planning, and probate. Established in 2011 by elder law attorney Sean J Nichols, this firm is dedicated to an under-served demographic that had specific legal needs in regards to the unique legal issues that come with aging.
Sean is an experienced and respected elder law attorney who has a strong personal connection to the struggles families face in senior care and estate planning. Sean believes that every client’s situation is unique and therefore deserves customized legal solutions in order to have the best possible outcome.
He is committed to utilizing his legal knowledge to assist senior citizens and their families in creating an effective plan for a comfortable future. With his wife Shabnam Pakneshan Nichols, a double board certified neurologist, giving a unique perspective on medical and senior health issues, Sean is specially qualified for working on these cases. Together, they live in Northville with their two children and are active members of the local community.
AARON R. SHAHAN
Will attorney
Aaron R. Shahan is the founder of Atlas Law, PLC. Aaron dedicates his practice to virtually all aspects of estate planning, trust law, elder law and probate. He can help you in a broad range of matters, including wills, living trusts, irrevocable trusts, Medicaid planning, estate and trust administration, and asset protection. In addition, Aaron regularly assists clients in other matters such as real estate, bankruptcy, and small business matters.
Prior to forming Atlas Law, PLC, Aaron practiced with two premier estate planning and probate litigation firms. He has extensive estate litigation experience and is proficient in advanced estate planning and asset protection techniques. Aaron is licensed to practice in Michigan, Florida, and Arizona. Prior to his legal career, Aaron worked in the hospitality industry. Aaron has been selected by Super Lawyers Magazine as a Rising Star for 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. The Rising Star distinction is only awarded to 2.5% of attorneys in Michigan.
Aaron, received his B.S. in Business Administration from Wayne State University in Detroit. Later, he attended The John Marshall Law School in Chicago where he finished in the top ten of his class, earning the distinction Cum Laude. While attending law school, Aaron clerked for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Andrew Thav
Will attorney
Areas of Practice:
100% Probate
Bar Admissions:
Michigan, 1998
Education:
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Detroit, MI Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Fraternities:
Sigma Alpha Mu
Awards:
Recognized as Michigan’s Top Lawyers of 2015, in the area of probate.
How much should a will cost in Michigan?
- Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Options: For individuals with very simple estates and straightforward wishes, DIY options can be a cost-effective choice. Online platforms like Trust & Will and LegalZoom offer templates and guidance for creating a basic will, often at a price ranging from $100 to $200.
- Hiring an Attorney: Working with an attorney offers personalized advice and ensures legal compliance, but it typically comes at a higher cost. Attorneys may charge a flat fee for drafting a simple will, which can range from $300 to $1,200. Some attorneys also bill by the hour, with rates often between $100 and $400 per hour. The total cost will depend on the time required to draft the will and the complexity of your estate.
- Simple Estates: If your estate is straightforward with few assets and beneficiaries, the cost of drafting a will will likely be on the lower end of the spectrum.
- Complex Estates: Estates with multiple properties, businesses, or complex financial arrangements may require more detailed legal work, leading to higher costs.
- Experience Level: More experienced attorneys often charge higher fees due to their expertise and knowledge in estate planning.
- Geographic Location: Legal fees can vary based on your location. Costs may be higher in urban areas with a higher cost of living.
- Estate Planning Package: Attorneys may offer comprehensive estate planning packages that include a will, power of attorney, and healthcare directive, with average costs ranging from $1,000 to $3,000.
- Trusts: Setting up a living trust, which offers more complex asset management and probate avoidance, typically costs between $1,500 and $3,500.
- Probate Fees: It’s important to remember that there will be costs associated with probating an estate, which can vary based on the complexity and value of the estate.
- Updating Your Will: You may need to update your will as your life circumstances change. Amendments can cost between $200 and $500 each time.