Marlaine C. Teahan - Lawyer in Lansing, MI

Marlaine C. Teahan is the Chair of the Trusts Estates Practice Group at Fraser Trebilcock Davis Dunlap, P.C.

Ms. Teahan practices in the areas of:

• planning and administration of trusts and estates
• estate and gift tax
• probate and trust litigation
• guardianships and conservatorships

A few words from Ms. Teahan on Estate Planning:

Estate planning is something we all know is important, but it never feels urgent — until it is. Sometimes, at that point, it's too late. Deep down, we all know we must take action to make a plan and, once we do, were glad for having done so. In my 35 years of practicing law, Ive witnessed countless clients begin the process with confusion and trepidation and emerge with clarity and peace of mind.

WHY I DO IT

Nothing is more rewarding than helping clients determine the best way to manage their assets in life and during disability and to provide a tax-efficient transfer to loved ones at death, with minimal to no court involvement.

HOW I DO IT

The work I do is called «estate planning» but that's just a fancy term for the process of setting goals for wealth management and transfer, and the creation of the documents necessary to accomplish those goals. I will work with you to:

1. Determine your estate planning goals
2. Explain the differences and benefits of a will-based plan vs. a trust-based plan and help you figure out the best option for you
3. Provide patient advocate designations and durable powers of attorney to avoid a possible guardianship and conservatorship
4. Consider together the pros and cons of your goals and, when appropriate, I'll offer suggestions and alternative ideas and what has worked for others
5. After death, I'll work with your loved ones toward a smooth and efficient transition of wealth, through probate and trust administration, and various post-death planning techniques

Ms. Teahan has served in many leadership roles, including:

• Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
• Member, Nominating Committee for ACTEC's Michigan Chapter
• Member and past Chair of the State Bar of Michigan's Probate and Estate Planning (PEP) Section
• Member, Drafting Committee on the Michigan Trust Code
• Member, Joint committee of the PEP Section and the Elder Law Disability Rights Section drafting committee on Remote Notarizing and Remote Witnessing Committee
• Past Chair, PEP's Section Committee on Special Projects and the Committee on Court Rules, Procedures and Forms
• Past Chair, Ingham County Bar Association's Probate and Trust Section
• Past President and Member, Greater Lansing Estate Planning Council
• Past Secretary and Treasurer, Board of Directors, Fraser Trebilcock Davis Dunlap, P.C.
• Member Compensation Committee, Fraser Trebilcock Davis Dunlap, P.C.
• Past Member, Board of Directors, Capital Region Community Foundation

Ms. Teahan educates other trusts and estates attorney by writing and speaking extensively, including:

• Coeditor, «Trust Administration Under the Michigan Trust Code,» book published by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, © 2010-2022
• Chapter Author of ICLE's «Michigan Estate Planning Handbook»
• Faculty Member of the Probate and Estate Planning Certificate Program, cosponsored by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) and the PEP Section of the State Bar of Michigan
• Speaker, ICLE's 19th and 21st Annual Drafting Estate Planning Documents seminars
• Speaker and Moderator, Administration of Trusts Under the Michigan Trust Code
• Speaker, Fundamentals of Estate Planning
• Speaker, at ICLE's 50th, 57th, and 58th Annual Probate and Estate Planning Institute
• Program Coordinator and Moderator of ICLE's 56th Annual Probate and Estate Planning Institute
• Speaker, Upper Michigan Legal Institute, 2013, 2014, and 2022
• Faculty Member, Michigan Supreme Court Judicial Conference, 2010

Ms. Teahan has been recognized by her peers as an outstanding trusts and estates attorney:

• Martindale Hubbell: AV Preeminent, highest peer rating standard
• Trusts Estates Lawyer of the Year for Lansing, Michigan in 2018 and 2022
• Top 100 Michigan Super Lawyer in 2018 and 2021 (latest year of rankings)
• Top 50 Women Michigan Super Lawyer each year since 2014
• Listed in «The Best Lawyers in America» for trusts and estates since 2010
• Selected as a «Michigan Super Lawyer» for estate planning probate, and estate trust litigation since 2010