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Willis LawDirector and Co-Founder
Michael J. Willis
Pro

Michael J. Willis

4.5
25 reviews

491 West South Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 + 3 locations

Estate Planning, Corporate Law, Estate Administration and 32 more

About Michael J. Willis

Michael Willis co-founded Willis Law with his brother, Shaun Patrick Willis, following in the footsteps of their father, Hon. Frank D. Willis, former Chief Judge for Van Buren County. Michael is a Certified Public Accountant in Illinois and is licensed to practice law in both Florida and Michigan. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America (Lawyer of the Year in 2020, 2022, and 2023), Super Lawyers, and Leaders in the Law, and holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Before founding Willis Law, Michael worked at Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett LLP and Kerr, Russell, Weber, PLC.

Michael earned his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame. He is a member of the Florida and Michigan Bars, the Kalamazoo County Bar Association, and the Christian Legal Society. Michael has served on the board at Holy Cross College and is actively involved with the Corporal Christopher Kelly Willis Foundation, which provides scholarships to children of fallen heroes, as well as with St. Monica Catholic Church and Hackett Catholic Prep High School.

Michael lives in Kalamazoo with his wife, Susan, and their six children.

 

Michael J. Willis (Kalamazoo, Michigan) View website

Awards

AV Preeminent Peer Rated
This elite award is granted to attorneys who have been recognized by their peers for their very high ethical standards, with an average peer review score of 4.5 or higher.
Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV

Client Champion Awards

Client Champion awards recognize those attorneys who excel at service as affirmed by their clients. The awards, based on the quantity and quality of an attorney’s Martindale-Hubbell client reviews, demonstrate an ongoing commitment to delivering excellent client service. Award recipients stand out from their peers with a platinum, gold or silver icon.

Champion Badge Silver

At least three reviews and a score of 4.0 or higher.

Champion Badge Gold

At least six reviews and a score of 4.2 or higher.

Champion Badge Platinum

At least ten reviews and a score of 4.5 or higher.

Martindale Peer Awards

A lawyer who receives a minimum threshold of qualifying responses from fellow attorneys can qualify for one of three prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings:

Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV Preeminent Rating

AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

Michael J. Willis got this award in 2021

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Distinguished Rating

Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Notable Rating

Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.

Avvo Awards

Avvo Top Contributor

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Avvo Client Choice

Avvo Client’s Choice: The Avvo Client's Choice Award Badge is granted to attorneys with a significant number of 4+ star reviews in a given year.

Reviews for Michael J. Willis

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Overall Rating
4.5
See All Reviews
25
Lawyers.com
Not yet reviewed
4.5
Martindale
22
5.0
Avvo
3

Services

Areas of Law

  • Trusts and Estates 4
    • Estate Planning
    • Estate Litigation
    • Guardianship and Conservatorship
    • Asset Protection
  • Corporate Law
  • Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures
  • Health Care 1
    • Medicare and Medicaid
  • Elder Law
  • Business Law 1
    • Buying and Selling of Businesses
  • Real Estate
  • Taxation 2
    • Tax Planning
    • Tax Audits
  • Property Tax Appeals
  • Securities
  • Other 20
    • Estate Administration
    • Trust Administration
    • Probate Administration
    • Probate Litigation
    • Contested Trusts and Estates
    • Trust Litigation
    • Family Wealth Transfer
    • International Estate Planning
    • Wealth Preservation
    • Medicaid Planning
    • Business Succession Planning
    • Business Estate Planning
    • Corporate Formation
    • Corporate Planning
    • Corporate Successions
    • Nonprofit Corporations
    • Real Estate Sales
    • Real Estate Acquisitions
    • Wills
    • Probate

Practice Details

  • Payment Information
    Payment & Cost Features
    Free initial consultation
    Fixed hourly rates
    Fixed fees available
    Accepted Credit Cards
    American Express
    Discover
    MasterCard
    Visa
  • Firm Information
    Position
    Director and Co-Founder
    Firm Name
    Willis Law
  • Pro Bono Services
    Time Spent on Pro Bono Work: 5%

    Pro bono legal services are provided through the firm's Christian Legal Aid of Southwestern Michigan non-profit organization. Pro Bono Clinics are held monthly at the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission.

  • Additional Links
    https://www.willis.law/who-we-are/attorneys-staff/michael-j-willis-j-d-c-p-a-/ http://www.willis.law/

Experience

  • Bar Admission & Memberships
    Admissions
    2001, Michigan
    2001, Florida
    2001, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
    Memberships
    Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo County, and American (Member, Sections on: Real Property, Probate and Trust Law
    Taxation Law) Bar Associations
    State Bar of Michigan (Member, Sections on: Probate, Estate Planning and Business Law)
    The Florida Bar
    Association of Attorney-Certified Public Accountants
    National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (Member, Sections on: Real Property, Probate and Trust Law and Taxation).
  • Education & Certifications
    Law School
    University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
    Class of 2000
    J.D.
    Other Education
    Huntington College

    University of Notre Dame
    Class of 1996
    B.B.A.
    magna cum laude
  • Personal Details & History
    Age
    Born in 1973
    Kalamazoo, Michigan, December 24, 1973

Contact Michael J. Willis

Director and Co-Founder at Willis Law
4.5
25 reviews

491 West South StreetKalamazoo, MI 49007U.S.A.

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Fax: 269-492-1042

250 Monroe NW, Suite 400Grand Rapids, MI 49503U.S.A.

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Fax: 269-492-1042

203 South NilesPaw Paw, MI 49079U.S.A.

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Fax: 269-492-1042

401 N. Michigan AvenueChicago, IL 60611U.S.A.

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Fax: 269-492-1042
Office Hours:
  • Monday 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Tuesday 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Wednesday 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Thursday 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Friday 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Saturday By appointment
  • Sunday By appointment
view 3 other office locations
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Other Office Locations

Grand Rapids, MI

250 Monroe NW, Suite 400Grand Rapids, MI 49503U.S.A.

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Paw Paw, MI

203 South NilesPaw Paw, MI 49079U.S.A.

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Chicago, IL

401 N. Michigan AvenueChicago, IL 60611U.S.A.

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Attorneys FAQs

  • Does this attorney maintain a professional presence on any social networks?
    Yes, Michael J. Willis has a professional profile on LinkedIn, facebook and Twitter.
  • Is this attorney Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review rated?
    Yes, Michael J. Willis has a 4.5 Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
  • Does this attorney accept major credit cards?
    Yes, Michael J. Willis will accept MasterCard, American Express, Discover and Visa.
  • How many attorneys are in this law firm?
    Willis Law has 18 attorneys at this location.
  • Does this attorney maintain a practice in more than one location?
    Yes, Michael J. Willis has a presence in Chicago, IL; Grand Rapids, MI and Paw Paw, MI.

Attorney information displayed in this FAQ section is based upon information the lawyer has included on their profile, in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals.

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• Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.

• Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.

Lawyers who have received peer reviews after 2009 will display more detailed information, including practice areas, summary ratings, detailed numeric ratings and written feedback (if available). Details for individual reviews received before 2009 are not displayed.

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