Howard H. Collens

HOWARD H. COLLENS

Fax: 248-545-2520

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.

Mr. Collens is active in the community where he volunteers and supports the Boys & Girls Club of Oakland and Macomb Counties and Huntington Woods Men’s Club. He is a Board Member for the Area Agency on Aging 1B.  He is a Board Member and former Vice President of the Senior and Caregiver Resource Network.  Mr. Collens is the 2nd Vice President of Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy, Michigan.  He is a member of the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Michigan Chapter Wraparound Collaborative. He served as President of the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors from 2012-2014. He served as the chair of the Huntington Woods Senior Advisory Committee.

Areas Of Practice

  • Estate Planning
  • Elder Law
  • Guardianships & Conservatorships
  • Patient Advocate Designations and Living Wills
  • Powers of Attorney
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Nursing Home Patient Advocacy
  • Probate & Estate Administration
  • Trust Administration
  • Special Needs Trust Planning and Administration
  • Long Term Care/ Nursing Home Medicaid Planning
  • Serves as Fiduciary – Guardianship, Conservatorship, Trustee, Personal Representative

Bar Admissions

  • Michigan, 1995
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 1995

Education

  • University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Detroit, Michigan
    • J.D. – 1994
  • University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
    • B.A. – 1991
    • Honors: With Honors
    • Major: English

Honors and Awards

  • Certificate of Completion from the Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s Probate and Estate Planning Program

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • State Bar of Michigan, Member
  • State Bar of Michigan, Elder Law and Disability Rights Section, Council Member
  • State Bar of Michigan, Legislative Committee of the Elder Law and Disability Rights Section, Member
  • State Bar of Michigan, Probate and Estate Planning Section, Member
  • State Bar of Michigan, Legislation Development and Drafting Committee of the Probate and Estate Planning Section, Member
  • Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE), Elder Law Advisory Board
  • Wayne County Probate Bar Association
  • Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors and President, 2012 to 2014
  • Huntington Woods Senior Advisory Committee, Former Chair

Pro Bono Activities

  • Board Member, Area Agency on Aging 1B
  • Member, Alzheimer’s Association Greater Michigan Chapter Wraparound Collaborative
  • Pro Bono Attorney, Lakeshore Legal Aid
  • Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE), Elder Law Advisory Board
 

See Full List of Howard H. Collens’ Key Achievements and Awards Here.

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