Year Joined Organization: 1996

Lawyer Overview

Professional Experience

Shirley Kaigler is a member of the firm and has focused her practice in the areas of probate and trust administration; estate, tax, retirement and business succession planning; elder law; and health care proxy and special needs issues. She is also the Practice Group Coordinator of the Estate Planning/Probate Group.

Areas of Emphasis

Estate Planning

Experience principally in the area of gift, estate and tax planning for all size estates. Client base includes business owners, professionals in sole and group practices, corporate executives, educators, retirees, and individuals with special needs. Proficient in handling various tax compliance, gift and estate planning, probate, real estate as well as financial and insurance matters. Have developed and fostered positive working relationships with major financial institutions in order to coordinate and implement a client's tax, estate or financial plan.

Elder Law

Counseling and practice in Medicaid asset planning, special needs trusts and health care and quality of life issues for the elderly and disabled adult.

Areas of Practice

• Estate Planning
• Probate & Trust Administration
• Elder Law

West Practice Categories

Estate Planning, Probate & Estate Administration

Bar Admissions

• Michigan, 1975

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Anti-Defamation League, 2009 - Present (Advisory Board Member)
• Detroit Institute of Arts Tannahill Society, 2007 - Present (Estate Planning Council)
• American Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section (Member)
• National Bar Association, Probate and Estate Planning Law Section (Member)
• State Bar of Michigan, Probate and Estate Council, 2004 - 2007 (Advisory Board, Liaison to Taxation Council)
• State Bar of Michigan, Taxation Council, 2002 - 2003 (After Hours Tax Series Chair, Michigan Tax Journal Editor)
• State Bar of Michigan, Elder Law and Disability Rights Section (Member)
• Wolverine Bar Association (Member)
• D. Augustus Straker Bar Association (Member)
• D. Augustus Straker Bar Foundation (President)
• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (Member)
• ICLE (Probate and Estate Planning Section Advisory Board)
• Cooley Law School (Advisory Board for the Taxation LL.M. Program)
• Marygrove College, 2003 - 2006 (President's Advisory Committee)
• Nataki Talibah Schoolhouse of Detroit, 1992 - 1997 (Trustee)
• Nataki Talibah Schoolhouse of Detroit, 1992 - 1994 (Recording Secretary)
• Nataki Talibah Schoolhouse of Detroit, 1995 (Treasurer)
• Center for Creative Studies, 1987 - 1993 (Board of Trustees, Member of Finance Committee (IMD))
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (Legal Advisor, Detroit Alumnae Chapter)
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, 1974 (Parliamentarian -- National Convention)
• Jack & Jill of America, Inc. (Life Member)
• Links, Inc., Greater Wayne County Chapter, 2007 - Present (Treasurer)
• Your Heritage House, 1987 - 1990 (Member of Founding Committee)
• Parents League of Independent Schools (Executive Board)
• Wayne State University Law School (Judge, Moot Court)
• Detroit Regional High School Mock Trial Tournament, 1996 (Judge)
• African American Legacy Program, 1996 - 2003 (Member)
• Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, 1998 - 2000 (Advisory Committee Member)
• Planned Giving Endowment Program of Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan, 2005 - Present (Legal Financial Network)
• Legacy Associates Foundation, 1997 - Present (Advisory Board)
• Michigan Opera Theatre, 1998 - 2001 (Board of Trustees)
• Black United Fund of Michigan, Inc., 1999 - 2005 (Board of Directors-Treasurer)
• Black United Fund of Michigan, Inc., 2005 - Present (Advisory Board)

Honors and Awards

• Michigan Super Lawyer, 2008
• Best Lawyers in America, 2008
• Michigan Super Lawyer, 2007
• Michigan Super Lawyer, 2006
• Best Lawyers in America, 2007
• Best Lawyers in America, 2009

Classes and Seminars

• Presenter and Commentator, Alternative Estate Planning Vehicles, Planning for the Small to Medium Size Estate, Institute of Continuing Legal Education
• Allowances and Elections against the Will, Fundamentals of Estate Administration, Institute of Continuing Legal Education
• Funding the Revocable Grantor Trust, Using Trusts in Estate Planning, Institute of Continuing Legal Education
• A 50 Minute Course on the Basic Tax Rules Governing Estate Planning, Planning the Small to Medium-Sized Estate, Institute of Continuing Legal Education
• How to Probate an Estate in Michigan, Institute of Continuing Legal Education
• Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning, People's Community Law School
• Fundamentals of Estate Administration - Allowances and Elections Against the Will, 2003
• Trust Administration under EPIC, 40th Annual Probate and Estate Planning Institute, 2000
• Trust Administration, 47th Annual Probate and Estate Planning Institute, 2007

Education

• Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan, 1993
  LL.M. Taxation
• The University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1975
  J.D.
• Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA, 1972
  B.A.
  Honors: With Distinctions
  Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
  Major: Sociology
• Eastern Michigan University
  Honors: Most Outstanding Freshman Award-College of Business
  Honors: EMU Dean's Award
  Honors: EMU Wives' Award

Address

27777 Franklin Road
Suite 2500
Southfield, MI 48034-8214

Phones

248.351.3000

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.jaffelaw.com