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Warner Norcross + Judd LLP is a corporate law firm with over 230 attorneys serving clients in nine offices throughout Michigan. Among the largest law firms in Michigan, Warner works in virtually all areas of business law.

Michigan Law Firm - Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

Charitable giving can be very beneficial – and very complicated. It involves ensuring the desired benevolent goals are reached while maximizing the income, gift and estate tax benefits.

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Whether you are creating a charitable lead trust, charitable remainder trust, charitable gift annuity, donor advised fund, designated fund, private foundation or giving to your favorite public charity, we will lend expertise to help you further your cause.

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We serve as counsel to several types of charitable organizations, such as educational, medical and cultural institutions, private and community foundations and business leagues. We also assist with the formation and implementation of fundraising and grant programs, as well as reporting to the IRS and responding to IRS examinations.

From business conception to dissolution, we provide tax-exempt organizations with the proper guidance needed to remain compliant and achieve goals.

Legacy Matters

October 17 – 21 Is National Estate Planning Awareness Week

Charitable Giving – Make It a Family Discussion

Charitable Giving – It’s Not Just for December

Reflections on 2022 – A Year of Uncertainty

Michigan Probate Litigation Cases & News

More Marriages Being Contested In Probate Litigation

When a Non-trustee Helps Administer the Trust

Three Estate and Gift Tax Strategies to Consider Before Selling Your Business

Charitable Giving Organizations Sub-Practice cropped

Warner Partner Gregory Demers Presents at Mackinac Center’s Virtual Estate Planning Event

Laura Morris, Jennifer Remondino Named to  40 Under 40 Business Leaders 2020 Class

Five Warner Attorneys, Firm Ranked Top Leaders for Fourth Year in Chambers High Net Worth 2020 Guide

Five Warner Attorneys Recognized as Leaders in Their Field in Chambers High Net Worth Guide

Seven Warner Attorneys, Firm Named Top Leaders in Chambers High Net Worth 2023 Guide

Raquel S. Sportel Joins Warner

Associate

Scott J. DeWeerd

Of Counsel

Carl W. Dufendach

Partner

Laura A. Jeltema

Nina E. Lucido

Laura E. Morris

Jeffrey B. “Jeff” Power

Executive Partner

Jennifer L. Remondino

Raquel S. Sportel

Oversees implementation of strategies for wealth preservation, charitable giving, business succession, and pre-transaction planning

Private Client

High Net Worth Estate and Wealth Planning

Developed and implemented a strategic wealth succession and estate plan for high net worth couple. The plan incorporates a charitable remainder trust, private foundation, grantor retained annuity trusts, &#8220;intentionally defective&#8221; grantor gift trusts, a family bank, and a family limited liability company

Represent numerous high net worth families &#8211; employing irrevocable life insurance trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, &#8220;intentionally defective&#8221; grantor trusts, &#8220;Crummey&#8221; withdrawal rights trusts, Age 21 trusts, lifetime QTIP trusts, and other gift trusts, charitable remainder trusts, private foundations, and family limited partnerships and family limited liability companies

Established and represents multiple private foundations

Trusts & Estates

Private Foundation Representation

We have established private foundations and nonprofit organizations for our clients, and we have represented those organizations with respect to legal, labor and tax issues that arise in the course of their activities.

Private Foundations

Creation of Foundations and Nonproft Entities

We create sophisticated, multigenerational planning that maximizes the generation skipping tax (GST) exemption; charitable plans using custom beneficiary designations, various charitable remainder trusts (CRTs), charitable lead trusts (CLTs), community foundations and private foundations; various gifting plans; sophisticated insurance plans involving irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs) and private split dollar arrangements; multinational plans involving qualified domestic trusts (QDOTs); plans involving family business organizations with asset protection attributes and entity based valuation discounts; and value freezing plans using outright gifting, grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs), fractional interests, sales, intentionally defective irrevocable trusts (IDITs), split interests and qualified personal residence trusts (QPRTs).

HNW Estate Planning

Sophisticated, Multi-generational Estate Planning for HNW Individuals and Families

We provided counsel to clients wishing to use private foundations. We created private foundations and other non-profit entities and obtained tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service. 
We counseled private foundations regarding program-related investments and making properly-documented grants. We provided counsel to private foundations regarding governance best practices, identifying &ldquo;disqualified persons,&rdquo; and avoiding &ldquo;self-dealing&rdquo; and other prohibited transactions. 
When the client wished to create new charitable entities, we helped them to unwind private foundations.

Private Foundation Creation and Counsel

We design strategies that help clients achieve their charitable and planned giving goals. 
We provide practical advice to donors on entities, structures and vehicles for charitable giving, including the use of private foundations, donor-advised funds and supporting organizations. 
We counsel clients regarding charitable gifts and handling of unusual gifts such as closely held stock, partnership and LLC interests, real estate, art and collectibles.

Charitable Giving

Strategies to Achieve Philanthropic Goals

6 Tips for Maximizing the Tax Benefits of Retirement Assets

Attorney Spotlight: Frank Henke

Summer 2023 Attorney Spotlight – Trusts and Estates Practice Group

Estate Planning Focus – Summer 2023

Impact Investing

Nonprofit Organizations

Trusts and Estates

Charitable Giving and Organizations

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP is responsible for the contents of our advertising and this website. Please read our full <a href="/privacy-policy/" aria-label="see privacy policy">privacy policy</a> available on our website. If you have any questions or comments about our website or our Privacy Policy please contact us at <a href="mailto:info@wnj.com">info@wnj.com</a> or 616.752.2000.

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