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Kellen C. Kiley

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Phone: 616.842.3030

Fax: 616.846.6621

kkiley@scholtenfant.com

Assistant: Laura Saenz

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Kellen concentrates in the areas of estate planning, real estate, and trust/estate administration and chairs the firm’s Estate Planning & Elder Law section.

For estate planning, Kellen prepares custom plans to ensure that each client is protected in the event of death, incapacity, or residence in a long-term-care facility.  This typically involves the use of living trusts, wills, durable financial and medical powers of attorney, and the retitling of real estate and other assets to avoid probate.  For high-net-worth clients, this may involve more specialized trusts and other techniques for estate-tax reduction, asset protection, and charitable giving.

Kellen particularly enjoys creating succession plans for family cottages and other properties that allow them to stay within the family while avoiding undue taxes, management disputes, and losses to creditors.

On the opposite end, Kellen works with those who have suffered a loss to administer the decedent’s estate, transfer title to assets through probate proceedings or otherwise, file estate tax returns, and resolve any other loose ends.

Before joining Scholten Fant, Kellen worked at a large law firm headquartered in Detroit, where he handled complex litigation and commercial foreclosures.  Out of law school, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Lawrence P. Zatkoff, former Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and later worked on appellate cases for the Michigan Court of Appeals.  Kellen grew up in Norton Shores and appreciates the opportunity to serve the lakeshore community.

Education

  • Michigan State University College of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, 2009
  • Michigan State University, Eli Broad College of Business, B.A., with honor, 2006

Recognition

  • People’s Choice Awards, Best Estate Planner, Grand Haven Tribune 2020-2024
  • Certificate, Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Certificate Program
  • Leadership Connect, Chamber of Commerce Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Ferrysburg 2016

Professional Affiliations

  • State Bar of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
  • American Bar Association
  • Ottawa County Bar Association
  • Lake Michigan Estate Planning Council
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