Theresa Law Center

Specialties

Elder Law: Asset Planning & Protection (Estate Planning with a focus on governmental benefits: Medicaid Planning, etc.)

Trusts, specialty in Special Needs Trusts (Establish Trust, Trust Administration, Legal Advice to Trustee, Agent, Guardians, and Conservators)

Estate Planning including: Wills, Patient Advocate Designations (PAD), Durable Powers of Attorney (DPOA), Prenuptial Agreements and Children’s Protection Plan (CPP)

Probate Matters including: Estate Litigation, Guardianship (incapacitated individuals), persons with developmental disabilities and Probate reporting

Administering Estates — deceased individuals and protective persons

Administrative Advocacy — for individuals with disabilities

History

Established in 2005.

Mary T. Schmitt Smith established the Theresa Law Center, PC in May 2005 to continue over a twenty year tradition of providing legal advocacy for clients with a passion for protection. The Center, located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, advises clients about estate planning, tax and probate options, with a distinct focus on drafting and administration of Special Needs Trusts.

Mary is Michigan’s first Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA, 1997), and is AV-​rated by Martindale Hubbell for the past 15 years. She has served on the Board of Directors of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, (NAELA) and was recognized as a Fellow in the Academy in 2003.

Meet the Business Owner

Mary T. S.

Business Owner

Mary is Michigan’s first Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA, 1997), and is AV-​rated by Martindale Hubbell for the past 10 years. She has served on the Board of Directors of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, (NAELA) and was recognized as a Fellow in the Academy in 2003.

In the early 1980’s, Mary created the concept of an Interceptor Trust; a court authorized Special Needs Trust (SNT). She persuaded Judges in more than 27 counties throughout MI to approve these SNTs to protect assets of individuals with disabilities. These trusts have become more popular since 1993, when Congress specifically gave Courts the authority to establish these trusts, also referred to as «d (4) (A)».

She received her J.D. from the University of Detroit School of Law. Then, she earned a Master of Laws in Taxation (L.L.M.) from Wayne State University in 1986 after writing her Masters thesis on «Estate Planning for Persons with Disabilities.»