Howard H. Collens

Howard H. Collens, as an attorney and counselor, listens to his clients, understands their goals, and offers creative, effective solutions to meet their needs.

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 Michigan, Mr. Collens is a strong advocate for those involved in contested estates, trusts or other probate cases.

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.

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. He has obtained the Certificate of Completion from The Institute of Continuing Legal Education's Probate and Estate Planning Program. He is serving in his second stint as a member of the ELDRS’s Council and is a member of the 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. He is a member of the Wayne County Probate Bar Association, Oakland County Bar Association, and the Macomb County Probate Bar Association. He serves as a member of the Board of the Area Agency on Aging 1B -Ageways. He is a trustee of the Royal Oak Civic Foundation. He is a former chair of the Huntington Woods Senior Advisory Committee and former president of the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He has been selected as a Super Lawyer each year from 2019 to 2024 including being recognized as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Michigan in 2023. Mr. Collens speaks regularly on topics of fiduciary access to digital assets, remote witnessing and remote notarization, estate planning, and estate administration. He is a member of ICLE’s Elder Law Advisory Board. He has completed ICLE's Probate and Estate Planning Certificate Program.