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Mara Elena Kent
About Mara
Biography
Mara Kent is an attorney who specializes in estate planning, probate, trust administration, prenuptial planning, adoption, elder law and long-term care planning, as well as business and contracts law. Mara is a 1993 graduate of the University of Michigan and a 1996 graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, where she graduated summa cum laude and second in her law school class. Mara is also a Senior Professor Emerita at Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley School of Law, and she continues to teach there as a visiting professor. Mara and her husband Tom are natives of Ann Arbor, Michigan, where they raise their two daughters. Mara enjoys running, painting, and being outside in nature.
Practice Areas
6
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Michigan for 29 years
State: Michigan
Acquired: 1997
No misconduct found
Location
Ferguson Widmayer & Clark, PC
538 N Division St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104
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Mara Elena Kent's Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 8 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by Yasmeen | February 28, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Estate probate from out of state
I hired Mara from out of state to complete a family member's estate intestate. She was able to efficiently work with Michigan court requirements on my behalf, and also provide assistance when I could not physically be present. In addition to exemplary legal direction, Mara was especially responsiv...
Posted by Rosalin | May 20, 2022 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Straight Forward Estate Planning
Mara Kent has been a pleasure to work with on our estate planning. She’s been thorough, knowledgeable, efficient, great at answering our questions, clear in her explanations, and helpful in all aspects of our estate needs. I would highly recommend her for legal advise and certainly, estate planning. ...
Posted by Kristi | January 21, 2022 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
An excellent attorney & human being
Mara is amazing! I have utilized her services multiple times. Most recently, she represented me in a dispute with my financial institution. She had to educate this financial institution about the law and was able to resolve the dispute in my favor. She had a better grasp of the financial law than...
Posted by Tracy | June 26, 2018 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Very thorough, professional and personable
Mara handled my estate planning needs and was very clear in explaining what can be a very confusing subject. I appreciated her knowledge, thoroughness and friendly demeanor. I highly recommend Mara.
Posted by Betsy | May 22, 2018 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
A True Expert in Her Field
I have the utmost confidence in Mara Kent. She handles her clients and cases with grace and firmness and her vast knowledge of estate planning, and all other pertinent issues is beyond impressive. Her thoroughness and her patience when explaining laws and processes is so appreciated. Dealing with le...
Mara Elena Kent's Lawyer Endorsements
"I have known Mara for many years, and I highly endorse her for all estate planning and probate matters. I have referred many clients to her, including personal friends, and all have been extremely happy with her professionalism and attention to detail. Intelligent, hard-working, honest. I highly recommend her."
"I am pleased to post this endorsement of Mara Kent. Her knowledge of Contract Law is second to none. She takes a collaborative approach when working with other attorneys and she exemplified the highest levels of professionalism in the legal community and she is able to break down the issues and law so that anyone (lawyer or non-lawyer) can understand - something I consider important when dealing with my own clients!"
"Mara is an experienced attorney with a background in academics as well as private practice. She is professional yet sensitive to her clients needs. Always eager to learn new things and new methods, Mara’s clients are satisfied."
"Mara Kent is compassionate, knowledgeable, and highly qualified. I recommend her for estate planning and probate matters. She is responsive to the needs of her clients and always a pleasure to work with."
"Mara Kent is as passionate as she is knowledgeable. I would gladly seek her for legal help myself, which I think is the best endorsement another attorney can give. She also taught me everything I know about contracts."
"Mara is a highly skilled estate and probate attorney. She is well-respected in her community by both her peers and professional affiliates. Clients I've referred to Mara appreciate the the great care and effort she invests in their legal matters."
"Mara is an exceptional attorney. She uses her expertise in contracts and estate planning to help her clients understand difficult concepts and make sound decisions. I highly recommend her."
Alexander Hermanowski
Contracts and agreements lawyer | Jan 11
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I've known Attorney Kent since 2010. She is very well versed in contract law. In fact, she taught contract law in law school for many years. She is hardworking, dedicated, and listens to her client's needs. If I had a contract issue, she would be the first person I would contact. I endorse and highly recommend Attorney Mara Kent to anyone looking for an excellent contract attorney."
"I wholeheartedly endorse this lawyer."
Kristin Davis
Estate planning lawyer
Elizabeth Graziano
Estate planning lawyer
Maxwell Coolidge
General practice lawyer
Harold Downer
Criminal defense lawyer
Alexander Hermanowski
Criminal defense lawyer
Experience
Honors
2006
Best Faculty Scholarship, Legal Authors Society
2006
Most Accessible Female Professor, Runner-up, Student Bar Association, Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School
2005
Law Review of the Year (awarded to entire symposium issue), Texas Bar Foundation
2004
Certificate of Dedication, Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School
2004
Certificate of Merit, Western Michigan University Black Law Students Association
Work Experience
2018 - Present
Attorney, Nichols, Sacks, Slank, Sendelbach & Buiteweg, PC
2015 - 2017
Attorney, Bassett Law Firm
2000 - 2014
Professor, Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley School of Law
1998 - 1999
Attroney, Stein, Moran, Raimi, & Goethel, PC
1996 - 1998
Judicial Law Clerk to Justice Michael F. Cavanagh, Michigan Supreme Court
1994 - 1996
Law Clerk, Ford Motor Company Office Of The General Counsel/Human Resources
Associations
2018 - Present
Washtenaw County Bar Association, Estate Planning Probate SectionCo-chair
2017 - Present
Washtenaw County Estate Planning CouncilMember
2017 - Present
Washtenaw County Elder Justice CoalitionMember
2014 - Present
Washtenaw County Bar Association, Estate Planning SectionMember
1996 - Present
State Bar of MichiganMember
2010 - 2014
Michigan State Bar FoundationFellow
Sample of Legal Cases
Long-Term Care Planning and Contract Law
Success. Negotiated a return of the assisted living fee and was able to pay the nursing home and conduct Medicaid planning to help protect the marital home.
Education
1996
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1993
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
BFA
Speaking Engagements
2004
Gloucester, England - The Common Law of Contracts
Emotional Distress Damages in Contract Claims
Publications
2013
Wisconsin Magazine of History
Wood v. Boynton and the Incredible Story of the Eagle Diamond
2013
LexisNexis Communities
Michigan Law and Practice 2d Encyclopedia on Contracts- substantial revision
2011
32 Adelaide L. Rev. 333
A Contracts Love Story Gone Wrong: The Story Behind Bright V. Ganas
2005
Journal of Law and Inequality
"Forced" v. Compulsory Arbitration of Civil Rights Claims
2005
LexisNexis Communities
Michigan Law and Practice 2d Encyclopedia on Contracts- substantial revision
2002
Michigan Bar Journal
Going the Distance
2000
University of Detroit Mercy Law Review
Michigan Civil Rights Claimants; Should they be Required to Give Up their Physician Patient Privilege When Alleging Garden-Variety Emotional Distress?
1996
University of Detroit Mercy Law Review
Limiting Michigan's Guilty and Nolo Contendere Plea Appeals
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Answers
Q&A
Can stepfather leave house in will when someone's else's name on title
20 May 2021
Q&A
Policy holder dies. left two beneficiaries one died days after policy holder? Can deceased kids Ben. Kids file probate?
04 May 2021
Q&A
How to gain access to my assets?
03 May 2021