Suzanne R. Fanning

Suzanne R. Fanning

4.9
Rating: 9.2

Licensed for 29 years

Probate Lawyer at Ann Arbor, MI
Practice Areas: Probate, Trusts, Estate Planning ... +2 more

5340 Plymouth Road, Ste 203, Ann Arbor, MI

About Suzanne

Biography

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

Estate Planning 20%

I provide comprehensive estate planning in a holistic manner to give the best counsel to my clients. This includes meeting with clients at length to fully discuss their estate planning needs and counseling them regarding the best options to transfer their assets to their loved ones. I also draft and execute powers of attorney, patient advocate designations/health care powers of attorney and deeds to complete an estate plan and provide legal protection both during life and after death

29 years

20%
Guardianship 20%

I assist clients with obtaining Guardianships for adults, minors and developmentally disabled individuals. I am also experienced in contesting Guardianships and modification of Guardianships

29 years

20%
Probate 20%

I have extensive experience in all aspects of probate practice including administration of trusts and estates, will and trust contests, Guardianships, Conservatorships, incapacity and undue influence cases and other matters involving incapacitated individuals and minors

29 years

20%
Trusts 20%

I practice in all areas of trusts including trust planning, administration of trusts, trust litigation and seeking court intervention for all aspects of trust management.

29 years

20%
Wills and Living Wills 20%

A will is the simplest and most economical way to ensure that you pass your assets to the people you want after your death. I have extensive experience in assisting clients to execute a simple will or change previous estate planning documents

29 years

20%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 60 minutes


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Michigan for 29 years

State: Michigan

Acquired: 1996

Active in Good Standing

No misconduct found

Location

Suzanne R. Fanning PLLC

5340 Plymouth Road, Ste 203, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105

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Suzanne R. Fanning's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.9 /5.0

19 Client Reviews

5 star (18) 4 star (1)
3 star (0)
2 star (0)
1 star (0)

Posted by Catharine | April 24, 2022 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Excellent professional service.

Suzanne drew up a living will and trust for my husband and I, but when the marriage ended in divorce less than a year later, she immediately jumped into action and altered the will free of charge. I now have complete peace of mind that my daughter and my personal interests are well looked after. Her ...services are top notch, professional, timely, well organized and well explained, I wholeheartedly recommend her and her team,

Suzanne Fanning

Replied last April 25, 2022

Thank you so much for your kind review, Catharine. It was a pleasure working with you!

Posted by Rachel | June 25, 2020 | Consulted Attorney

This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.

prompt, professional and pleasant

Suzy was an absolute gem and provided my sister and I some invaluable legal advice concerning a probate matter. After outlining our concerns she walked us through our options and answered all of our questions. She provided us a ton of useful information and her demeanor put us very much at ease wi...th a difficult conversation. Highly recommended and she gets our full endorsement. We would go back to Suzy in a minute.

Posted by Ryan | June 7, 2020 | Consulted Attorney

This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.

Great experience, thank you!

I submitted a request to Suzanne on her website after my mother passed looking for advice on how to handle the estate. Suzanne set up a call for the next morning and was very knowledgable, kind, and helpful. I was able to determine my next steps with her help and feel confident doing so. I would defi...nitely reach out to Suzanne with any future needs and would recommend her to a friend if given an opportunity.

Posted by Lisa | August 18, 2018 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Guardianship Matter Solved

Suzanne Fanning is not your typical lawyer!! WIthout a doubt, she is top notch and showed this through her kindness and compassion while representing us in our guardianship matter. Ms. Fanning’s staff greeted us through emails and phone calls before we even stepped foot into her office. When we h...ad questions they were answered quickly by her staff, or by Ms. Fanning herself. She was able to successfully give us the help we needed. Ms. Fanning was a true blessing and any future legal issues will certainly require hiring her again!

Posted by Kathryn | July 19, 2018 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Guardianship Processing

I cannot say enough about Suzanne's professionalism and support throughout the entire legal process from guiding us on the best way to handle our guardianship needs to filling out the paperwork to advising us on the steps we needed to follow, who we needed to involve in the process and what to do aft...erwards. Even when we had a small delay from the court, Suzanne was able to calmly and competently work through the issue and keep us updated and on track. She thought of issues and things that we had not yet thought of and took a lot of the stress of the process away from us. We would definitely recommend and use her services again.

See All Client Reviews

Suzanne R. Fanning's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Suzanne
Victoria Sloan headshot
Victoria Sloan

Probate lawyer | Apr 28

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I've had the pleasure of working with Suzanne on a difficult matter. She is knowledgeable, professional, courteous and caring. Suzanne pays keen attention to detail and treats her clients with great respect. I recommend Suzanne Fanning and highly endorse this lawyer."

Jason B. Negri headshot
Jason Negri

Probate lawyer | Sep 05

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse Suzanne. Her experience has been invaluable in helping me navigate a complicated probate litigation matter. I am relying on her expertise and guidance in how to proceed and I am consistently impressed by the breadth of her knowledge and her sense of litigation. If you need an experienced probate litigator in SE Michigan, Suzanne Fanning is your best bet."

Marta A. Manildi headshot
Marta Manildi

Probate lawyer | Oct 30

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse Suzy highly. While the AVVO form only let's me select one area for endorsement, I would endorse her for litigation, mediation, and estate planning, as well as probate. She is intelligent, skilled, conscientious, and effective, and she has an obvious concern and respect for her clients."

James A. Iafrate headshot
James Iafrate

Estate planning lawyer | Oct 01

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Suzanne is a friendly and highly competent attorney that I would personally recommend to anyone with a Family law/Probate matter."

Kymberlie Beth London headshot
Kymberlie London

Probate lawyer | Aug 07

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. I worked with Suzanne on a case, and she has done an amazing job as the Conservator for my client. I recommend Suzanne and look forward to working with her again."

Elizabeth Sue Graziano headshot
Elizabeth Graziano

Probate lawyer | Aug 01

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Suzanne is a professional that conveys warmth and compassion. She has a wealth of experience in litigation and probate court. Suzanne successfully juggles multiple interests while keeping her client's needs at the forefront. She is a problem solver and collaborator. I have referred and will continue to refer several probate matters to Suzanne."

View All Endorsements
Eileen J. Slank headshot
Eileen Slank

Family lawyer

Christopher Allyn Sevick headshot
Christopher Sevick

Residential real estate lawyer

Kymberlie Beth London headshot
Kymberlie London

Family lawyer

Elizabeth Sue Graziano headshot
Elizabeth Graziano

Guardianship lawyer

Experience

Rating:  9.2 (Superb)

Honors

2018

Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell

2018

Certificate in Elder Mediation, Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education

2010

Certificate of completion in probate and estate planning, Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education

1988

Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards, Duke of Edinburgh

Work Experience

2015 - Present

Trust and Estate attorney and owner, Suzanne R. Fanning PLLC

2008 - 2015

Probate and Estate Attorney, Garan Lucow Miller PC

2003 - 2008

Contract Attorney, Koselka Devine PLLC

1995 - 1996

Judicial Intern for the Honorable Bernard Friedman, Eastern District of Michigan

1995 - 2003

Litigation Attorney, Garan Lucow Miller

Associations

1997 - Present

State Bar of Michigan

Member

2012 - 2015

Washtenaw County Bar Association, Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Law Section

Co-Chair

Sample of Legal Cases

Estate of Luick

The Court ruled completely in favor of my client admitting a 1991 will copy of her late partner, which gave her his entire estate

In Re Donald Luick

The will copy was upheld by the Washtenaw County Probate Court

See More Legal Cases

Education

1996

Wayne State University Law School

JD - Juris Doctor

1991

University of Bristol

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2016

Washtenaw County Probate Court Fiduciary Training

Guardianships and Conservatorships

2013

Washtenaw County Probate Court Fiduciary Training

Mental Health Law

2012

Washtenaw County Probate Court Fiduciary Training

Mental Health law

Publications

2015

Res Ipsa Loquitor (WCBA) Is Probate Necessary?

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
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