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Denise M. Lafave Smith

5.0
Rating: 6.8

Licensed for 22 years

Family Lawyer at Lansing, MI
Practice Areas: Family, Estate Planning, Elder Law ... +7 more

1918 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI

About Denise

Practice Areas

10

Practice Areas

Family 22%

Our family law practice includes pre- and post-nuptial agreements, annulment, legal separation (separate maintenance), divorce, spousal support (alimony), paternity, adoption, child custody, child support, parenting time, guardianship, conservatorship, child abuse and neglect, and grandparenting time.

22%
Elder Law 20%

Guardianship, Conservatorship, Elder Abuse/Neglect, Long-Term Care, Nursing Home Abuse/Neglect

20%
Estate Planning 20%

Our estate planning practice includes preparation of wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney (finance and health Care), disability and end-of-life planning. We also offer estate administration services, including probate litigation.

20%
Administrative Law 10%

Our practice focuses on cases before the Unemployment Insurance Agency, Department of Human Services, and Social Security Administration. We occasionally accept involving civil rights violations.

16 years

10%
Bankruptcy and Debt 10%

Our bankruptcy/debt practice includes Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcy, as well as helping clients deal with consumer debt.

10%
Social Security & Disability 10%

Attorney Denise LaFave Smith has almost 20 years of employment experience in the health care field. We file initial applications for those seeking disability benefits and assist clients who have filed the initial application themselves.

10%
Domestic Violence 3%

Attorney Denise M. LaFave Smith has experience in assisting clients obtain personal protection orders. She understands domestic violence and has a number of resource information available for victims of domestic violence.

3%
Foreclosure 3%

We have successfully helped our clients obtain loan modifications and set aside mortgage foreclosures. Our foreclosure practice also includes litigation and appeals.

3%
Appeals 1%

Our firm handles a limited number of appellate cases, focusing primarily on family law, child abuse and neglect, and foreclosure.

1%
Juvenile Law 1%

Attorney Denise M. LaFave Smith provides court-appointed legal services to juveniles in Ingham County. Juvenile delinquency is a special area of interest and Attorney LaFave Smith is knowledgeable in the areas of learning disabilities, behavioral disorders, and adolescent mental illness.

1%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 30 minutes

Hourly Rates

$ 150-200 per hour

Contingency

25%-33%

Pro bono

25 %

Retainer

Sometimes


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Michigan for 22 years

State: Michigan

Acquired: 2003

Active in Good Standing

Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 2011

Location

Law Offices of Denise M. Lafave Smith

1918 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI, 48912

LaFave Smith Center for Family & Elder Law

1918 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing, MI, 48912-2829

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Denise M. Lafave Smith's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

1 Client Review

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Practice Areas

Showing 1 - 1 of 1 review

Posted by Connie | November 30, 2012 | Real Estate

Compassionate and Professional Lawyer

Lafave and Smith Law firm in Lansing Michigan provided the professional expertise we required for a recent real estate transaction. We also hired them to help my mother with a case which brought considerable relief to her. It is unfortunate some of the information on this site is outdated. I would r...eccommend Denise LaFave with confidence that she knows and follows the law and is dedicated to assist her clients to achieve favorable results.

See All Client Reviews

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Experience

Rating:  6.8 (Good)

Professional misconduct

This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2011.

Reprimand issued in MI, 2011

updated on 06/13/2012

Reprimand means an attorney did something wrong but may still practice law. The State gives the lawyer a public reprimand in hopes that he or she will not repeat the behavior. Details of the infraction are made part of the public record.

Work Experience

2004 - Present

Attorney and Counselor at Law, Denise LaFave Smith, PLLC d/b/a LaFave Smith Center for Family & Elder Law

2003 - 2004

Attorney, Legal Services of Eastern Michigan

2002 - 2002

Legal Intern, State of Michigan, Attorney General

1987 - 2000

Associate Administrative Director, Sparrow/MSU Family Practice Residency Program

1985 - 1987

Legal Secretary, Dickinson Wright Moon Van Dusen & Freeman

Education

2002

Thomas M. Cooley Law School

Juris Doctor

2001

Spring Arbor University

Bachelor of Arts

Languages

English

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
    This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2011
    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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