With over 20 years of experience, John T. Klees concentrates his practice in basic and high-net-worth estate planning, including asset protection planning, business succession planning, wills and trusts, elder law, Medicaid planning, post-death estate and trust administration, estate and gift-tax planning, and tax and probate litigation.

Serving a diverse client base from Detroit through the Lakeshore, John develops and implements estate planning services including but not limited to planning, drafting, and/or maintenance of wills, revocable trusts, family cottage succession plans, wealth transfer plans, durable powers of attorney, and probate avoidance.  He also assists clients in connection with the post-death administration of estates and trusts, and the probate process, in contested and uncontested situations.

John represents many clients who are business owners, including closely-held, family-owned, and solely owned corporations (including professional corporations, “C corporations” and “S corporations”), partnerships, limited liability companies, and sole proprietorships.  His experience enables him to advise and counsel business succession planning, including “buy-sell”, “stock purchase” and similar shareholder agreements and recapitalizations. He is licensed to practice law in the United States Tax Court. 

Professional and Community Associations

• Grand Rapids Bar Association
• State Bar of Michigan, Taxation and Probate Planning Sections
• West Michigan Estate Planning Council, Member and Director
• American Bar Association, Real Property, Probate, Trust Law, and Taxation Sections

Bar Admission

Michigan

Education

Detroit College of Law, Juris Doctor, cum laude
New York University School of Law, Master of Law
University of Kentucky, Bachelor of the Arts 

Email
Direct 616.233.5119
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