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2008-2009 Section Committee Assignments

Internal Governance

Nancy L. Little, Chair
Harold Schuitmaker, Chair-Elect

Budget
Mission: To develop the annual budget, determine the appropriate reserve for future needs, and to alert Council about revenue and spending trends.

Bylaws

Michael W. Irish Award
Mission: To honor a practitioner (supported by recommendations from his or her peers) whose contributions to the Section reflect the high standards of professionalism and selflessness exemplified by Michael W. Irish.

Long-Range Planning
Mission: To refine the Section's Strategic Plan through periodic review and to identify priorities and methods for implementing those priorities so as to meet the evolving needs of Section members.

Nominations
Mission: To select nominees for Council who are committed to the probate and estate planning practice and who are candidates for leadership of our diverse and changing Section.

All Council members are requested to solicit and to submit nominees to the Nominations Committee. The following Council members are designated as liaisons to the Nominations Committee: Marilyn Lankfer, Lynn Marine, Kenneth J. Seavoy, and Lauren Underwood. The liaisons specifically are requested to propose potential nominees as appropriate to the Nominations Committee. They shall have no vote on the Nominations Committee so as to avoid any perceived conflict of interest.

Relations with State Bar
In addition to maintaining relations with the State Bar, this committee will work with the State Bar to develop a plan for our Section on the following issues: (1) civic education, (2) marketing/press releases, (3) working with the State Bar on its new initiative to publicize the good deeds of lawyers to the general public.

Annual Meeting
Mission: To arrange the annual meeting at a time and place and with an agenda that will accomplish necessary Section business and will address, as appropriate, matters of professional concern to the membership.

Harold Schuitmaker, Chair

Educational and Advocacy Services For Section Members

Amicus Curiae

Ellen Sugrue-Hyman, Chair
Melisa M. W. Mysliwiec
Derek A. Walters

Continuing Education & Annual Probate Seminar

Douglas G. Chalgian, Chair

Pamphlets
Mission: To determine the need for pamphlets to assist practitioners in educating the public, and, based on such findings, to update, develop, and distribute user-friendly pamphlets.

Ellen Sugrue-Hyman, Chair
Rebecca A. Schnelz
James B. Steward
Marlaine C. Teahan

Section Journal

Nancy L. Little, Chair
Melisa M. W. Mysliwiec

State Bar Journal

Amy M. Morrissey, Chair

Technology and Electronic Communication

Legislation and Lobbying

Legislation

Uniform Power of Attorney Act

Michigan Trust Code
Mission: To review the Uniform Trust Code and to determine the need for adopting such legislation in Michigan.

Committee Chair Mark K. Harder, of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP, has prepared an article explaining the Committee's work through September 2, 2006.
The Michigan Trust Code: September 2008 Status Report and Overview

Professionalism & Standards

Ethics

Unauthorized Practice and Multidisciplinary Practice

Specialization and Certification

Practice Management
Mission: To determine whether, based upon the Council's strategic planning, specific programs should be developed to assist Section members with practice management issues, and, if so, how best to address such issues, possibly in conjunction with existing State Bar resources.

Patricia M. Ouellette, Chair

Administration of Justice

Contested and Uncontested Probate Proceedings
Mission: To monitor forms, procedures, standard jury instructions, and legislation so as to facilitate the administration of prompt and consistent justice in contested and uncontested probate court proceedings and through alternative dispute resolution.

Uniformity of Practice
Mission: To determine local practice issues that could be conformed to a standard of Michigan probate practice and to work with probate registers and other stakeholders in achieving uniformity of probate practice throughout the state.

Summary of the Uniformity of Practice Survey PDF
Uniformity of Practice Survey Excel Spreadsheet

Practice Issues, Related Areas, and Liaisons

Committee on Special Projects
Mission: At the direction of the Council, to lead the review, analysis, and extended discussion of specific projects, such as uniform legislation and the response to new or unforeseen developments, and to make recommendations to the Council about such matters

Charitable Giving/Exempt Organizations
Mission: To educate practitioners about charitable giving and to determine the need for Michigan legislation authorizing exempt organizations to serve as trustees of charitable trusts.

Transfer Tax
Mission: To monitor developments regarding transfer taxes, particularly at the state level, and to recommend any appropriate action for the state of Michigan

Guardianships and Conservatorships
Mission: To identify and to participate in arriving at practical solutions to perceived and actual abuses under current law and court rule.

Business Law and Business Law Section Liaison

Elder Law and Liaison to Elder Law & Disability Rights Section
Mission: To determine the issues between the Elder Law and Disability Rights Section and the Probate and Estate Planning Section, and, with the Council, to develop a process to resolve those issues.

Family Law and Family Law Section Liaison

Patricia M. Ouellette, Chair

Probate Judge’s Association Liaison

Real Property Law and Real Property Law Section Liaison

Daniel P. Marsh

State Bar Section to Section Action Team Liaison

Robert P. Tiplady, Chair

Tax and Taxation Section Liaison

Lorraine New, Chair

Trust Institutions and Liaison with Michigan Bankers Association

Liaison to the Court Rules and Forms Committee

Liaison to the State Bar

Richard J. Siriani

Law School Liaison

W. Josh Ard