Michael A. Shields was born in Allegan, Michigan. He earned his Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, from Hope College in 1981, and his Juris Doctor, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Toledo College of Law in 1986.

Michael obtained his certification as a Certified Public Accountant, State of Michigan, in 1983, and his certification as a Certified Financial Planner, International Board of Standards and Practices for Certified Financial Planners, in 1990. He also holds a Certificate of Completion in Probate and Estate Planning Certificate Program issued by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education and the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan in 2005, and renews it annually and a Certificate of Completion in Elder Law Certificate Program issued by the Institute of Continuing Education in 2019, and renews it annually.

Michael’s practice focuses on business planning, organizational planning and documentation, acquisitions and mergers, estate planning, preparation of Wills and Trusts, probate administration, trust administration, contract law, commercial transactions, real estate transactions, and business and tax research. Michael is an AV-rated lawyer in the Martindale-Hubbell® lawyer directory.

Michael is a member of the Kalamazoo County Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Association of CPA’s and American Institute of CPA’s. He is also a lecturer for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE).

Michael has authored several publications, including “Planning for Spouses and Descendants” and “Trusts by Citizens or Residents for Noncitizen Spouses (Qualified Domestic Trusts)”, Michigan Revocable Grantor Trusts (ICLE). He is also author of the “Inheritance Tax” Section of the Michigan Probate Sourcebook (ICLE) and “Michigan Estate Tax”, Taxation of Estates and Trusts (ICLE). He is co-author of “Real Estate Reporting Expanded by New Regs.”, Taxation for Accountants (March 1991), Taxation for Lawyers (May/June 1991) (Warren, Gorham & Lamont), Michigan Inheritance Tax – A Practitioner’s Guide (ICLE), and “Will Contests and Will Construction”, Michigan Probate Litigation (ICLE).

Michael is a shareholder of the firm and has served as Treasurer since 2003.

Michael has been involved in community activities: Kalamazoo Ambucs, Past President; Rotary of Kalamazoo, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kalamazoo and the Arcs Community Advocates. Michael also served for many years as an Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 161 of Boy Scouts of America.

1986, Michigan and U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan

Hope College (B.A., cum laude, 1981); University of Toledo (J.D., magna cum laude, 1986). Order of the Coif. Editor, University of Toledo Law Review, 1985-1986. Certified Public Accountant, Michigan, 1983. Certified Financial Planner, Certified Financial Planners Board of Standards, 1990.

Business; Corporate; Tax; Estate Planning; Probate & Trust Administration; Real Estate.