Kenneth E. Konop

Experience

Ken represented the estate of a man who had left all of his property to the state of Michigan. When the man's son contested the matter in court, Ken successfuly defended the validity of his client's decision. As a result, the decedent's wishes were implemented precisely as he had intended.

“A client recently told me he felt very comfortable working with me. I believe that's the essence of good representation. Your clients have to feel good about you.”

Professional Activities

• American Bar Association
• State Bar of Michigan, Probate and Estate Planning Section; Chairperson, 2000-01; Chairperson-elect, 1999-00; Vice-chair, 1998-99; Secretary, 1997-98; Treasurer, 1996-97; Chairman, SCOCPAR Subcommittee, 1995-96; Chairman and Treasurer, Publications Committee, 1993-95; Columnist, Estate Planning Journal, 1993-95
• State Bar of Illinois
• Oakland County Bar Association
• District of Columbia Bar Association
• The Financial & Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit, Inc.
• American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Fellow
• Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Former Member of the Probate and Estate Planning Advisory Board

Honors + Awards

• Best Lawyers in America, Trusts and Estates 2001/02-2009
• Michigan Super Lawyers, Top 100 2006; Estate Planning & Probate 2006-2008
• Best of United States Trust and Estate Lawyers – Michigan 2007

Publications

"The 'Other Beneficiary'-Tax Apportionment Clauses," Michigan Probate & Estate Planning Journal, Summer 1992

"The Revised Michigan Claims Statute," Michigan Probate & Estate Planning Journal, Winter 1989

"Taxation of Seniors," Laches, published by the Oakland County Bar Association, June 1989

"Individual Retirement Account Deductions," Laches, published by the Oakland County Bar Association, April 1987

"Recent Developments: Income, Estate, & Inheritance Taxes," Laches, published by the Oakland County Bar Association, December 1986

Contributing Author, "Inheritance Tax," Michigan Tax Practice and Procedure 2nd Edition, published by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 1983

Speeches

Speaker, "Transferring Vacation Property to a Family Trust or LLC," 45th Annual Probate and Estate Planning Institute, co-sponsored by the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan Judicial Institute, Troy, Michigan, June 11, 2005

Speaker, "Charitable Remainder Trusts & Other Estate Planning Tips," "Before the Bell" Breakfast Forum sponsored by Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C., March 10, 2005

Speaker, "What Stockbrokers Need to Know about Estate Planning, Prenuptial Agreements, Asset Protection, Death and More," "Before the Bell" Breakfast Forum sponsored by Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C., August 15, 2004

Speaker, "Planning Techniques for the Taxable Estate." Topic: "Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Planning," sponsored by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, December 11, 2003

Arranged the 39th Annual Probate and Estate Planning Seminar, cosponsored by the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan and the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Grand Traverse Resort, Acme, Michigan, 5/20-22/99 and Troy, Michigan, 6/11-12/99

Moderator and Speaker, "The Marital Deduction: Solving the Estate Planning Puzzle." Sponsored by The Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Grand Rapids and Troy, Michigan, 3/13/98 and 3/27/98

Seventh Annual Drafting Estate Planning Documents Seminar, sponsored by the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan and the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Grand Rapids, and Troy, Michigan, 1/16/98 and 1/23/98

Sixth Annual Drafting Estate Planning Documents Seminar, sponsored by the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan and the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Troy, Michigan, 1/31/97

Speaker, 1996 Advanced Estate Planning Institute, Cosponsored by the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan and the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Troy, Michigan, 11/15/96

Moderator, 36th Annual Probate and Estate Planning Seminar, cosponsored by the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan and the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Grand Traverse Resort, Acme, Michigan, May 16-18, 1996

"Administration of Trusts in Michigan, Creditors' Rights to Trust Assets," sponsored by ICLE, Grand Rapids and Troy, Michigan, 3/6/96 and 3/29/96

4th Annual Drafting Estate Planning Documents Seminar, sponsored by the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan and ICLE, Grand Rapids and Troy, Michigan, 1/6/95 and 1/27/95

Moderator and speaker, "Estate Planning for the Marital Deduction (Including the New QTIP Regulations)," sponsored by ICLE, Grand Rapids, Michigan and Southfield, Michigan, 9/16/94 and 9/27/94

"Federal Estate and Gift Tax--Michigan Estate Tax and Estate Planning," sponsored by Walsh College of Accountancy and Business Administration, Troy, Michigan, 6/7/94

"Post Mortem Planning (Including Form 706)," sponsored by MACPA, Livonia, Michigan, 11/12/93

"Estate Planning and Preparation of Federal Estate and Fiduciary Tax Returns," sponsored by ICLE, Dearborn, Michigan, 10/21/93

Moderator, 33rd Annual Probate and Estate Planning Seminar, cosponsored by the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan and ICLE, Grand Traverse Resort, Acme, Michigan, 05/13-15/93; and Dearborn, Michigan, 06/11-12/93

"Drafting Estate Planning Documents II," cosponsored by the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan and ICLE, Troy, Michigan, 02/05/93

"Fundamentals of the Federal Estate and Gift Tax, the Michigan Inheritance Tax and Estate Planning," sponsored by Walsh College of Accountancy and Business Administration, Troy, Michigan, 12/9/92

"Doing it Right: Business Succession Planning," sponsored by Walsh College of Accountancy and Administration, Troy, Michigan, 8/19/92

Pre-retirement Seminar, sponsored by General Motors Corporation, Warren, Michigan, 9/23/91 and 4/01/92

"How to Probate an Estate in Michigan," sponsored by ICLE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 03/12/92; and Troy, Michigan, 03/27/92

"Estate Planning and Probate in Michigan," sponsored by NBI, Southfield, Michigan, 2/5/92

"Current Developments in Estate Planning," sponsored by the Oakland County North Small Practitioners, Troy, Michigan, 12/19/91

Commentator, "1991 Advanced Estate Planning Institute," sponsored by ICLE, Detroit, Michigan, 12/16/91

"Current Developments in Financial and Estate Planning," sponsored by Walsh College of Accountancy and Business Administration, Troy, Michigan, 11/29/91

"Fiduciary Accounting," sponsored by MACPA, Livonia, Michigan, 6/24/91

"Michigan Probate," sponsored by NBI, Southfield, Michigan, 6/19/90 and 2/12/91

"Sheltering Estate Assets from Creditors and the IRS in Michigan," sponsored by NBI, Southfield, Michigan, 2/27/90

"Basic Probate in Michigan," sponsored by NBI, Lansing, Michigan, 03/22/89, 3/22/90; and Southfield, Michigan, 03/23/89, 3/23/90

"Section 2036(c) of the Internal Revenue Code," sponsored by ICLE, Southfield, Michigan, 2/23/89

"Michigan Probate: Beyond the Basics," sponsored by NBI, Lansing, Michigan, 10/18/89; and Southfield, Michigan, 10/19/89

"Estate Planning," sponsored by Lapeer Bank, Metamora, Michigan, 10/2/89

"Michigan Claims Statute," by the State Bar of Michigan Annual Meeting, Detroit, Michigan, 4/12/89; Farmington Hills, Michigan, 8/17/89; and Lansing, Michigan, 9/22/89

"Estate Planning for the Executive," sponsored by Comerica Bank Trust Department, Detroit, Michigan, 7/11/89

"Michigan Claims Statute," sponsored by Manufacturers National Bank, Detroit, Michigan, 6/28/89

Commentator, "Will Drafting," sponsored by ICLE, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 4/13/89

"Michigan Claims Statute," sponsored by National Bank of Detroit, Detroit, Michigan, 4/5/89

"Estate Planning," cosponsored by Comerica Bank and MCP&S, Roseville, Michigan, 10/13/88

"Estate Planning & Probate in Michigan," sponsored by NBI, Saginaw, Michigan, 9/17/87; and Grand Rapids, Michigan, 9/18/87