Laurie Brewis Esq. moves law practice to Manchester
Laurie Brewis Esq.
Do you have a will or an end of life/disability plan? While Manchester resident Laurie Brewis, Esq. knows it isn't always a fun thing to do, she also believes everyone needs one and the peace of mind that comes with it. In fact, she is moving her law practice to Manchester and hopes to use her specialized focus to help local residents with end of life pre-planning.
Brewis received her law degree from Michigan State University College of Law in December of 2000 and has been a member of the State Bar of Michigan since May of 2001. She designs estate and legacy plans for individuals and couples and provides litigation assistance when someone has passed either with or without a plan in place. Her practice focuses on Probate, Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning, including disability planning, cottage law and Elder Law. And although she primarily practices in Washtenaw County, she has worked in Jackson County, Wayne County and Genesee County courts.
She eventually plans to open an office location in Manchester but because of her focus she prefers to practice “planning in place”. This allows her to go to her clients' homes and meet with them where they are comfortable. “Talking about death, disability and end of life planning can be sensitive,” Brewis stated, “I find it works best when the people I work with get to be in the place they call home.”
Brewis started practicing law in the fields of Labor and Employment Law and has worked as in-house labor and employment Counsel for McLaren Health Care out of Flint. She has also worked as a Vice President of Human Resources for both McLaren and a home health and Great Lakes Caring, a hospice company out of Jackson . She found that working in health care was an exceptional education but that what she really wanted to do was work with people and learn their stories, then create unique plans for them. “It is almost like a life interview when meeting with a client for the first time,” she added, “Hearing about their family and seeing how comfortable they become with me, the amount of trust they have in me, is an honor.”
Brewis decided to leave the corporate world and move her practice to Manchester to be closer to home, take time to increase her knowledge, and to spend more time with her kids. “I have two children in Manchester Public Schools,” she stated, “and as teens, they really need me more now than ever.” In addition, relocasting her practice has allowed her to devote more time to her community involvement. Brewis is a Board member and the Assistant Treasurer for the Manchester Area Historical Society, a member of the Manchester Ladies Society, and the Vice President of the Manchester Band Boosters. She was selected by the Ladies Society to be a judge at Manchester's upcoming Sesquicentennial Facial Hair Competition! She also is a member of Manchester's Planning Commission and Parks Commission. She continued, “I have met so many great people who are interested and involved in improving our village, it has just increased my commitment to Manchester!”
Estate planning is a political issue. How estate taxes are treated at both the federal and state levels, end of life decisions, and disability decisions are tied to the current legal atmosphere. Brewis stressed that attorneys working with Elder Law and disabled clients, need to keep constantly up to date. One example she gave is the emerging issue of electronic assets and how to plan for their transfer. For example, all those pictures on Facebook or the online banking information. “There are new ways to handle all of this. Clients need attoneys who speacialize in this field, not 'general practioners',” she explained. She has undergone intensive training and is certified in the areas of probate and estate planning by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education and the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan Elder Law Section, Probate and Estate Planning Section and serves as Secretary of the Law Practice Management and Legal Administrator Sections of the State Bar of Michigan. In addition, she is also an accredited attorney for the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims for veterans' benefits before the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Brewis wants everyone to realize how much time, money and grief can be saved by pre-planning. Many people she has met have had a horror story about siblings fighting over their mother’s diamond earrings or something similar. Creating a plan with a specialized practitioner like Brewis prevents that type of stress on top of grief. “In general,” she stated, “ it seems people think about “getting their affairs in order” when there is an immediate need. I would encourage anyone to think about planning now and get it checked off your “to do” list! Whether your situation has a family business, a summer cottage, minor children, or a disabled family member, it is never too late to plan, until it’s too late. I really believe that everyone needs some sort of end of life/disability plan. Everyone!”
Laurie Brewis Esq. is taking on new clients. She can be reached at brewisl@tgqlaw.com or 734-408-1354.
In addition to working out her home office, Brewis also works in partnership with a small group of Estate Planning attorneys based in Ann Arbor, The TGQ Law Firm. Their law firm is located at 2245 S. State Street, right across from the new U of M sports facility. Join her and the rest of the TGQ Law Firm’s team of attorneys online as they present a free, quick and informative webinar “Will or Trust”-What do I need?” on Thursday, July 20, 2017 from 7:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Have you ever wondered, “What will really happen to my assets when I die? Who will care for my children?” or “Who would make decisions for me if I became incompetent, and what would they decide?” The answers to these questions and more will be discussed during this webinar. Click the following link to sign up. You will be able to log in and watch right from the comfort of your own home!
She encourages people to please follow and like her professional Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/brewislaw. She posts helpful information for every type of situation.
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