About Us

What makes us different from other law firms? Before we prepare any documents, we spend time getting to know you, your concerns and your goals. During the first 30 minutes or so of an interview, a staff attorney spends time asking detailed questions about the family, the relationships with children, in-laws, grandchildren, or others. We ask about how the various family members handle money. We ask about the strength of the marriages. We ask about drug problems, disabilities, and sibling rivalries. These are issues that must be addressed if we are going to really help the clients. We must know about the family before we can address assets.

The first thing we teach the clients is that estate planning has only a little to do with taxes. This is accomplished by informing clients of several critical reasons to plan. See the estate planning page for a list of these reasons.

Nursing home costs concern many people. We can protect assets so they are not totally depleted on nursing home expenses, even if the person is already in a nursing home. We can also factor that planning into estate plans for elderly clients. We have a staff of professionals that includes two Medcaid review specialists who formerly worked for the State of Michigan in Medicaid review. See the Medicaid page for more detail.

As a member of the Michigan Forum of Estate Planning Attorneys, the WEALTHCOUNSEL National Study Group, and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, we have about one thousand attorneys with whom to counsel, and who will help us stay on the cutting edge of estate review.

Michael E. Thomas

Michael E. Thomas is an attorney and life-long resident of Flint. He is married and has two children. He is a graduate of Kettering University (1971 – Engineering), MSU College of Law (formerly Detroit College of Law) (1975 – Juris Doctor) and Walsh College (1989 – Master’s in Taxation).

He began his law practice in 1976. His practice emphasizes planning and elderlaw. He has completed more than 8,000 estate plans, and hundreds of Medicaid plans for nursing home residents.

He has served, and continues to serve, on several boards of charitable institutions including the Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries of Valparaiso, Indiana; the Michigan Association of Christian Schools; and the Baptist Bible College of Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania.

He served 20 years on the Deacon Board at South Baptist Church in Flint and teaches Adult Bible Class. He has served on the Strategic Planning, Student Improvement, and Health Curriculum Committees at Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools. He coached boys soccer for nine years and taught an after school bible study at Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools.

He is a member of the Wealth Counsel Study Group, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Michigan Forum of Estate Planning Attorneys, the National Law Association, the State Bar of Michigan (including sections on Elderlaw, Taxation and Estate Planning), and the Christian Legal Society. He has devoted his legal practice to the integration of biblical principles with legal principles. Mr. Thomas is a frequent seminar speaker.

Frances C. Holmes

Fran grew up in Flint, Michigan and earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan-Flint. She is a graduate of Cooley Law School. She has worked with Michael Thomas in the area of estate planning since 1999. She is member of the State Bar of Michigan (Elder Law and Advocacy and Probate and Estate Planning sections) and the Genesee County Bar Association.

In 2004 Fran was appointed to serve on the Standing Committee on Character and Fitness of the State Bar of Michigan, after having served as past chairman of District B, Character and Fitness, at the local level.

Laurie A. Schaibly

Laurie is a native of Genesee County and a graduate of Carman High School. She earned her undergraduate degree from Central Michigan University, with a major in Business Administration and a minor in Marketing. She is a graduate of MSU College of Law (formerly Detroit College of Law).

Prior to joining the firm, Laurie was the Director of Alumni Relations for MSU College of Law. She has worked for the City of Flint Attorney’s Office, and spent several years as a paralegal in a large law firm in Flint. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan and the Genesee County Bar Association. She is also admitted to the United States District Court, Eastern District.

Staff Information

Our professional Medicaid staff will assist you in answering your questions about applying for and receiving nursing home care. They have a wealth of knowledge in the Medicaid area and apply their knowledge and experience to every client that we see. In addition to the two Medicaid specialists, we have two legal assistants who have been with the firm for over 20 years. They are an integral part of making our job easier to take care of you.

Please contact us and let us begin to help you and your family.