Laura E. Morris
Top rated Estate & Trust Litigation attorney in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
Practice Areas: Estate & Trust Litigation, Civil Litigation, Estate Planning & Probate; view more
Licensed in Michigan since: 2006
Education: Wayne State University Law School
Selected to Rising Stars: 2013 - 2021 Call today:
616-965-0062
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
150 Ottawa Ave NWSuite 1500
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2487 Visit website
Details
Laura Morris is a trial attorney and mediator who specializes in probate court disputes involving trusts, estates, wills, powers of attorney, guardianships and conservatorships (adults and minors). Laura has been recognized by Best Lawyers' as the 2021 and 2019 Grand Rapids Trusts and Estates Litigation Lawyer of the Year. She is also passionate about problem solving. Her penchant for dispute resolution drew her to probate litigation and mediation, where she regularly finds herself in the middle of emotional family disagreements. “When representing a client, I try to put myself in my client’s shoes and move forward in a way that will result in the best outcome as efficiently as possible, while keeping in mind that family and emotions are involved. Maybe that’s a day in court or maybe that’s a settlement,” she says.
Practice areas
Estate & Trust Litigation, Civil Litigation: Defense, Estate Planning & ProbateFocus areas
Guardianships & Conservatorships, Will Contests
- 80% Estate & Trust Litigation
- 10% Civil Litigation: Defense
- 10% Estate Planning & Probate
First Admitted: 2006, Michigan
Professional Webpage: http://www.wnj.com/Professionals/Attorneys/Laura-E-Morris
Bar/Professional Activity:
- State Bar of Michigan, Probate & Estate Planning Section, Member
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2006
- Grand Rapids Bar Association, Member
- American Bar Association, Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law, Member
- Michigan, 2006
- State Bar of Michigan, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, Member
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2011
Videos:
- https://www.wnj.com/Professionals/Attorneys/Laura-E-Morris
Representative Clients:
- http://www.wnj.com/Professionals/Attorneys/Laura-E-Morris
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Approved Civil Mediator, 8-hour Advanced Mediator Training (ADR Section of State Bar of Michigan), 2016
- Approved Civil Mediator, 40-hour training approved by State Court Administration Office, 2014
Pro bono/Community Service:
- West Michigan Healthcare Network, Member
- Operations Lead, Steve Smith Charity Golf Challenge, Egypt Valley Country Club, 2015
- Council on Aging of Kent County, Member
- Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Inside Grand Rapids (Spring 2012)
- Family Promise of Grand Rapids, Volunteer
- West Michigan Spartans, Board Member
- West Michigan Estate Planning Council, Member
- Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Emerging Leaders Series (Class of 2014)
- Inforum - A Professional Women's Alliance, Member
- Co-Operations Lead, Steve Smith Charity Golf Challenge, Egypt Valley Country Club, 2013-2014
- Kent County Elder Abuse Coalition, Member
- Inforum – Executive Leader Training (2015)
Honors/Awards:
- Graduated with Honors, Michigan State University
- Co-Editor-in-Chief, Moot Court, Wayne State University Law School
- Member, Varsity Women’s Soccer team, Michigan State University
- Legal Intern, Honorable Avern Cohn, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- Graduated with Honors, Wayne State University Law School
Educational Background:
- Michigan State University, B.A., 2003
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- "Before the Party's Over—The Arguments For and Against Pre-Death Will Contests," (co-authorised with David L.J.M. Skidmore), Probate & Property (Vol. 27, No. 2), March/April 2013
- Whose Privilege Is It Anyway? The Fiduciary Exception to the Attorney-Client Privelege," (co-authored with David L.J.M. Skidmore), Probate & Property (Vol. 27, No. 5), September/October 2013, www.wnj.com/Professionals/Attorneys/Laura-E-Morris
- "Show Me the Money! The Intricacies of Joint Bank Account Litigation in Michigan," (co-authored with David L.J.M. Skidmore), The Litigation Newsletter, Summer 2013, www.wnj.com/Professionals/Attorneys/Laura-E-Morris
- "Insane Delusions: The Crazy Lesser-Known Claim for Invalidating an Estate-Planning Document," Michigan Probate & Estate Planning Journal (Vol. 33, No. 3), Summer 2014
- "Financial Elder Abuse," Aging Well Conference, May 21, 2015, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- "Fiduciary Representation: Are the Beneficiaries Your Client?," co-presented with Tina Babel, Strafford Webinar, (5/26/15)
- Speaker, “Drafting After In re Jajuga Estate,” ICLE Drafting Estate Planning Documents Seminar (1/19/17)
- Speaker, “Drafting to Avoid Probate Litigation and Administration Challenges,” ICLE On-Demand Seminar (4/20/16)
- Speaker, “Fiduciary Litigation Update 2015,” ICLE On-Demand Seminar (12/23/15)
- Co-Presenter at Midwest Trust & Wealth Management Conference, Trust and Estate Case Law Update (10/6/15)
- Presentation to Allegan County Council on Aging (Building Ties) regarding elder financial abuse (7/30/15)
- Co-presenter at Grand Rapids Community Foundation on impact of U.S. Supreme Court Obergefell v. Hodges decision on LGBT issues (7/28/15)
- Presented 2014 to the West Michigan Estate Planning Council (3/26/15) and Greenleaf Trust (4/1/15)
- Presented 2013 Trust & Estate Case Law Update to Chemical Bank, Comerica Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Waterway, Wilhelt, Worfel & Bronsink, Legacy Trust, and Huntington National Bank
- Presented 2012 Trust & Estate Case Law Update to Chemical Bank and Legacy Trust
- Presented 2011 Trust & Estate Case Law Update to Fifth Third Bank and Waterway, Wilhelt, Worfel & Bronsink
- Presented 2010 Trust & Estate Case Law Update to Chemical Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Huntington National Bank, Northeastern Michigan Estate Planning Council and Macatawa Bank
- Presented 2009 Trust & Estate Case Law Update to Chemical Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Founders Bank & Trust and Plante & Moran
- Avoiding Probate Does Not Equal Avoiding Inheritance Disputes, 12/22/2016
- Not All Mental Capacity is Created Equal, 11/16/2016
- Agents Beware: Risks of Serving as a Power of Attorney, 11/16/2016
- Halting Elder Abuse: Know Your Options, 11/16/2016
- What You Need to Know About Adding a Child to Your Bank Account, 7/21/2016
- Inheritance Disputes: How to Nip Them in the Bud Now, 10/22/2014
- Probate Litigation - Frequently Asked Questions, 6/26/2013
- Court of Appeals Sends Reminder on Importance of Complete Accountings, 5/10/2013
- Wills & Trusts Litigation: 3 New Cases in a Nutshell, 4/20/2011
Office location for Laura E. Morris
150 Ottawa Ave NW
Suite 1500
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2487
Phone: 616-965-0062
Selections
9 Years Rising Stars
- Rising Stars: 2013 - 2021
