Howard H. Collens
Top rated Estate Planning & Probate attorney in Huntington Woods, Michigan
Galloway and Collens, PLLC
Practice Areas: Estate Planning & Probate, Estate & Trust Litigation, Elder Law; view more
Licensed in Michigan since: 1995
Education: University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2019 - 2023 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2008 Call today:
248-800-1613
Virtual Appointments Galloway and Collens, PLLC
26075 Woodward AveSuite 200
Huntington Woods, MI 48070 Visit website
Details
Counselor and attorney at Galloway and Collens, PLLC, Howard H. Collens represents clients in Michigan and the Detroit metropolitan area in matters of estate planning and probate. His practice areas include long-term care and nursing home Medicaid planning, trust administration, probate and estate administration, nursing home patient advocacy, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, conservatorships and guardianships, elder law, and patient advocate designations and living wills.
In 1991, Mr. Collens graduated from the University of Michigan with honors with a Bachelor of Arts in English. He then attended the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law where he obtained a Juris Doctor in 1994. Admitted to practice in the state of Michigan and before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, he also completed the Institute of Continuing Legal Education Probate and Estate Planning Program.
A trusted counselor to his clients who uses understanding and compassion to work through the estate planning process, Mr. Collens is also a member of the State Bar of Michigan, he is on the organization’s Elder Law and Disability Rights Section’s legislative committee and he served as a council member. He is a member of the Legislative Drafting and Development Committee of the State Bar of Michigan's Probate and Estate Planning Section. Mr. Collens is a member of the Wayne County Probate Bar Association, the Oakland County Bar Association, the Macomb County Probate Bar Association, the Elder Law Advisory Board of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, and he has served as chair for the Huntington Woods Senior Advisory Committee.
Mr. Collens was the ELDRS co-chair of the joint workgroup of the Probate and Estate Planning Section and Elder Law Disability Rights Section that focused on establishment or remote witnessing and expanded remote notarization by way of the Governor's Executive Orders and then through passed legislation. He was also instrumental in passing the Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act in Michigan.
To give back to his community, Mr. Collens volunteers and does pro bono work for several organizations. He is a board member of the Area Agency on Aging 1-B, a trustee of the Royal Oak Civic Foundation, and a pro bono attorney for Lakeshore Legal Aid and Jewish Family Service Lawyer Referral Service.
Practice areas
Estate Planning & Probate, Estate & Trust Litigation, Elder LawFocus areas
Estate Planning, Guardianships & Conservatorships, Power of Attorney, Probate & Estate Administration, Trusts, Will Contests, Wills
- 40% Estate Planning & Probate
- 40% Estate & Trust Litigation
- 20% Elder Law
First Admitted: 1995, Michigan
Professional Webpage: https://www.gallowaycollens.com/About-Us/Howard-H-Collens.sh...
- Area Agency on Aging 1B, Board Member
- Royal Oak Civic Foundation Trustee
- Senior and Caregiver Resource Network, Secretary, Former Vice President
- Greater Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce, President, 2012
- Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE), Elder Law Advisory Board
- Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy, Former 2nd Vice President
- Lakeshore Legal Aid, Pro Bono Attorney
- Alzheimer’s Association Greater Michigan Chapter Wraparound Collaborative, Member
- Huntington Woods Senior Advisory Committee, Chair
- Huntington Woods Men's Club, Volunteer
- Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce, Past President
- Boys and Girls Club of Oakland and Macomb Counties, Volunteer
- Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors
- Institute of Continuing Legal Education's Probate and Estate Planning Program, Certificate of Completion
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, B.A., Honors: With Honors, Major: English, 1991
- Trusts and Estates, dBusiness Top Lawyer, 2020
- Certificate of Completion from the Institute of Continuing Legal Education's Probate and Estate Planning Program
- ICLE Legislative Update Co-Author, 2023
- ICLE Legislative Update Co-Author, 2022
- ICLE Legislative Update Co-Author, 2021
- ICLE Remote Witnessing and Remote Notarization Co-Presenter, 2020
- Elder Law and Disability Rights Section's Co-Chair of the Joint Workgroup with Probate and Estate Planning Section focusing on remote witnessing and expanded remote notarization, 2020
- ICLE Legislative Update Co-Author, 2020
- ICLE Legislative Update Co-Author, 2019
- ICLE Legislative Update Co-Author, 2018
- State Bar of Michigan, Legislative Committee of the Elder Law and Disability Rights Section, Member
- Michigan, 1995
- State Bar of Michigan, Probate and Estate Planning Section, Member
- Legislation Development and Drafting Committee of the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan, Member
- State Bar of Michigan, Elder Law and Disability Rights Sections, Member
- State Bar of Michigan, Member
- Wayne County Probate Bar Association
- Macomb County Probate Bar Association Member
- Oakland County Bar Association Member
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 1995
These comments were made by fellow attorneys during the annual nomination process.
“Compassionate in a client's time of need. Insightful and creative problem solver.”
“Howard is excellent with clients in difficult situations.”
“Howard Collens is extremely knowledgeable in the area of Probate matters, and Probate Litigation. I have worked with Howard Collens on a number of complex Probate Litigation matters, and I have been very impressed with Howard's expertise in this area of the Law. I believe that Howard Collens is well qualified to be named to the Michigan Super Lawyers List for 2020. ”
“Howard has been a fantastic attorney and mentor. Although we practice in different practice areas, he has provided me with practical advice about being a lawyer and running a law firm. I have referred a number of clients to him for estate planning services and received positive feedback. He is very active in the legal community.”
“Howard is a wonderful estate planning lawyer.”
“I have known Howard Collens both as a mentor and as an individual to whom I refer estate planning cases. He is an incredibly professional and knowledgeable attorney. In addition, he is a kind and compassionate attorney who is very active in the local community. When I first opened my firm and joined the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce, he reached out to me and immediately offered to serve as a mentor. I have frequently called him for guidance with practice management and development. I plan to hire Howard, personally, next time I need to update my estate plan.”
“He his extremely thorough and knowledgeable.”
“Howard is compassionate counselor who is an effective advocate for his clients.”
Office location for Howard H. Collens
26075 Woodward Ave
Suite 200
Huntington Woods, MI 48070
Phone: 248-800-1613
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2019 - 2023
- Rising Stars: 2008
