Norman E. Richards

Norman E. Richards (Gene) is a partner at the law firm of Cummings, McClorey, Davis & Acho, PLC in in Livonia, MI.  He focuses his practice on estate planning and elder law. He assists clients with the development of customized estate plans to address their specific needs, including family owned businesses, senior adults concerned about long term care needs, and special needs trusts for children with special needs.

Specifically, Mr. Richards focuses his practice on:

Estate Planning: Designing customized trusts, wills and powers of attorney. These documents preserve and distribute family and individual assets in the most appropriate way during a person’s lifetime and after death.

Trust and Probate Administration/Litigation: Providing representation in probate court to establish guardianships and conservatorships and to enforce wills and trusts. He advises and represents surviving family members in administering trusts and estates, including probate procedures and preparation of estate tax returns and representation before the IRS when required.

Long-Term-Care and Elder Law: Compassionately guiding families planning for long term care and who need to maximize financial resources to pay for the care, through Medicaid and VA Aid and Attendance.

Disability Planning and Special Needs Trusts: Advising clients who have children with disabilities and creating specialized trusts and legal documents to help provide for a disabled child’s care, while preserving their eligibility for government benefits.

Businesses and Non-Profits: Assisting clients in forming business entities, managing corporate formalities and arranging for a sale and business succession. Gene also advises non-profits and their boards on corporate and fiduciary duties.

Providing legal tools and techniques to protect assets and preserve personal dignity in life's transitions. 

Clients receive comprehensive estate planning services from initial consultation to personalized wills, trusts and powers of attorney.  Assistance is available for funding trusts, properly designating beneficiary on life insurance and retirement accounts.    

Older adults and seniors are compassionately provided practical advice and a full spectrum of elder law services, including strategies to qualify for Medicaid, VA benefits and other financial assistance for long-term care in the home, assisted living or nursing home.  

Clients with a special needs child and individuals with disabilities are provided specialized trusts to manage money and property for the disabled person, obtain proper care, and preserving eligibility for government benefits.

Providing probate court representation to establish guardianships and conservatorships and to enforce wills and trusts.  Counseling and advising surviving family members in administering trusts and probate estates.