“I’m direct, responsive and an effective fighter for my clients”

-Attorney Kenneth Silver

I’ve been doing trust and estate litigation as well as transactional real estate work since 1983. I’m known in the community as both a tough litigator and a knowledgeable real estate lawyer. These two seemingly disparate areas of practice are very closely related because the large estates and trusts I’m asked to get involved in often own significant real estate assets. Conversely, those who own real estate often have estate and trust issues that need to be addressed.

I know the way the courtroom works and I’m very comfortable in the probate courts throughout the state of Michigan. I’ve tried many trust, estate and related cases over many years, including a number of jury trials. I am often called upon to defend fiduciaries (personal representatives and trustees) as well as pursue their removal for wrongdoing. I’ve handled many cases involving issues pertaining to mental capacity and undue influence. I’m very proud of my record and reputation for hard driving and no-nonsense litigation.

I’ve been practicing real estate law for 35 years along with my probate practice. I understand real estate financing, development, syndication, sales and acquisitions and I’ve represented hundreds of clients ranging from a mom and pop duplex acquisition to the syndication and financing of numerous mobile home parks, apartments, office buildings and shopping centers. I’ve represented banks in various receiverships. Whenever I am hired to represent a client, I seek to get the job done as efficiently and effectively as I can regardless of the type or size of the matter.  Being efficient means being responsive and getting my work completed timely.  I’m proud of my ability to move matters from point A to point B in a straight line and without getting involved in unnecessary diversions that increase costs.

Practice Areas

Real Estate
Probate Litigation & Administration
Corporate Litigation
General Corporate

Bar Associations

State Bar of Michigan, 1983
U.S. 6th Cir Ct App, 1985
U.S.D.C. – ED MI 1983

Honors & Awards

State Bar of Michigan Probate Council for the Probate & Estate Planning Section 2019, 3 year term
Leading Lawyer, Real Estate Law: Associations & Condominiums, 2014 – Present
dBusiness Top Lawyers 2018 – Present
Martindale-Hubbell A/V rating 30+ years
Super Lawyer 2006 – 2011
Frequent ICLE lecturer
Chairperson, Attorney Discipline Board Hearing Panel No. 64
Michigan Bar Foundation Fellow

Examples of Excellence

  • Established new published case law in a matter where a daughter successfully removed the trustee of her mother’s trust for breaches of fiduciary duty in a trust with significant cash and real estate assets.
  • Successfully defended the primary beneficiary of a trust and the defendant in another breach of duty case involving a trust and claims of self-dealing by the beneficiary
  • Succeeded in convincing the court of a narrow tax interpretation of a multi-million dollar Trust resulting in the client receiving the bulk of the trust proceeds in a dispute with the decedent’s second wife and the client’s stepmother.
  • Negotiated a resolution of a claim with a charitable remainder beneficiary of an estate yielding an unanticipated million dollar windfall result for the client.
  • Syndicated and helped finance numerous mobile home park acquisitions in various states
  • Recently assisted the client in acquiring an assisted living facility Florida with additional developable land

Professional Affiliations & Credentials

  • Michigan Bar Foundation Fellow
  • 20+ years as Chairperson of Attorney Discipline Board hearing panel No. 64
  • State Bar of Michigan, Member – Probate and Real Property Sections 1985-present
  • Member Probate Council, Probate and Estate Planning Section of the Michigan State Bar, 2019
  • Member Attorney and Judges Assistance Committee 2016-2017
  • 9 Years as Moderator of the monthly Hertz Schram Deal Incubator for entrepreneurs
  • Building Industry Association of Southeastern Michigan Board of Directors 2011-2012
  • 9 Years as Monthly speaker and volunteer MapleGrove Rehabilitation Center
  • Director, Michigan Association for Children with Emotional Disorders, 2002-2004
  • SuperLawyer 2006-2011
  • TopLawyer 2009, 2013, 2019
  • A/V Rating Martindale-Hubbell, 25 years

Testimonials

Mr. Silver is a true professional, he is very quick with answers and accurate. His passion for his work shows in our conversations, it has been a real pleasure working with him.

Daniel

Great team of Lawyers at Hertz Schram. I would highly recommend Ken and his team.

Steve

Ken is extremely bright and very meticulous in his preparations. His ethical standards are the highest and his demeanor incredibly balanced. He is a great teacher to his associates and his client’s to the nuances within the law.

James

Awards and Accolades

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