Brenda Bates

5 West Legal Services, PLLC

https://fivewestlegal.com/

Areas of Focus:

Licensed States: Michigan

What to expect from Brenda Bates

A 15- minute introductory call to understand your goals and needs.

2-Hour Working Family Wealth Planning Session: A comprehensive look at your current family dynamics and your assets, including a comprehensive inventory of everything you have so none of it is ever lost.

Education on how the law impacts your family and assets, focused specifically on your County, State and Country of residence.

A transparent discussion of your options to care for what matters most to you, no matter what happens Planning options that work for you and the people you love. Relational, compassionate counsel to help you make "eyes wide open" choices for yourself and the people you love.

A clear plan (not just documents) for how your assets and those you love will be taken care of, throughout every stage of life, and in the event of your incapacity or death.

About Brenda Bates

Hi. I’m Brenda Bates. I became a Personal Family Lawyer because I had a passion for helping individuals and families to develop a legacy that can be cherished. I did not fit into the traditional litigation world. I didn’t like not having any control over the time I would spend in a day. I didn’t like feeling cramped and rigid. It just didn’t seem like I was going to have any time for fun. So, I ventured out on my own.

I’m here to help in the state of Michigan and Illinois, folks that care about leaving a legacy and less of a mess for their family. I look forward to working with people of all ages and in different stages of life. Married or single, a traditional family or a blended one, starting out or looking back on a life well-lived, I will help you to design a plan that achieves your goals for your loved ones today and for the years to come.

Before going to law school, I began my career as a paralegal for a solo practitioner in downtown Chicago. Really, I started as an intern and was hired as a part-time hourly worker. I figured that if working in the legal field was going to be my career, I should be sure before investing so much time and money. Little did I know that I would invest so much time and money before graduating law school. I did undergrad at the beautiful lakeshore campus of Loyola University Chicago. Then I managed to become a certified paralegal, get a Master’s in Public Administration, with a concentration in Healthcare management and finally graduate from the University of Detroit Mercy, School of Law in 2015.

I love educating my community on the topics of early estate planning, asset protection, Kids protection planning and pet trusts as well as on the everyday things like having a checking account and savings account or creating at least a 6 month cushion for the what-if’s in life. I am an active member of State Bar of Michigan, American Bar Association, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and a few others.

And, most importantly, I care for my family and friends. Whether we are near or far, I try to keep in touch. I am a budding amateur photographer, a serious White Sox baseball fan, and I have yet to find a dog, that I don’t want to be my best friend.

Schedule a Consultation

The Personal Family Lawyer Promise

What makes PFL lawyers different?

How you hire us.

We begin with a comprehensive inventory of everything you own, and everyone you love, and consider it all in a working meeting, called a Family Wealth Planning Session, to guide you to clarify your financial life and legacy goals before we draft a single document.

How we plan.

We work with you throughout every life stage to map out the most likely scenarios for you and the people you love, planning for each as your life, the law, and your assets change over time.

What we protect.

Our Life & Legacy Planning process ensures everything that matters most -- from your financial assets to your values, insights, stories and experience -- are captured and documented during your life and cared for over the generations to come.

What you see.

Transparency in our process, and our fees … all of which are flat fees, agreed to in advance, based on your choices and with no surprises, ensuring we stay on the same side of the table - supporting you to make a lifetime of great decisions - every step of the way.

How we deliver.

Our systems help you get clear and organized, overcoming the exact issues that keep most estate plans from actually working when they are needed most. We help you leave your family with a gift of love, and not a mess.

How our plans work.

One-and-done estate plans focused only on money are a recipe for a big mess. We help you throughout every stage of life and be there for the people you love, when you can’t be.