Carrick, Elissa L

Donald F. Carney, Jr. concentrates his practice in the areas of estate and trust litigation, administration and planning, and alternative dispute resolution. He has been annually selected as a Michigan Super Lawyer in trust and estate litigation since 2006.

Mr. Carney graduated from the Detroit College of Law in 1976 and was the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award in Evidence. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Michigan State University in 1970.

Mr. Carney is a frequent public speaker and has lectured for the University of Michigan's Institute of Continuing Legal Education. He spoke to the ICLE 1992 Advanced Estate Planning Institute on the topic "Pre and Post Mortem Steps To Protect Clients' Estate Plans Against Will and Trust Contests." On February 23, 1995, Mr. Carney presented "Testamentary Capacity - The Legal Test" at the Macomb County Bar Association's Probate Seminar. On February 26, 1999, he spoke to the Macomb County Probate Bar Association and The Financial and Estate Planning Council of Macomb on "Fiduciary Liability." He then presented "Fiduciary Liability" to the Oakland County Bar Association Probate, Estate and Trust Committee on April 26, 1999. He then presented "Mean What You Say, Say What You Mean: Litigating Document Construction," 42nd Annual Probate and Estate Planning Institute, ICLE, 2002. In addition, Mr. Carney has also served as local commentator for the American Law Institute, ABA Committee on Continuing Professional Education on such topics as "Estate Administration: Dollars and Sense," "Estate Planning for the Elderly," and "Will Drafting Techniques." Mr. Carney is the author of "The Right to a Nonjury Trial in Probate Court," which appeared in the August, 1991 issue of Laches.

Professional memberships include the American Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Oakland County Bar Association, and Macomb County Bar Association, as well as the Macomb County Probate Bar Association. ABA section memberships include Corporation, Banking and Business Law, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law, and Litigation. He is also a member of the ABA's Estate and Trust Litigation Committee. Section memberships in the State of Michigan include Corporation, Finance and Business Law, Probate and Trust Law, Real Property Law, Taxation, and Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Mr. Carney is a past chairman of the Oakland County Bar Association's Probate, Estate and Trust Committee. He is also a member of The Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit, Inc. Mr. Carney was elected as a Commissioner for the City of Birmingham (2001-2009). He also served as Mayor Pro Tem during 2003 and 2007 and as Mayor during 2004 and 2008. He is currently president of Orchard Lake Country Club.