About Us

As a resident, real estate attorney and former real estate broker, and current Lake Property Specialist in this state, my practice within Lake Property Law, PLC includes most counties in the Lower Peninsula. I graduated from the University of Michigan and Detroit College of Law over 40 years ago and have practiced as a township and city attorney, road commission attorney for 3 counties, and many other areas of real estate. In addition, I practiced for very many years in social security disability, workmans compansation, personal injury, wills and probate, criminal prosecution and a number of other areas of the law. There’s not much in the field of real estate to which I have not been exposed. Mostly, though, I’ve concentrated in all types of real property litigation in many areas of Michigan. My experiences in this area of the law have been varied and extensive from rural and urban, governmental and private, corporate and individual, large acreage and small condominiums, subdivisions and site condominiums. Whatever the real property matter, I highly understand and value titles and lesser interests.

Despite my familiarity with many real estate practice areas, I am currently devoting a great deal of my practice to being a water boundary attorney. I feel as if I am made for the subject matter as I was born and raised in a unique village on one of the largest and definitely the most beautiful lakes in Northern Michigan. In addition, there are many other lakes and streams in the county as well as it being bounded by the Lake Huron and the Straits of Mackinaw.

The subject matter that I have concentrated in for the last many years is the very basic but intricate water law that was proposed by Thomas Jefferson in the Land Ordinance of 1785 that marked the beginning of the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) which identified, forever, our lands and waters. That body of law remains very much controlling of our lands and waters in this state and 29 others lying westerly of the original colonies to the Pacific Ocean. The Public Land Survey System determined titles of lands and bottomlands, forever. This body of law has taken me back to its basics which mandate a knowledge of the U.S Constitution, federal surveys, statutes and case from the inception of our country.

There are more than a few good property attorneys in Michigan and I very much consider myself fortunate to be included in that group as it is my primary area of practice. However, being a boundary attorney means I have very specialized knowledge of the public land (federal) surveys that make up every bit of property in this state. This specialty is not exactly a brotherhood as I know of no such practioners other than myself and those who associate with me. We know it; and we know it well. It has taken years to develop a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter as it has been horribly misunderstood and applied by the State of Michigan. It’s something I remember touching upon it in property class for a session or two in law school; that’s it. I realize now that the subject matter should have been covered much more extensively. It is the legal bases of our entire lands and waters in Michigan.

What is advantageous about being a boundary attorney is that I know what are our lands and waters. I fully realize that it is difficult for state residents to understand that Michigan courts are very often not proper players in this arena.

Whatever concerns you may have with real estate matters and more so within the specialties discussed above and set forth within this site, I invite you to contact me.