Service Areas
Education
- Wayne State University Law School, J.D., 1989
- Kalamazoo College, B.A.
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
High net worth clients benefit from Dawn Schluter's expansive experience in estate planning, trusts, taxes and family law when drafting their estate and wealth transfer plans. From wills and trusts to premarital agreements and divorce, she successfully helps them protect wealth and preserve assets.
"It is so gratifying to help my clients implement their personal wealth transfer goals. Financial prosperity is powerful and I'm fortunate to be able to help so many successful clients build their assets and ultimately give them away as they wish."
Dawn M. Schluter
Experience
Dawn is the leader of the Personal Services practice group, a team of caring and experienced attorneys in the U.S. and Canada providing estate, tax, wealth transfer and retirement planning, trust services, family law counsel and other services to help clients and their families prosper.
In her practice, she takes great satisfaction in saving families hundreds of thousands of dollars in estate taxes. The stakes are typically high because many of her clients have in excess of $10 million in assets. Dawn's job is to help them avoid the privilege of paying even more taxes when they're gone.
Dawn is also the chair of Women of Miller Canfield.
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association, Real Property, Probate, and Trust Section
- State Bar of Michigan, Probate and Estate Section; Family Law Section
- Oakland County Bar Association, Probate, Estate, and Trust Section
- The Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit, Inc.
Honors + Awards
- Best Lawyers in America, Trusts & Estates 2013
- Five Star Professional Estate Planning, HOUR Detroit and DBusiness 2011-present
- DBusiness Magazine, Top Lawyers, Family Law, Trusts and Estates, 2009-present
- Michigan Super Lawyers, Estate Planning & Probate 2008-present
- Wayne State University Law School, LL.M. expected; coursework completed
- University of Vienna Law School, Vienna, Austria, 1994
- Westfalische Universitat, Munster, West Germany, 1984-85
Civic, Cultural + Social Activities
- American Cancer Society, Nationwide Gift Planning Advisor, 2013
- William Beaumont Foundation, Planning Giving Committee 2011-present
- Birmingham Community House, Planned Giving Committee, 2011
- The Village Club of Bloomfield Hills, 2012-present
- YMCA Camping Services, Board of Directors, 2000-present
- Detroit County Day School Alumni Association, Alumni Council Member, 1992-2007; Co-chair, Annual Giving Campaign, 1991-92
- Leadership Oakland V, 1994-95; LO Alumni 1995-present
- Bloomfield Hills Rotary Club, 1992-96
Teaching Experience
- Schoolcraft College, Part-time Faculty, Business Law, 1989
- Wayne State University Law School, Teaching Assistant, Property Law, 1987-89
Publications
"Why more couples are saying 'I do' to prenuptial agreements," (co-author Jennifer M. LaTosch), Michigan Lawyers Weekly, May 18, 2009
"Looking for a smart estate-planning tool? Why a GRAT could be a GREAT idea," Hot Points, Summer 2007
"Antenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements," Chapter for Michigan Family Law, 5th and 6th Edition, ICLE, 1998 and 2004
"Attorney Fees in Michigan," Chapter for the ICLE Publication, 1995
Speeches
"Cultivating Gen X and Gen Y," American Cancer Society Planned Giving Business Unit Boot Camp, Atlanta, Georgia, September 20, 2012
"Estate Planning for Foreign Nationals," Grupo Antolin North America Employees, Auburn Hills, Michigan, January 23, 2012
"Take Advantage of the 2010 Tax Relief Act—Time is Running Out," (Panelist), The Planned Giving Committee, The Community House, Birmingham, Michigan, November 1, 2011
"Get the Most From Your Retirement Planning!," (Panelist with Kevin E. Jawahir, Greenleaf Trust and Annette M. Johnston, Ameriprise Financial), Kalamazoo College, October 22, 2011
"Cappuccino with Counsel: Death Tax and Income Tax-Where are we Now? Where are we Going?," Bloomfield Hills, MI, May 17, 2011
"Hot Tax Topics: 2011 Estate & Gift Tax Law Changes," Ford Motor Company Executive Retirees, @ Dearborn Hills Golf Course, May 10, 2011
"The Federal Estate Tax: 2011 and Beyond," ICLE After Hours Tax Law Series: Hot Topics in Estate & Gift Tax, February 22, 2011
"Before the Bell Breakfast Forum: Death Tax and Income Tax - What Hath Congress Wrought," Miller Canfield, Birmingham, Michigan, January 20, 2011
"Estate and Income Tax Changes for 2011," Miller Canfield, Bloomfield Hills, August 10, 2010
Wealth Preservation Techniques, Miller Canfield, Birmingham, Michigan, September 17, 2009
"Estate Tax Reform Update," Birmingham Community House Senior Men's Club, September 9, 2009
"Estate Planning Issues for Non-U.S. Citizens," Miller Canfield University for Clients, July 21, 2009
"Hiring Foreign Nationals: What You Need To Know," Miller Canfield, Southfield, Michigan, May 12, 2009
"Fiduciaries: Personal Representatives, Trustees and Agents - Duties, Selections and Special Issues," Birmingham Community House Senior Men's Club, September 2008 (Jim Williams, co-presenter)
"Gifting Strategies," Birmingham Community House Senior Men's Club, September 2007 (Jim Williams, co-presenter)
"Elder Care," Madison Heights Community Roundtable, March 2006 (Nancy Boari, co-presenter)
"Legal Peace of Mind as You Age," Senior Expo, Troy Community Center, March 2006
"The Key to Specialty Planning for: Unmarried cohabitants; Joint ownership; Trust accounts; Estate planning," Before the Bell Breakfast Forum, March 2006 (Ken Konop, co-presenter)
"The Legal Realities of Having a Student Who Turns 18 and Legally Becomes an Adult"
- Detroit Country Day School, Parent Coffee, April 2011, April 2012, February 2013 (co-presenter Gerry Gleeson)
- Franklin Road Christian, October 2006 (Todd Holleman, co-presenter)
- WWJ-AM, April 2006
- Southfield Regional Campus, February 2006 (Jeff Rogg, co-presenter)
- Warren Community High School, December 2005 (Jeff Rogg, co-presenter)
- Before the Bell Breakfast monthly Forum, Townsend Hotel, Birmingham, November 2005
- International Academy, September 2005 (Jeff Rogg, co-presenter)
- Fox 2 News Morning, March 2005
- Troy Athens Band Boosters, March 2005
"Advanced Directives for Medical Care and Estate Planning," Senior Expo presented by the Troy Chamber of Commerce @ the American Polish Cultural Center, August 2005
"Estate Planning for Non-U.S. Citizens," German Professional Women's Association, May 30, 2003
"Tax and Financial Aspects of Divorce," The Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Troy, Michigan, July 1997
"Estate Planning"
- Michigan Association of School Administrators, January 1995
- Detroit Diesel, February 1994
- Clarkston PEO Women’s Meeting, May 1993
- Birmingham PEO Women’s Meeting, May 1992
"Planning for Non-citizen Spouses," ICLE’s Marital Deduction Planning Seminar, September 1994
"Planning for Long-term Care," Birmingham Community House, April 1993
"Pre-retirement," General Motors Corporation, August 1991; April 1992
"Beyond the Basics-Probate Administration," National Business Institute, April 1991
"Death and Dying," St. Dennis Parish, April 1991
Seminars + Events
- Estate Planning for Non U.S. Citizens (EXPATS) - and - Estate Planning for Executives
- Before the Bell Breakfast Forum: Pulling Out the Crystal Ball for 2013 and Beyond for Estate and Gift Taxes
- Cappuccino with Counsel: Death Tax and Income Tax - Where are we Now? Where are we Going?
