George F. Bearup

George F. Bearup practices in the areas of estate planning and retirement planning, business law and divorce law. He serves as co-chair of the firm’s Business & Individual Planning Department, and General Counsel to of the Board of Directors. He is also very active in his industry and community and is a frequent author and lecturer on estate planning, trusts, and family law topics for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education.

George and his wife, Patricia, live in the Traverse City area. They have two children, Brooke and Jay.

Admitted to Practice

  • State Bar of Michigan, 1974
  • United States District Court, Western District of Michigan, 1974
  • United States Circuit Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1981

Education

  • Albion College (1969)
  • University of Michigan (B.A., magna cum laude, 1971)
  • Northwestern University Law School (J.D., with honors, 1974)

Noteworthy

  • Listed in the “Best Lawyers in America” (15 years)
  • Listed as a “Michigan Super Lawyer” (2006 & 2007)
  • Listed in "Best of the U.S." (2008) 
  • Fellow, American College of Trust & Estate Counsel

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association (Member, Sections on: Business Law; Family Law; Real Property, Probate and Trust Law)
  • State Bar of Michigan (Member, Sections on: Business Law; Family Law; Probate and Estate)
  • Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association (Chair, Judicial Liaison Committee)
  • Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
  • Fellow, State Bar of Michigan
  • Certified Federal Court Facilitative Mediator, Western District of Michigan
  • Referee, Michigan Department of Civil Rights

Community Affiliations

  • Former Chairman, Rotary Charities
  • Former Chairman, Munson Healthcare Foundation
  • Member, Munson Healthcare System Board of Trustees
  • Northern Michigan Counsel on Planned Giving
  • Women’s Resource Center
  • Community Health Clinic

Presentations

  • "Estate Planning Legal Ethics," November, 1998
  • "Drafting Trusts," November, 1997
  • "Drafting Trusts for the Medium Sized Estate," February, 1996
  • "Drafting Wills and Testamentary Trusts," October, 1992
  • "Funding Revocable Grantor Trusts," February, 1991
  • "Advantages of Revocable Grantor Trusts," January, 1990;
  • "Estate Planning with Trusts, Michigan Bar Journal, June 1990
  • "Revocable Grantor Trusts," June, 1987
  • "Estate Planning Practice in Michigan," December, 1987
  • "Estate Planning for Owners of Closely Held Businesses," November, 1986
  • "New Michigan Court Rules," June, 1985
  • “Drafting Wills and Trusts under ERTA,” March, 1982

Publications

  • “Drafting Prenuptial Agreements,” January 2007
  • Author: “Succession Planning in Agribusiness,” Winter, 2005
  • “Family Limited Partnerships After Strangi:” 2004, 2005 & 2006
  • College Education Plans: 529, January 2003, February 2004
  • “Facilitative Mediation in Probate Courts,” Fall, 2003
  • “Estate Planning for Minors,” January 2002
  • "Gifts Under Durable Power of Attorney," Spring, 1995
  • Co-Editor: "Michigan Revocable Grantor Trust, Institute of Continuing Legal Education," January, 1991
  • "Antenuptial Agreements: A Time For Change In Public Policy," October, 1989
  • "Sexual Harassment in the Work Place," April, 1987
  • "Inherited Property in Divorce," December, 1984