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. 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
- AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
- Listed in the Best Lawyers (1993-2010) -- Trusts and Estates
- Listed as a “Michigan Super Lawyer” -- Estate Planning & Probate
- Listed in "Best of the U.S." (2008-2010)
- 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
- Treasurer, Munson Medical Center
- Former Member, Munson Healthcare System Board of Trustees
- Northern Michigan Counsel on Planned Giving
- Former Secretary, Women’s Resource Center
- Former Member, Community Health Clinic
Publications
- "Business Relationships Under the Michigan Trust Code," Michigan Bar Journal, May 2010.
- "It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's a Trust Protector," January 2009.
- "Incidents of Ownership in Partnership Owned Life Insurance," January 2008.
- “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
