Jeff has 20 years of experience as a respected advisor and counselor to individuals, financial institutions, and a wide variety of businesses, from small start-ups to large corporations, in various industries throughout Michigan. His practice areas include:

• Trust and estate planning
• Trust and probate administration, including trust reformation proceedings
• Cottage succession planning
• Business entity selection, organization, and planning 
• Corporate governance
• Loan documentation drafting, review, and evaluation
• Non-compete and trade secret protection 
• Technology licensing 
• Business sales and transactions, including manufacturing, distribution, and leasing 
• Business succession planning, including Buy-Sell Agreements 
• Agri-Business, with an emphasis on transfer of farm real estate and operations 
• Liquor license transfers 
• Real estate transactions

Jeff is a native of Northern Michigan. He resides in Traverse City with his wife Michelle and their daughter Alexa.

Education

• Alma College (B.A., 1987)
• University of Kentucky (J.D., 1990)

Admitted to Practice

• State Bar of Michigan, 1990
• United States District Court, Western District of Michigan, 1990

Client Successes for Jeffrey R. Wonacott

• 1/1/2010
  Jeff Wonacott assisted northern Michigan families on several recent occasions in preserving family farms and facilitating the transfer of farm operations and property to the next generation of family farmers.

Smith Haughey Publications

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association
• State Bar of Michigan (Member, Sections on: Business Law; Tax Law; Probate and Estate Planning)
• Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association