Meet Chris Savage
Christine Savage is a shareholder and has substantial experience in estate planning, probate and trust administration, mergers and acquisitions, corporate business matters, and income, estate, gift and generation skipping transfer taxation. Chris regularly advises clients on both simple and complex estate and business planning matters.
Chris received a Bachelor’s degree in 1993 in Accounting from Michigan State University, a Juris Doctorate degree in 1999 from Michigan State University College of Law, and a LLM degree in taxation in 2005 from Wayne State University. Chris is recognized by the Michigan business community with her knowledge and accomplishments. Chris is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Chris is listed in the Michigan Super Lawyers and the Best Lawyers in America in the trusts and estates areas and received the Preeminent “AV” rating maintained by Martindale-Hubbell. She is editor and co-author of “Drafting the Michigan Trust”, an ICLE publication. Chris was the chair of the Power of Attorney Act Committee of the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the Michigan State Bar behind the enactment of the Uniform Power of Attorney Act.
Chris is a lecturer in the areas of trusts estates and business planning. In 2010 she was an adjunct professor at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School teaching a course on business organizations.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Estate Planning
Mergers and Acquisitions
Probate, Trust and Estate Administration
Taxation
Business Planning
Corporate Law
Premarital and Marital Agreements
EDUCATION
Wayne State University Law School, LL.M. in Taxation, 2005
Detroit College of Law at M.S.U., J.D., 1999
- Completed the Concentration in Taxation Program
- American Jurisprudence Award in Employee Benefits and
- Executive Compensation
Michigan State University, B.A. in accounting, 1993
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND HONORS
American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Fellow
American Bar Association Member:
- Taxation Section
- Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
State Bar of Michigan Member:
- Probate and Estate Planning Council, Member, 2017 – Present
- Office, Vice Chair 2025-Present
- Office, Secretary 2024
- Office, Treasurer 2023
- Real Estate Committee, Member 2024 - Present
- Tax Committee, Member 2017 - Present
- Premarital and Marital Agreements Committee, Chair, 2017 – Present
- Legislative Drafting and Development Committee, 2017 – Present
Ingham County Bar Association Member
Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Probate and Estate Planning Advisory Board, 2006-2017
Greater Lansing Estate Planning Council, Member
- Board of Directors, 2000-2005
- President, 2004-2005
Listed in Michigan Super Lawyers in the area of Estate Planning
Listed in Best Lawyers in America in the area of Trust and Estates
Completed the Probate and Estate Planning Certificate Program through the Estate Planning Section of the State Bar and the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 2005
Detroit College of Law, Michigan State University American Inns of Court, 2001-2003
Martindale-Hubbell rating of AV - Preeminent
PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKING EXPERIENCE
Drafting the Michigan Trust, 4th ed., Institute of Continuing Legal Education, co-editor
- Tax Considerations, chapter author
- Drafting the Revocable Grantor Trust, chapter author
Michigan Estate Planning Handbook, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, editor and co-author
- Predeath Planning: Lifetime Wealth and Health Fiduciaries, co-author
Uniform Power of Attorney Act: On The Horizon, Michigan Bar Journal, editor and author
Michigan Revocable Grantor Trusts, 3rd ed., Institute of Continuing Legal Education, editor and co-author
Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, Business Planning, Adjunct Professor, 2010
Choice of Entity: Advising Small Business Start-Ups in Michigan, co-author
Transferring the Family Business: How Can I be “Fair” to All My Children; “Journal for the State Bar of Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Section”
Tax Nugget, IRS Issued Proposed Amendments to Claims Against the Estate Regulations”, “Journal for the state Bar of Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Section”
Planning for Retirement Plan Distributions, ”Michigan Out of Doors” Magazine
Tax Aspects of Charitable Giving, Journal for the State Bar of Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Section
Lecturer in the areas of trusts-estates and employee benefits
COMMUNITY SERVICe
Burcham Hills Foundation
- Board of Directors, 2003-2004
- President, 2004
National Planned Giving Council
- Board of Directors, 2004-2008
- Secretary, 2006-2008