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Trent Harris
Bankruptcy, collections, estate planning, probate, and employment law attorneyBadges
Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&A
Summary
I'm a bankruptcy, collections, estate planning, probate, and employment law attorney practicing in Jackson, Michigan and areas surrounding Jackson County, Michigan. Born and raised in Jackson, Michigan, I've been a lawyer for nine years and have spent most of that time in private practice as a solo practitioner. I also have worked several years working for a bank as in-house counsel handling debt collections and Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy matters.
I help individuals and families plan for and navigate legal issues in some of the most significant financial and legal events in their lives: births, deaths, marriages, divorces, job losses, illnesses, hospitalizations, long-term-care, and other major life events. My approach to clients features personalized attention, prompt communication, efficient service, and discretion at all times. I am admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in the State of Michigan.
Memberships:
Jackson County Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association
Jackson Area Estate Planning Council
Probate and Estate Planning Section, Michigan State Bar
Consumer Law Section, Michigan State Bar
Education:
J.D., Chicago Kent College of Law, 2008
B.A., Albion College, 1999
Diploma, Jackson High School, 1995
Practice Areas
- Bankruptcy
- Collections
- Estate Planning
- Probate
- Employment Law
Fees
- Free Consultation
I offer free consultations by telephone. - Credit Cards Accepted
- Contingent Fees
Contingent fee arrangements by are by written engagement agreement only. The client must reimburse all out-of-pocket costs incurred in the case.
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- Illinois
- Michigan
Languages
- English: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
- Attorney
- Crossroads Legal, PLLC
- - Current
- Founded consumer law firm to represent individuals in the areas of bankruptcy, collections, estate planning, probate, and employment law.
- Collections Attorney
- American 1 Credit Union
- -
- I represented the credit union in collections and consumer bankruptcy matters in courts throughout Michigan.
- Attorney
- Law Office of Trent Harris, PLC
- -
- I represented clients in estate planning, probate, real estate, and small business matters, mostly for transactional/drafting matters, but also some litigation.
- Legal Intern
- Allegiance Health
- -
- Worked as a legal intern supporting the Associate General Counsel of a mid-size regional hospital system. Worked mostly on contract and compliance matters.
- Paralegal
- Scarpelli & Brady, LLC
- -
- Worked as a paralegal for a five-attorney insurance defense litigation firm in Park Ridge, Illinois.
Education
- Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
- J.D. (2008)
- -
- Albion College
- (1999) Dual major in Economics & Management and Philosophy
- -
- Honors: Cum Laude
Awards
- CALI Award
- Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
- Received CALI Award for Law 273 - Evidence from professor Justice David A. Erickson for spring semester of 2007.
- Dean's List
- Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
- Recognized on Dean's List - spring 2007 and fall 2007 semesters.
- Dean's List
- Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
- Recognized on Dean's List - Fall 2006 semester.
Professional Associations
- State Bar of Michigan # P73799
- Member
- Current
- Jackson County Bar Association
- - Current
- Chicago Bar Association
- - Current
Speaking Engagements
- Bylaws are Mylaws, Nonprofit Network 2011 Governance Workshop, Community Action Agency, Jackson, MI
- Nonprofit Network
- Presentation discussing the role, relevance, and importance of bylaws to the board of directors and management of nonprofit organizations.
Websites & Blogs
- Website
- Crossroads Legal, PLLC
Legal Answers
49 Questions Answered
- Q. What's the difference between a healthcare directive and a power of attorney?
- A: A healthcare directive gives someone else the power to make medical decisions for you when you are unable to do so for yourself. In Michigan, it’s called a Patient Advocate Designation. On the other hand, a power of attorney gives someone else the power to make financial decisions for you, whether you are unable to do so for yourself (durable springing power) or you are able, but want the other person to have the power too (concurrent non-springing power). As always, you get what you pay for. Be sure to talk to a qualified attorney about your specific situation before choosing to rely on any information you get from internet discussion boards such as this one.
- Q. What kind of hoops do we have to jump
- A: If you are only a friend, and not a creditor, heir, or devisee, then you would have no standing to receive any property from that estate. But maybe you could buy it if the county public administrator was willing to open up an estate for the heir-less decedent. As always, you get what you pay for. Be sure to talk to a qualified attorney about your specific situation, before choosing to rely on information you get from Internet discussion boards, such as this one.
- Q. I was offered a job on the premise it was a full time permanent position.A week after I was working there, I was told no
- A: It sounds like you are saying you were hired with the understanding you would be a full-time employee, but once hired they are only giving you part-time work. The term “contractor” means the tax status of your work (i.e. whether you are paid on a W-2 with withholdings held back from your paycheck on the one hand, or a Form 1099 with no withholding). Based on what you said about the employer’s control and supervision over your work, it sounds like you are clearly an employee, not a contractor, but only part-time. Unfortunately you don’t really have a remedy for your employer hiring you to do full-time, but then only giving you part-time hours. An employer can cut an employee’s hours at will, unless the employee has a contract for employment. Based on the misrepresentation and lack of trust with your current employer, it would probably be wise to seek another job. As always, you get what you pay for. Be sure to talk to a qualified attorney about your specific situation, before choosing to rely on information you get from internet discussion boards such as this one.
- Q. What happens to real estate if left to someone in a will and no probate ever opened?
- A: The real estate would continue to be titled in the deceased person's name. If the taxes were not paid, the property could go into tax forfeiture/foreclosure. The property could go into forfeiture in the second year after the real estate taxes became delinquent. Or, if the property were not maintained and became an eyesore/safety hazard, the property could be condemned. That would depend on the condition of the property. This answer is only about Michigan law - for how other states treat this issue, you would need to ask an attorney licensed in the other state. As always, you get what you pay for. Be sure to talk to a qualified attorney about your specific situation, before choosing to rely on any information you get from internet discussion boards such as this one.
- Q. Can I receive smallreal estate inheritance without probate? Will filed. No probate in 4 yrs. Single inheritor designated
- A: No. If there is real property still titled in the deceased person's name, you will need to open a probate estate and appoint a personal representative who can then sign a deed transferring the property over to you. As always, you get what you pay for. Be sure to talk to a qualified attorney about your specific situation, before choosing to rely on any information you get from internet discussion boards such as this one.
- Q. I have a final pre-trial/settlement conference and motion hearing on 10/11/18. I must be represented by an attorney.
- A: “If I borrowed money from a relative/friend can the law firm file and obtain a bankruptcy case number by Oct 11, 2018?” ***You should ask the bankruptcy firm you’ve hired for your Chapter 13 case whether they can do this for you. “[C]ould the Legal Aid Society assist me at my settlement conference?” ***It depends on the legal aid society, whether that is a service they provide in your area, and whether they would agree to take your case. Call the Legal Aid organization in your area and find out. “Are there attorneys who would represent me at my hearing if I agreed to pay from my next social security disbursement due approximately 12 days after my hearing date?” ***Probably, as long as you assure the attorney that you will not file bankruptcy before paying the attorney. As always, you get what you pay for. Be sure to talk to a qualified attorney about your specific situation, before choosing to rely on any information you get from Internet discussion boards such as this one.
- Q. I got a letter for petition of administration my cousin wants to be administrator
- A: Your question is posted in the area for probate questions in Michigan. If the probate estate is being administered in Florida, you should find an attorney licensed in Florida to advise you. Perhaps you should re-post your question in the Florida law section. As always, you get what you pay for. Be sure to talk to a qualified attorney about your specific situation, before choosing to rely on any information you get from Internet discussion boards such as this one.
- Q. Can I sue (small claims court) a corporation doing business in Michigan at my local district/circuit courthouse?
- A: Here is the venue statute for Michigan. http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(mrmnjrzw5bkzjtbkhau2r4ik))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-600-1621 It says you can sue the corporation in any county where it has a place of business, does business, or has its registered office. If none of these exists for the corporation, then you would be allowed to file in your local court for your home county. But you have to look for a county where the corporation has a place of business, registered office, or does business first. As always, you get what you pay for. Be sure to talk to a qualified attorney about your specific situation, before choosing to rely on any information you get from internet discussion boards such as this one.
- Q. ex-employer shared files with me on my personal file sharing/ email account 15 months after I was fired. do I hv 2 gv b?
- A: Although your noncompete has ended, it is likely that any confidentiality agreement that you had with the company, whether in writing or in a employee manual, still applies after termination of your employment. The information that you mentioned is recognized by Michigan law as trade secrets, and the employer would probably have a good case in court if they tried to force you to return the information. The disclosure sounds like it was inadvertent, and a judge probably would not say that the company has waived its rights by that mistake. You probably aren’t in any legal hot water for simply viewing the file, but if you copy, print, use, or further disclose it for your own or another employer’s purposes that could create legal liability for you. My advice is to return the information to the ex-employer. It was theor mistake but probably not one that caused them to lose their rights to control the use of the information. As always, you get what you pay for. Be sure to talk to a qualified attorney about your specific situation, before choosing to rely on any information you get from Internet discussion boards such as this one.
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