Faculty Profile: Michael Crowder

Michael R. Crowder helps his clients plan for life. He enjoys teaming up with his clients to formulate an estate plan that meets their wants and needs, and takes pride in creating wills and trusts that reflect his clients' values and give them peace of mind regarding their legacy. Michael works hard to ensure that his clients' assets are best utilized during their life and then smoothly passed along at death, taxes are minimized, protection from creditors is maximized, charitable intentions are fulfilled, and loved ones are provided for. Michael particularly appreciates being an advocate for his elderly clients. He assists them in planning for, applying for, and remaining eligible for Medicaid, VA, SSI, and other benefits - he has won multiple hard-fought appeals for his clients' TennCare and SSI benefits. He also helps them negotiate, or, if necessary, litigate family disputes over property rights or other issues. Additionally, he helps clients obtain and administer conservatorships for their disabled loved ones. Michael also assists personal representatives in the administration of estates in probate court and routinely handles conflicts that arise during estate administration, whether by ensuring that the wishes of the deceased are carried out or that heirs receive what is due them in a timely manner. He also helps his small business and non-profit clients on issues ranging from formation and governance, taxes, contracts, fundraising, employment issues, property rights, and litigation. Michael received his law degree from the University of Tennessee, College of Law and his undergraduate degree in Religion from Princeton University, where he studied the history of early Christianity and played offensive line on the football team. Michael and his wonderful wife, Katey, have two children, Henry and Lucy. When he's not with his clients, you can usually find Michael with his family working on a new project for their 90-year-old house in north Knoxville.