AG's office appoints Donovan Macomb County Public Administrator

Michelle R.E. Donovan, a partner at Plunkett Cooney, was recently appointed to the position of Macomb County public administrator.

Public administrators (PAs) are appointed pursuant to Michigan Act 194 of 1947, specifically MCL 720.201. Michigan State Public Administrator and Assistant Attorney General Michael Moody appointed Donovan to the position.

“This is a great opportunity to engage in public service and to give back to my community,” said Donovan, who is a resident of New Baltimore in Macomb County, Michigan. “I’m grateful for this appointment, and I look forward to applying my probate and real estate law experience to benefit Macomb County residents.”

A graduate of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Donovan has extensive experience in all facets of probate law, including trust and estate administration, guardianship and conservatorships. In addition, her practice also focuses on all aspects of real estate and general civil litigation, which complement her duties as a public administrator.

As public administrator, she will serve in a number of court appointed positions, including personal representative of decedents’ estates, guardian and conservator of mentally incapacitated individuals and other special fiduciary positions as determined necessary by the Macomb County Probate Court.

Donovan was appointed to the American Indian Law Committee of the State Bar of Michigan. In addition, she is a member of the Macomb County Bar Association, Macomb County Probate Bar Association, Wayne County Probate Bar Association and the Italian American Bar Association.

Admitted to practice in the state and federal courts in Michigan, Donovan is also admitted to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court. She received her undergraduate degree in 1991 from the University of Detroit.

The members of Plunkett Cooney’s Trusts & Estates Practice Group focus their practices exclusively in the area of asset planning and probate litigation. They have particular expertise in drafting trusts and wills, managing estates, administering trusts, preserving assets, addressing tax sensitive distribution of assets to beneficiaries, planning for retirement and planning for effective asset protection. They assist with the selection process for guardians, and they utilize sophisticated techniques for tax and succession planning to the benefit of their clients.