Elisabeth Dery (right) is pictured with several of her campaign volunteers tasked with collecting petition signatures for the 2026 Probate Court race in Oakland County.
By Tom Kirvan
Legal News
Clarkston attorney Elisabeth Dery promises to bring “both heart and hard-earned expertise to the bench” in her quest to seek a seat on the Oakland County Probate Court in the November 2026 election.
Dery, a University of Maryland graduate who earned her juris doctor from Cooley Law School in 2012, is a partner in the Clarkston law firm of Yun Dery & Morgan, managing a 16-member legal team dedicated to helping probate clients “access government benefits, secure housing, and receive daily care support.” A resident of Royal Oak, Dery is seeking a seat on the four-judge Oakland Probate Court that will be vacated at year-end by Judge Daniel A. O’Brien, who is unable to seek re-election because of age limits for state judicial office.
“I have a long record of community service and I view my candidacy as another way of giving back to the residents of Oakland County,” said Dery, who has served as chair of the Oakland County Bar Association’s Probate, Estate, and Trust Committee. “My desire to help out also has been reflected in my law practice, where I have experience representing vulnerable adults, families, and those in need of court-appointed protection.”
Dery officially launched her campaign for the six-year seat in June and is one of two candidates who have pulled nominating petitions to be placed on the election ballot. The other announced candidate is Jessica Hallmark, an attorney with the Bloomfield Hills firm of Adkison Need Allen & Rentrop. Both candidates are in the process of collecting the required number of signatures by the spring 2026 filing deadline.
“I’ve been meeting a lot of wonderful people while collecting petition signatures,” Dery indicated. “I’ve been fortunate to have a number of friends and family members who have assisted me in the petition process, going all over the county to get the signatures of registered voters. It’s been very gratifying and encouraging to have their support. My mom, of course, has been one of my biggest supporters, jumping in head first in collecting signatures.”
A native of St. Clair Shores, Dery grew up on a farm in the northern part of Oakland County, developing a love of horses and other animals while participating in the Michigan 4-H Youth Development Program. Her mother, Mary, is a nurse and case manager for Henry Ford Health System, while her father, John, is a CPA.
“I was president of the 4-H club and loved participating in all its activities when I was growing up,” Dery related. “I especially enjoyed being around horses, and competed in English, western, dressage, and barrel racing events. Working with horses taught me a lot of life lessons about the value of hard work, preparation, discipline, and the need to stay calm under pressure.”
A product of Marian High School in Bloomfield Hills, Dery initially planned to pursue a career as a veterinarian after earning a bachelor’s degree in Pre-Veterinary Medicine from the University of Maryland, but shifted her focus to law school after deciding that she could make a greater community impact in the legal profession.
“It was a conscious decision to find a field where I could give back to the community to a greater degree,” Dery said. “There’s always been a pull in my life to help others.”
That desire grew from an early age after her parents divorced and Dery embraced the responsibility of helping raise her younger siblings.
“I’ve been independent since I was 18, working my way through college and law school,” Dery said. “I have a great appreciation for those who can excel while balancing a number of responsibilities.”
Dery began her legal career as a paralegal for Kemp Klein in 2011, eventually becoming an associate attorney with the Troy law firm from 2014-18. She then joined the Clarkston law firm headed by attorney John Yun and his daughter Jane Morgan, and became a partner in January 2022.
“John sought me out in 2018 after I had plans to take a job in Virginia,” Dery indicated. “We had been on opposing sides, but he liked my presence in court and asked that I pause and consider joining his firm instead.”
Dery and Morgan now share leadership roles at the firm that values the philosophy of “we work as a team and operate like family.”
The job, according to Dery, is one that “I love, due principally to the people I get to work with on a daily basis and the clients that we serve.”
Added Dery: “There’s never a dull moment here, as no two days are the same. The probate practice touches so many other areas of the law, which makes it especially interesting and something that I’m very passionate about.”
Dery said she is particularly well versed in elder law, probate work, and estate planning, while also serving as a VA Accredited Attorney, a professional fiduciary, and as a trustee or personal representative in cases that cross the legal spectrum.
Outside of work, Dery takes joy in photography, rock climbing, camping, kayaking, horseback riding, coaching youth basketball, and rescuing and rehabbing dogs.
She and her wife, Faith Gaudaen, were recently married in a lakeside ceremony at a park near Dexter. Gaudaen is a University of Michigan alumna who obtained her juris doctor degree from U-M Law School. An attorney with Kemp Klein, Gaudaen focuses her practice on conflict resolution cases, whether in the business, employment law, or estate settlement areas.
Dery said she considered a run for the probate bench in 2024, but opted to wait until next fall so that she would have sufficient time to mount a well-organized campaign.
“I’m excited about being a candidate for the probate bench, where I will have the opportunity to tell voters about my experience as a guardian, conservator, trustee, and personal representative,” proclaimed Dery, who for more than four years has offered pro bono services to low-income residents aided by Common Ground in Pontiac. “I have a strong understanding of probate law and I also have compassion for the many vulnerable people that the court serves, which motivates me to be a part of the decision-making process.”
Legal News
Clarkston attorney Elisabeth Dery promises to bring “both heart and hard-earned expertise to the bench” in her quest to seek a seat on the Oakland County Probate Court in the November 2026 election.
Dery, a University of Maryland graduate who earned her juris doctor from Cooley Law School in 2012, is a partner in the Clarkston law firm of Yun Dery & Morgan, managing a 16-member legal team dedicated to helping probate clients “access government benefits, secure housing, and receive daily care support.” A resident of Royal Oak, Dery is seeking a seat on the four-judge Oakland Probate Court that will be vacated at year-end by Judge Daniel A. O’Brien, who is unable to seek re-election because of age limits for state judicial office.
“I have a long record of community service and I view my candidacy as another way of giving back to the residents of Oakland County,” said Dery, who has served as chair of the Oakland County Bar Association’s Probate, Estate, and Trust Committee. “My desire to help out also has been reflected in my law practice, where I have experience representing vulnerable adults, families, and those in need of court-appointed protection.”
Dery officially launched her campaign for the six-year seat in June and is one of two candidates who have pulled nominating petitions to be placed on the election ballot. The other announced candidate is Jessica Hallmark, an attorney with the Bloomfield Hills firm of Adkison Need Allen & Rentrop. Both candidates are in the process of collecting the required number of signatures by the spring 2026 filing deadline.
“I’ve been meeting a lot of wonderful people while collecting petition signatures,” Dery indicated. “I’ve been fortunate to have a number of friends and family members who have assisted me in the petition process, going all over the county to get the signatures of registered voters. It’s been very gratifying and encouraging to have their support. My mom, of course, has been one of my biggest supporters, jumping in head first in collecting signatures.”
A native of St. Clair Shores, Dery grew up on a farm in the northern part of Oakland County, developing a love of horses and other animals while participating in the Michigan 4-H Youth Development Program. Her mother, Mary, is a nurse and case manager for Henry Ford Health System, while her father, John, is a CPA.
“I was president of the 4-H club and loved participating in all its activities when I was growing up,” Dery related. “I especially enjoyed being around horses, and competed in English, western, dressage, and barrel racing events. Working with horses taught me a lot of life lessons about the value of hard work, preparation, discipline, and the need to stay calm under pressure.”
A product of Marian High School in Bloomfield Hills, Dery initially planned to pursue a career as a veterinarian after earning a bachelor’s degree in Pre-Veterinary Medicine from the University of Maryland, but shifted her focus to law school after deciding that she could make a greater community impact in the legal profession.
“It was a conscious decision to find a field where I could give back to the community to a greater degree,” Dery said. “There’s always been a pull in my life to help others.”
That desire grew from an early age after her parents divorced and Dery embraced the responsibility of helping raise her younger siblings.
“I’ve been independent since I was 18, working my way through college and law school,” Dery said. “I have a great appreciation for those who can excel while balancing a number of responsibilities.”
Dery began her legal career as a paralegal for Kemp Klein in 2011, eventually becoming an associate attorney with the Troy law firm from 2014-18. She then joined the Clarkston law firm headed by attorney John Yun and his daughter Jane Morgan, and became a partner in January 2022.
“John sought me out in 2018 after I had plans to take a job in Virginia,” Dery indicated. “We had been on opposing sides, but he liked my presence in court and asked that I pause and consider joining his firm instead.”
Dery and Morgan now share leadership roles at the firm that values the philosophy of “we work as a team and operate like family.”
The job, according to Dery, is one that “I love, due principally to the people I get to work with on a daily basis and the clients that we serve.”
Added Dery: “There’s never a dull moment here, as no two days are the same. The probate practice touches so many other areas of the law, which makes it especially interesting and something that I’m very passionate about.”
Dery said she is particularly well versed in elder law, probate work, and estate planning, while also serving as a VA Accredited Attorney, a professional fiduciary, and as a trustee or personal representative in cases that cross the legal spectrum.
Outside of work, Dery takes joy in photography, rock climbing, camping, kayaking, horseback riding, coaching youth basketball, and rescuing and rehabbing dogs.
She and her wife, Faith Gaudaen, were recently married in a lakeside ceremony at a park near Dexter. Gaudaen is a University of Michigan alumna who obtained her juris doctor degree from U-M Law School. An attorney with Kemp Klein, Gaudaen focuses her practice on conflict resolution cases, whether in the business, employment law, or estate settlement areas.
Dery said she considered a run for the probate bench in 2024, but opted to wait until next fall so that she would have sufficient time to mount a well-organized campaign.
“I’m excited about being a candidate for the probate bench, where I will have the opportunity to tell voters about my experience as a guardian, conservator, trustee, and personal representative,” proclaimed Dery, who for more than four years has offered pro bono services to low-income residents aided by Common Ground in Pontiac. “I have a strong understanding of probate law and I also have compassion for the many vulnerable people that the court serves, which motivates me to be a part of the decision-making process.”
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