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Associate
Phone: (865) 546-7311
Fax: (865) 524-1773
Email: mcrowder@kmfpc.com

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.

Areas of Practice

Trust and Estate Planning and Administration
Elder Law
Business and Corporate Law
Churches, Nonprofit, and Tax-Exempt Organizations

Education

Master of Law (LL.M.), Estate Planning & Elder Law
Western New England University School of Law, 2018

Juris Doctor (J.D.)
University of Tennessee College of Law, 2014

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Religion
Princeton University, 2011

Honors

Cityview Magazine, Top Attorney in Elder Law, 2018

Bar Admissions

Tennessee – 2014

Memberships

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
Knoxville Estate Planning Council
Knoxville Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association

Publications

Recent Changes to Trust and Estate Laws in Tennessee | KMF Newsletter: Summer 2019

Overview of the New Tax Deduction for Pass-Through Business Owners | KMF Newsletter: Spring 2018

What is Planned Giving? | KMF Newsletter: Fall 2017

Protecting Assets from Creditors via the "TIS Trust" | KMF Newsletter: Spring 2017

Remain Qualified for Government Benefits Using Self-Settled Special Needs Trusts | KMF Newsletter: Fall 2016

ABLE Accounts | KMF Newsletter: Summer 2016

Estate Planning to Avoid Probate | KMF Newsletter: Spring 2016

Social Security COLA and Increasing Medicare Part B Premiums | KMF Newsletter: Winter 2016

Proposed Rules on Faith-Based Social Services | KMF Newsletter: Fall 2015

An Introduction to the Ministerial Exception | KMF Newsletter: June 2015

Social Security for Married Couples | KMF Newsletter: Spring 2015

Churches and the FMLA's New Definition of "Spouse" | KMF Newsletter: April 2015

Speaking Engagements

Michael regularly gives presentations on topics related to his practice areas. If you would like Michael to speak to your group, please contact him. Some of his recent speaking engagements include:

“Ethics in Probate Practice,” National Business Institute, December 2017             

“Administering the Estate Effectively,” National Business Institute, August 2017   

“Using Irrevocable Trusts to Qualify for Medicaid and VA Benefits,” National Business Institute, November 2016

“Medicaid Estate Recovery Rules, Remedies and Appeals,” National Business Institute, August 2016        

“Social Security Retirement Benefits: Looking at the Big Picture to Benefit Your Client,” Tennessee Attorneys Memo, May 2016            

“The Nuts and Bolts of Social Security Retirement Benefits,” TBA Court Square Series, July 2015