Kennerly, Montgomery & Finley P.C.
Michael R. Crowder

Michael R. Crowder, Esq.
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Estate Planning and Trust, Probate, and Estate Administration and Litigation

Michael R. Crowder helps clients navigate complex trust and estate matters involving family, property, and legacy with technical precision and thoughtful advocacy.

His practice includes advanced estate planning for clients across a wide range of net worths, including high-net-worth individuals requiring strategies such as sales to intentionally defective grantor trusts (IDGTs), GRATs, QPRTs, SLATs, charitable trusts, and related wealth-transfer techniques. Michael approaches planning deliberately, emphasizing individualized plans that reflect each client’s circumstances and objectives rather than standardized, one-size-fits-all drafting.

Michael also represents personal representatives, trustees, and beneficiaries in probate and trust administration, as well as in contested trust and estate matters. These cases often involve fiduciary disputes, contested accountings, capacity issues, undue influence claims, and significant family conflict. In that setting, Michael fills both the advocate and counselor roles, helping clients move deliberately through uncertainty, reduce risk where possible, and litigate firmly when necessary.

In addition to litigation, Michael frequently serves as counsel to fiduciaries navigating complicated administrations, providing strategic guidance aimed at protecting the estate or trust, managing exposure, and moving matters toward resolution. His work is grounded in careful analysis and practical judgment.

Michael also assists clients with Medicaid and long-term-care planning, conservatorships for disabled loved ones, and nonprofit formation and governance.

About Michael

Michael was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 2014. He is also a member of the Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) and Tennessee Bar Association (TBA).

Michael earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2014 and in 2018 completed a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Estate Planning and Elder Law. Before law school, Michael received his undergraduate degree in Religion from Princeton University, where he studied early Christianity and played offensive line on the football team.

Michael lives in north Knoxville with his wife, Katey, and their three children. Outside of work, he can usually be found with his family, working on the next project in their 90-year-old house, coaching a sports team, or serving at his church, Redeemer Church of Knoxville.

    Publications

    Newsletter Contributions and Articles

    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

    Reach out to Michael Today!

    Phone: (865) 546-7311

    Fax: 865-524-1773

    Or message them directly below:

    Michael R. Crowder (Direct Form)

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