Cynthia L. Umphrey

Direct Dial Number: 248.619.2591
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Practice Areas:
Business Law, Exit Planning, Estate Planning and Post-Death Administration

Cynthia Umphrey helps families and business owners make significant personal and professional life decisions. Ms. Umphrey calls upon over 10 years of experience in estate planning, post-death administration, business structuring and business exit planning to guide you though life’s most important choices.

Estate Planning & Post-Death Administration: Ms. Umphrey walks her clients through the entire estate planning process with care. Some concerns she will help you resolve include: how to set aside money and assets for your family, who should make decisions for you if you are incapacitated, and who should care for your children if you are unable to do so. She will ensure your future plans are followed as much as possible without court interference. She is well versed in the many and often detailed matters that need to be addressed after a death and handles highly complex federal estate tax and post-death business and family distribution matters.

Business Planning: Ms. Umphrey understands that business owners are faced with day-to-day questions as well as major quandaries. She handles everything from troubleshooting on employee or collections issues to engaging in strategic planning and protecting your family and business in the event of a death. Ms. Umphrey works proactively to create a plan that puts you in the best possible legal and financial position now and in the future.

Exit Planning: As an exit planning strategist, Ms. Umphrey helps owners of closely held businesses scale back their involvement, retire or transition their companies to new owners. Her transition plans allow owners to leave their businesses on their own terms and maximize the value received, or to keep their businesses as a source of income even as they retire. Techniques involved in this process can include: mediation of family issues; creation of incentives to key employees; tax advantaged sale or purchase of businesses; sophisticated gifting strategies; legal audit; and solving legal and tax problems before they become critical.

Education:

B.A., Oakland University, magna cum laude
J.D., University of Michigan, cum laude

Bar Admissions:

State Bar of Michigan

Memberships:

State Bar of Michigan
  Council Member, Business Law Section;
  Co-Founder and Acting Chairperson, The Small Business Forum
Oakland County Bar Association
Member of The Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s Business Law Advisory Board
Learning Events Chair of the Entrepreneurs Organization

Other Activities:
Ms. Umphrey is a frequent lecturer for The Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Lorman Education Services, the National Business Institute and other organizations. The Detroit Legal News, the Oakland Legal Press and Bottom Line Business Publications have published or quoted her articles and she has appeared on the Business Reality Network. She also contributes to two online blogs, Crain’s Detroit Business “Small Talk” and CPA-Resource.com.