your local common-sense legal team

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Practice Areas

Business Law

As a business owner, your focus is on keeping your customers happy. But as you build a successful company, there are times when you will need the expertise of a business lawyer. Our firm can guide you through complex decisions from start-up to expansion to business succession planning.

Elder Law

As you or a loved one grows older, you want to ensure that your rights and dignity are respected. Our firm can assist you in many ways. We can help safeguard your life savings and maximize your Medicaid benefits. Protect your rights at home or in care facilities. And assist you with your will and probate matters.

Estate Planning

It is never too early to make an estate plan. This is the surest way to protect your hard-earned assets, carry on your legacy and financially benefit your family and favorite charities. Our firm can help you customize your will or trust. We can establish a guardian for your children or a plan for your loved one with special needs.

Real Estate

Are you buying or selling a home or business? Developing a mixed resident/retail complex? Creating a new subdivision? Our firm can oversee the legal work involved. We can review the contracts and head-off problems with leases. Assist you with zoning or environmental issues. And help settle property disputes, too.

Contact

Whether you need legal assistance with running your business, purchasing or selling property, writing an estate plan or administering a trust, we can help you. Let’s set a time when we can talk.

About Our Firm

your
There are times when you need an attorney to help you. When you work with Passaro, Kahne, Taylor, DeFrancesco & Thompson, you will get the expertise and breadth of experience a larger firm offers but with the personal attention that our smaller firm gives. Whether you need legal assistance with your business, estate planning, real estate or with elder law, we can help.
local
Over the decades of practicing law locally, our firm has earned the respect and trust of many people in Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties. Like you, we live and work here so we understand the opportunities and challenges you encounter. And our offices are close by whether you live in Saint Joseph, Benton Harbor, Stevensville, Bridgman, New Buffalo, Lakeside, Sawyer, Union Pier, Three Oaks, Cassopolis, Dowagiac or South Haven.
common-sense
When you sit down with us to talk, we will listen to your needs and goals no matter how simple or complex. We will help you clearly understand your options and rights, discuss what steps you can take and the results you can expect. Then we will handle the details for you so you have peace of mind.
legal team
Take a few minutes now to get to know our team. We are licensed to practice in Michigan and Indiana which allows us to help you on both sides of the state line. Then contact our office. Together we’ll make your business, your life and your loved ones’ futures better.

wheelchair

If you have a minor or adult child with a physical or developmental disability, we can assist with the many challenges that you will likely encounter, including maintaining government assistance, planning for future inheritances and providing for future caregivers when you can no longer care for your child.

Passaro, Kahne, Taylor, DeFrancesco & Thompson Law Offices, P.L.L.C. can help you set up a Special Needs Trust so that government benefit eligibility is preserved while at the same time providing assets that will meet the supplemental needs of the person with a disability (those that go beyond food, shelter, and clothing and the medical and long term supports and services of Medicaid).

The Special Needs Trust can be used for a variety of life-enhancing expenditures without compromising your loved one’s Medicaid or SSI eligibility such as: 

  • Supplemental education and tutoring  
  • Out-of-pocket medical and dental expenses
  • Transportation (including purchase of a vehicle)
  • Purchase materials for a hobby or recreation activity
  • Funds for trips or vacations
  • Funds for entertainment such as movies, shows or ballgames.  
  • Athletic training or competitions
  • Special dietary needs

Special Needs Trusts are a critical component of your estate planning if you have disabled beneficiaries for whom you wish to provide after your passing.