Trent Harris

Hello! My name is Thomas Trent Harris and I go by my middle name, Trent. I was born and raised in Jackson, Michigan and went to the Jackson Public Schools, graduating from Jackson High School in 1995. I earned my bachelor's degree from Albion College in 1999 and my juris doctor degree from Chicago Kent College of Law in 2008. I am licensed to practice in Michigan and Illinois, and my law practice today is focused almost completely on estate planning for individuals, families, and business owners.

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Illinois

Since 2008

Michigan

Since 2010

Attorney

Law Office of Trent Harris

2018 - Current

Founded small law firm to represent individuals in the areas of estate planning, probate, and real estate transactions.

Collections Attorney

American 1 Credit Union

2016 - 2018

I represented the credit union in collections and consumer bankruptcy matters in courts throughout Michigan.

Attorney

Law Office of Trent Harris, PLC

2011 - 2013

I represented clients in estate planning, probate, real estate, and small business matters, mostly for transactional/drafting matters, but also some litigation.

Legal Intern

Allegiance Health

2009 - 2011

Worked as a legal intern supporting the Associate General Counsel of a mid-size regional hospital system. Worked mostly on contract and compliance matters.

Paralegal

Scarpelli & Brady, LLC

2005 - 2008

Worked as a paralegal for a five-attorney insurance defense litigation firm in Park Ridge, Illinois.

Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology

J.D. (2008)

2005 - 2008

Albion College

(1999) Dual major in Economics & Management and Philosophy

1995 - 1999

Honors: Cum Laude

CALI Award

Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology

2007

Received CALI Award for Law 273 - Evidence from professor Justice David A. Erickson for spring semester of 2007.

Dean's List

Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology

2007

Recognized on Dean's List - spring 2007 and fall 2007 semesters.

Dean's List

Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology

2006

Recognized on Dean's List - Fall 2006 semester.

State Bar of Michigan  # P73799

Member

Current

Chicago Bar Association

2008 - Current

Bylaws are Mylaws, Nonprofit Network 2011 Governance Workshop, Community Action Agency, Jackson, MI

September 7, 2011

Nonprofit Network

Presentation discussing the role, relevance, and importance of bylaws to the board of directors and management of nonprofit organizations.

Q. Can I move assets to a trust after taking a loan on that asset

October 17, 2024

A: Yes, you could - subject to some caveats - move assets to a trust after taking a loan on the asset. By taking a loan on the asset, I'm guessing you mean you've borrowed money that is secured by a lien on the asset.

The most common situation where this comes up is where a person owns a home in their personal name, and then forms a revocable trust as part of their estate planning. Typically the home is then deeded into the trust. If there is a pre-existing loan and lien against the property, the trust takes the home subject to the lien. Putting the home in the trust does nothing to take away any of the lien creditor's lien rights to foreclose. Meaning, the lien has priority, and if the loan is not paid, the home can be foreclosed upon, no matter whose name the house may currently be titled in.

Other assets subject to pre-existing liens that are moved into a trust would basically be treated the same. For example, if it were equipment (lien perfected by filing a financing statement) or a motor vehicle (lien perfected by placing lien on certificate of title), failure to pay the loan could still result in the property being repossessed.

If you are thinking about moving assets into a trust in an effort to avoid creditors, you should know that generally that just isn't going to work. For one, those types of transfers can be undone using fraudulent transfer laws, such as the Michigan Voidable Transaction Act. And second, those transfers would still not impair a pre-existing lien.

For more information, please make an appointment for a consult with a reputable estate planning and probate attorney near you. ... Read More

Q. If I die and not married but have minor (under 18) children and my boyfriend (no kids) is on the deed of my house with

August 25, 2023

A: The answer to this question is "it depends." It depends on whether you both own the house as joint tenants with right of survivorship, or whether you own the house as tenants in common. And it also depends on whether you have any estate plan documents such as a will, trust, or lady bird deed that would purport to pass your property at death. Since none of this information was given in your question, no one can really say what will happen to your house. The best thing for you to do would be to make an appointment with a local estate planning attorney so you can get individualized advice, based on all the relevant factors that apply to your situation.

Q. Property acquired through quitclaim deed has transferability restrictions to heirs at law, but the grantor is deceased.

August 24, 2023

A: The restrictive language you mentioned in the deed may not be enforceable under Michigan law under Michigan Land Title Standard 9.1. I suggest you contact a title company to obtain a title commitment for the property. The title commitment will tell you what steps you may need to take (if any) before you can sell the property. It may end up that you can just disregard the language about heirs in the deed.