About Andrew Bemish
About Our Estate Planning Attorney in Plymouth, MI
Planning for the future brings up real questions. Who cares for your family if something happens to you? How do you pass on what you’ve built without leaving loved ones tangled in red tape? How do you protect a business, minimize taxes, or settle an estate the right way? These are the kinds of matters Andrew L. Bemish, Attorney-at-Law, has helped people work through for more than three decades.
Andy is the firm’s primary attorney, and he stays involved in your matter from your first conversation through the decisions that shape your plan. Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Andy personally reviews your situation and guides your legal strategy.
- Your key documents get his direct attention and his sign-off.
- A friendly office team helps with scheduling and coordination, so things stay organized and moving.
Families and business owners across Plymouth, Canton, Northville, Livonia, Walled Lake, Ann Arbor, and Ypsilanti come back to Andy because they know what to expect: clear recommendations, plain-language answers, and steady follow-through on what matters most.
Key Takeaways
You work directly with Andy. Every call, consultation, and document is handled by him, not passed down to staff.
Andy has been admitted to the State Bar of Michigan since 1987 and in private practice since 1991.
He holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation from the University of Florida Levin School of Law and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court and the IRS.
Andy practices proactive law, a preventive approach built to head off estate, tax, and probate problems before they surface.
As a mediator, Andy works to resolve disputes without litigation and keep his clients' lives on track.
Will You Work Directly With Andy, or Get Handed Off?
You’ll work with Andy. He’s the firm’s main attorney, and he stays involved in your matter from the first conversation through the decisions that shape your plan.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Andy personally reviews your situation and guides your legal strategy.
- Your key documents get his direct attention and his sign-off.
- A friendly office team helps with scheduling and coordination, so things stay organized and moving.
If your matter would be better served by another professional, Andy will tell you honestly and point you in the right direction. Either way, you’re never left guessing who’s leading your case.
Meet Andrew Bemish
Andy has practiced law in the Plymouth area for his entire career. He was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 1987, graduated cum laude from Detroit College of Law, and opened his private practice in 1991. Since then, he has built a reputation as an attorney who listens closely, gets to the point, and hands you a clear path forward, not a lecture.
People come to Andy at turning points. A new baby. A retirement on the horizon. An inheritance that arrived with more questions than answers. A business growing faster than the legal structure around it. Andy understands that the documents he drafts aren’t abstract legal instruments. They’re protection for what matters most to the person sitting across from him.
Before he entered private practice, Andy worked in the Tax Department at Coopers and Lybrand, now PricewaterhouseCoopers. That’s where he built the tax law foundation that still sets his practice apart today.
What Is Proactive Law, and How Does Andy Practice It
Proactive law is a preventive approach to legal planning. Instead of reacting to problems after they land on your doorstep, Andy puts the right structures in place before complications develop. Before probate becomes a crisis. Before an estate dispute reaches the courthouse. Before a tax question turns into an audit.
Most people don’t call an estate planning attorney until something goes wrong. A parent dies without a will. A business partner exits without a succession plan. An IRS notice shows up without warning. Andy’s job is to make sure you never reach those moments unprepared.
A proactive plan isn’t about burying every worst-case scenario in paperwork. It’s about understanding your life, your family, and your goals, then building a plan tailored to your unique needs that keeps things running smoothly, whatever comes next.
What Does Andy's Mediator Mindset Mean for You?
A mediator is a neutral, trained professional who helps people in a dispute reach a resolution without going to court. Andy brings that mindset to every client matter he handles, not just formal mediation cases.
His goal is never litigation for its own sake. When a family disagreement over an estate flares up, when a business dispute threatens a relationship, or when a tax issue needs to be settled with the IRS, Andy looks for the clearest path to a reasonable outcome. He filters out the noise, identifies what actually needs to happen, and moves toward resolution.
Litigation is costly, slow, and hard on families. Andy would rather spend his time helping you avoid it than billing hours inside of it.
How Andy Handles Estate Planning and Probate
Andy works through a structured, personal process. It starts with understanding your full picture, your assets, your family, your business interests, and your goals, before he drafts a single document.
Here’s how a typical estate plan comes together:
Experience, Credentials, and the "Attorney for Attorneys" Reputation
Andy’s credentials are specific and verifiable, which is exactly how they should be.
- Admitted to the State Bar of Michigan: 1987, with active membership in the Taxation, Estate Planning, and Probate sections.
- In private practice: Since 1991.
- Education: Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation, University of Florida Levin School of Law (1989). Juris Doctor (J.D.), cum laude, Detroit College of Law (1987). Bachelor of Arts, German Language and Literature and International Trade, Eastern Michigan University (1982).
- Court admissions: U.S. Tax Court. U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Eligible to practice before the IRS.
That LL.M. in Taxation, a graduate law degree focused entirely on tax law, isn’t a common credential among estate planning attorneys. It means Andy approaches every estate plan with a level of tax fluency most general practitioners can’t match. He understands how estates interact with income tax, gift tax, and estate tax at both the federal and state level.
That depth has earned him an informal but meaningful reputation: other attorneys in the Plymouth area consult him on difficult tax questions. When a matter involves IRS audit procedures or advanced tax strategy, Andy is often the attorney other attorneys call. He knows how to find answers to hard questions, and he knows how to explain them so they’re actually useful to the person asking.
Solo Attorney or Large Firm: Which Is Right for You?
If you value direct attorney access and personalized guidance, a solo, direct-access practice like Andy’s is a strong choice over a larger multi-attorney firm. Here’s a plain comparison:
| Factor | Andrew L. Bemish, Attorney-at-Law | Typical Multi-Attorney Firm |
|---|---|---|
| Who handles your matter | Andy personally | May be delegated to associates or paralegals |
| Point of contact | One consistent attorney | Often varies by task or stage |
| Tax law depth | LL.M. in Taxation, IRS practice eligible | Varies, advanced tax credentials less common |
| Approach to conflict | Mediator mindset, resolution-focused | Depends on firm culture |
| Community roots | Plymouth area since 1991 | Varies, often multi-location |
A larger firm may fit better if you need several practice areas handled at once under one roof, or if you prefer the infrastructure of a bigger organization. Andy is the right choice if you want one experienced attorney who knows your name, manages your file, and answers directly to you.
What Makes Andy Different From Other Estate Planning Attorneys Near Plymouth
Three things set Andy apart from other estate planning attorneys in the area:
Attorney-Led Guidance
Your matter is guided by Andy, the firm’s primary attorney. You get legal recommendations shaped by experience, with support from a team that helps keep the process organized and moving.
Advanced tax credentials
His LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida Levin School of Law, combined with U.S. Tax Court admission and IRS practice eligibility, gives him a tax foundation most estate planning attorneys near Plymouth, Northville, or Livonia simply don’t have.
A resolution-first mindset
Andy brings a mediator’s approach to every matter. That means fewer disputes, lower costs, and less disruption to your family’s daily life.
Underneath all three is decades of community trust. Andy has practiced in Plymouth since 1991. He’s a neighbor who has built relationships across the Plymouth, Canton, Northville, and Livonia communities over many years, not an out-of-town firm serving the area from a distance.
Rooted in Plymouth, Serving Clients Across the Region
Andy’s practice is based at 9380 N Lilley Rd, Plymouth, MI 48170, and serves clients throughout the greater Plymouth area, including Canton, Northville, Livonia, Walled Lake, Ann Arbor, and Ypsilanti.
He has been part of the Plymouth-area professional community for his entire career. His membership in BNI since 1996 reflects a long-standing commitment to building genuine relationships with local professionals, the CPAs, financial advisors, and business owners who trust him enough to refer their own clients.
That kind of reputation takes time to build. Andy has spent decades building it.
What You Can Expect When You Work With Andy
Here’s what Andy commits to, plainly stated:
- Clear Recommendations, Not a List of Options: You won’t leave a meeting with a menu of choices and no direction. Andy gives you a specific, reasoned recommendation built around your situation, so you know exactly what he suggests and why.
- Advice Tailored to What Actually Fits: Some situations call for a straightforward will and power of attorney. Others call for a revocable living trust, tax planning, and ongoing counsel. Andy tells you which one fits your circumstances, and he won’t push you toward complexity you don’t need.
- Plain-Language Guidance: You’ll understand your plan. Andy explains everything in clear terms, so you walk away knowing what your plan does, how it works, and why it’s built the way it is.
- Follow-Through You Can Count On: Andy keeps his word. Deadlines mean something here, and if another professional is a better fit for your needs, he’ll tell you straight and point you in the right direction.
Ready for a Conversation? Here's How to Start.
If you’ve read this far, you’re probably at a point where the right legal plan would make a real difference for you, your family, or your business. Andy would be glad to hear about your situation and give you a straight answer on where things stand.
Call (734) 459-7990 or visit our click here to get in touch with our office. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon. Weekend appointments are available by arrangement.
Andrew L. Bemish, Attorney-at-Law | 9380 N Lilley Rd, Plymouth, MI 48170 | albemishpc.com
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Andy is the firm's primary attorney, and he'll guide your matter from start to finish. He personally reviews your situation, shapes your legal strategy, and gives every document his direct attention. You won't be passed off to another lawyer or left wondering who's handling your case.
No, the initial consultation isn't free. It's a $300 investment into resolving your situation, not a quick, general overview. During your consultation, Andy reviews your personal and financial details, listens to your goals and concerns, and gives you sound, practical legal advice tailored to your circumstances. You walk away with real direction, not vague suggestions. Want to learn more about your situation? Contact our office today to talk through your needs and consider scheduling your initial consultation.
Andy serves clients across Plymouth, Canton, Northville, Livonia, Walled Lake, Ann Arbor, and Ypsilanti, as well as the broader metro Detroit area. The office is located at 9380 N Lilley Rd, Plymouth, MI 48170.
Proactive law is a preventive planning approach. A basic will tells the court what to do with your assets after you die. Proactive law goes further. It puts structures in place before problems arise, reducing the odds of probate, tax complications, and family disputes. Andy builds plans tailored to your unique needs that anticipate future changes, not just today's circumstances.
LL.M. in Taxation is an advanced law degree earned after the standard Juris Doctor (J.D.). It reflects deep, focused training in federal and state tax law, including estate and gift taxation, IRS procedure, and business tax planning. Andy earned his LL.M. from the University of Florida Levin School of Law in 1989. This credential lets him bring a level of tax analysis to estate planning that most general-practice attorneys can't offer, and it's why other attorneys in the area regularly consult him on complex tax matters.
Online legal services generate documents based on your answers to general questions. They aren't attorneys. They can't analyze your specific circumstances, and they can't account for Michigan-specific probate rules, state tax considerations, or the way your retirement accounts, real estate, and business interests interact. For simple situations, they may produce a technically valid document. For anything more involved, blended families, business interests, significant assets, or tax planning, working with an experienced attorney near Plymouth is the better choice. Andy reviews every client's full picture before he recommends a plan.
Andy recommends reviewing your plan after any major life event: marriage or divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, the death of a spouse or beneficiary, a significant change in assets, a new business, or a move to or from Michigan. As a general rule, a review every three to five years is wise even if life has been steady. Laws change. Your goals change. Your plan should keep pace.
The office is located at 9380 N Lilley Rd, Plymouth, MI 48170. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon. Weekend appointments are available by arrangement.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes and doesn’t constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed until a written engagement agreement has been signed.