Practice Areas
Honors & Recognitions
AV® Preeminent™ Martindale-Hubbell
Best Lawyers in America (Elder Law, Trust and Estates)
Michigan Super Lawyers (Estate Planning & Probate)
American College of Trust and Estate Law Counsel, Fellow
Camille Abood Distinguished Volunteer Award, Ingham County Bar Association
Distinguished Citizen Award, Chief Okemos Council Boy Scouts of America
Education
University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1979
Michigan State University, B.A., 1976, with honors
Bar and Court Admissions
Michigan
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Charles A. Janssen
Charley graduated from the Michigan State University Honors College, Phi Beta Kappa in 1976. After receiving his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1979, he immediately joined Foster Swift. Charley’s legal practice covers the entire spectrum of estate planning; wills, trusts, wealth management, family business planning, charitable gift planning and estate and trust administration. These are just a few factors that make Charley a highly sought after tax attorney in Lansing.
Known for his ability to simplify the most complex of estate planning strategies into plain English, he is always willing to speak on estate planning, charitable gifting and business planning issues to interested groups and businesses. Additionally, he has authored numerous articles on estate planning and charitable giving topics, and is a contributing editor to a number of Institute for Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) books and publications including Revocable Living Trusts in Michigan.
Charley's legal talents have long been recognized by his peers. Top estate planning attorneys from around the country nominated and elected him to the prestigious American College of Trust and Estate Attorneys in 1995. Fellow attorneys have also ranked him as a top Estate Planning and Elder Law attorney in Best Lawyers in America since 1993 and he has been recognized as a Michigan Super Lawyer in those same areas of practice since the survey's inception in 2005.
In addition to his practice, Charley has held numerous leadership roles in the firm, including chairing the Business and Tax Department, heading up the attorney recruitment committee, sitting on the firm’s Executive Committee and serving as President of the Law Firm (2003-2005). He has also chaired the Ingham County Bar Probate and Estate Planning Section and the Greater Lansing Estate Planning Council.
Charley enjoys giving his time and expertise to many mid-Michigan civic and charitable boards and activities. Currently, he sits on the Board of Trustees for Michigan State University College of Law, is a commissioner for Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority and is the treasurer for the Lansing Christian School Foundation. In the past, he has served as chairperson or board member of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee, Lansing Public Schools Foundation, Lansing Riverfront Development Board, and Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority. Charley also co-chaired the City of Lansing’s Project Play, which helped raise $2 million for new playground equipment for city parks and school playgrounds. Charley remains active in promoting charitable giving through the Capital Region Community Foundation and many other wonderful charities and agencies.
In appreciation of Charley's efforts, he has received the Ingham County Bar Association’s Camille Abood Distinguished Volunteer Award in 2006 and the Chief Okemos Council Boy Scout of America Distinguished Service Award in 2009.
Representative Matters
- Develop estate plans that accomplish clients' goals.
- Mediate disputes in large estates involving family business.
- Represent numerous multi-million dollar lottery winners.
- Establish private foundations.
- Provide legal counsel to public charities.
- Design sophisticated generational family gifting plans that minimize tax liability.
News
- Foster Swift attorneys selected as Michigan Super Lawyers and Michigan Rising Stars, September 6, 2012
- 47 Foster Swift attorneys named as 2013 Best Lawyers, September 4, 2012
- Foster Swift selected as a Top Ranked Law Firm by Martindale-Hubbell, April 16, 2012
- 21 Foster Swift Attorneys named to 2011 Michigan Super Lawyers; 4 named Michigan Rising Stars, September 12, 2011
- 18 Foster Swift Lawyers Included on 2010 Super Lawyers List, October 28, 2010
- Foster Swift's 2011 Best Lawyers, August 17, 2010
- Nineteen Foster Swift Attorneys Named in 2009 Super Lawyers, September 22, 2009
Publications
- Common Estate Planning Pitfalls, Foster Swift Estate Planning Insights, Fall 2010
- Planning for Incapacity, ICLE Michigan Revocable Grantor Trusts (Chapter 4), Third Edition, 2010
- Tax Aspects of Trust Administration, ICLE Revocable Living Trusts in Michigan (Chapter 3), Third Edition, 2010
- The Economy and Changes in Federal Estate Tax Exclusion: Effect on Your Estate Plan, Foster Swift Estate Planning Insights, January 2009
Memberships & Affiliations
Legal Affiliations:
- State Bar of Michigan
- American Bar Association
- Ingham County Bar Association
- Estate Planning Section, Past Chair - Michigan State Bar Foundation, Fellow
Industry & Professional Associations:
- Michigan State University College of Law, Board of Trustees
- Greater Lansing Estate Planning Council, Past President
Community Involvement:
- Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Former Chairperson and Officer
- Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce PAC, Former Chairperson
- Lansing Public Schools Foundation, Former Chairperson
- Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority
- Former Chairperson
- Commissioner
- Long Range Planning Commission, Chair - Hospice of Lansing, Former Board Member
- City of Lansing - Project Play, Co-chairperson
- Capital Region Community Foundation, Former Chairperson
- Lansing Christian School Foundation, President, Past Treasurer, Board of Directors
- Sparrow Foundation, Major Gifts Committee
