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Stephen W. Smith

Senior Attorney
800 Ship Street
Suite 105
St. Joseph, MI 49085
T 269.983.1400
F 269.408.9017

Overview

Steve Smith devotes his practice to advising and representing individuals, businesses, and associations in the broad spectrum of real estate and property matters, as well as corporate issues, and counseling and representing families and individuals in matters of wills, estates, and trusts. Steve has extensive experience working with and assisting a variety of clients, including property owners and entrepreneurs; buyers, sellers and developers of property; corporations and LLCs; condominium and homeowner associations; and big families, young couples, and empty nesters. Steve has presented at seminars and authored numerous articles, including a piece on condominium association boards which appeared in Michigan Real Property Review, the official journal of the State Bar’s Real Property Law Section.

A native of Coloma, Michigan, Steve is still known in Southwest Michigan for having represented the University of Notre Dame on the Jeopardy! College Championship. After graduating magna cum laude from Notre Dame, Steve earned his law degree at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C, where he served on the editorial staff of the Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics. He practiced law in both the public and private sectors for nearly a decade in Washington, D.C. and Virginia, and has been in private practice in Michigan since 2007. A local history buff, Steve has twice been published in Michigan History Magazine.

Honors & Recognitions

Michigan Super Lawyers "Rising Star,"  2012, 2013

Washingtonian Magazine, "Washington's Top Lawyers," 2004

Affiliations

Memberships & Affiliations

Legal Affiliations:
  • State Bar of Michigan, Member
    • Agricultural Law Section
      • Treasurer
  • Berrien County Bar Association, Member
  • Admitted to United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
  • Admitted to Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians Tribal Court
 Community Involvement:
  • Berrien County Land Bank Authority, Member
  • Berrien Artist Guild, Board of Directors, Member
  • Honor Credit Union, Board of Directors, Member
  • St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Club, Past President
  • Berrien County Historical Association, Board of Directors, Past Secretary
  • Lakeland Health Foundation, Board of Directors, Past Member
  • Sarett Nature Center, Board of Directors, Past Member
  • Emergency Shelter Services, Board of Directors, Past Member
  • Lest We Forget, Past Member
  • Southwest Michigan Home Builders Association, Past Member
  • Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, Past Member
  • Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce, Past Member
  • Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra Development Committee, Past Member
  • Citadel Dance & Music Center, Past Chairman of Board of Directors

Experience

Representative Matters

  • Represent property owners in disputes with neighboring owners over applicable boundary lines and easements.
  • Counsel and represent condominium associations and their boards of directors on condominium management issues.
  • Assist entrepreneurs in the formation of for-profit and non-profit enterprises.
  • Advise developers and contractors in land use and development projects.
  • Represent businesses and municipalities in property tax matters before local boards of review and the Michigan Tax Tribunal.
  • Counsel and represent property owners in commercial and residential lease matters.
  • Advise and assist individuals and families with trust and estate planning, and counsel and represent trustees and personal representatives in the administration of trusts and estates.

Communications

Publications

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News & Events

Speaking Engagements

News

Media

Second Wednesday Lunch Break

What Condo Unit Owners and Buyers Need to Know
What Condo Unit Owners and Buyers Need to Know

Education

Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1998

University of Notre Dame, B.A., 1995, magna cum laude

Bar and Court Admissions

Michigan

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan

Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians Tribal Court