Robert E. Kass
Trusts and Estates
Trusts and Estates
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Bob concentrates on estate planning, tax counseling, wealth preservation, and planned giving. He is thorough and analytical, while giving great personal attention to his clients.His practice includes estate planning, wealth preservation, and planned giving, for estates of all sizes. In addition to the traditional drafting of wills and trusts, he and his group specialize in sophisticated wealth preservation techniques, succession planning, probate and trust administration, post-mortem planning, as well as estate tax return preparation, gift and estate tax audits and appeals, and estate-related claims and litigation.He is also heavily involved in charitable and planned giving techniques, to permit his clients to identify and meet their charitable objectives with maximum tax benefit.After earning his law degree at the University of Michigan, Bob began his legal career as an associate with a U.S. law firm in Brussels, Belgium, serving a multinational corporate clientele. He later returned to the United States to pursue advanced studies in tax law at New York University, where he earned a Master's Degree in Taxation. He then a mid-size Detroit law firm, where he remained for 43 years, until he joined Varnum, LLP as Counsel in 2022.Bob is a Fellow of the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel ("ACTEC"). Bob concentrates on estate planning, tax counseling, wealth preservation, and planned giving. He is thorough and analytical, while giving great personal attention to his clients. His practice includes estate planning, wealth preservation, and planned giving, for estates of all sizes. In addition to the traditional drafting of wills and trusts, he and his group specialize in sophisticated wealth preservation techniques, succession planning, probate and trust administration, post-mortem planning, as well as estate tax return preparation, gift and estate tax audits and appeals, and estate-related claims and litigation. He is also heavily involved in charitable and planned giving techniques, to permit his clients to identify and meet their charitable objectives with maximum tax benefit. After earning his law degree at the University of Michigan, Bob began his legal career as an associate with a U.S. law firm in Brussels, Belgium, serving a multinational corporate clientele. He later returned to the United States to pursue advanced studies in tax law at New York University, where he earned a Master's Degree in Taxation. He then a mid-size Detroit law firm, where he remained for 43 years, until he joined Varnum, LLP as Counsel in 2022. Bob is a Fellow of the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel ("ACTEC").
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2009
Margaret Brown
After my mother's passing, my siblings and I were faced with the complex task of settling her estate, which included a family business and several properties. We engaged Bob Kass at Varnum on a recommendation, and his 46 years of experience were immediately evident. His deep knowledge of trusts, estates, and tax law, honed from his NYU education and long career, provided us with a clear, strategic roadmap. He was thorough and analytical, patiently explaining every option for wealth preservation. It’s no surprise he’s been recognized as Lawyer of the Year in Detroit. His personal attention made a stressful process manageable. The only slight drawback was that during peak periods, response times from his assistant could lag a day or two, but Bob himself was always prompt for our scheduled meetings. We felt in exceptionally capable hands and achieved an optimal outcome for our family.