Attorney Biography

Donald F. Carney, Jr. concentrates his practice in the areas of estate and trust litigation, estate administration and planning, and alternative dispute resolution. He has been annually selected as a Michigan Super Lawyer in trust and estate litigation since 2006. He has also been selected as a Leading Lawyer in Michigan since 2016.

Mr. Carney is a frequent public speaker and has lectured for the University of Michigan’s Institute of Continuing Legal Education. He spoke to the ICLE 1992 Advanced Estate Planning Institute on the topic “Pre and Post Mortem Steps To Protect Clients’ Estate Plans Against Will and Trust Contests.” On February 23, 1995, Mr. Carney presented “Testamentary Capacity – The Legal Test” at the Macomb County Bar Association’s Probate Seminar. On February 26, 1999, he spoke to the Macomb County Probate Bar Association and The Financial and Estate Planning Council of Macomb on “Fiduciary Liability.”Mr. Carney then presented “Fiduciary Liability” to the Oakland County Bar Association Probate, Estate and Trust Committee on April 26, 1999.

He then presented “Mean What You Say, Say What You Mean: Litigating Document Construction,” 42nd Annual Probate and Estate Planning Institute, ICLE, 2002.In addition, Mr. Carney has also served as local commentator for the American Law Institute, ABA Committee on Continuing Professional Education on such topics as “Estate Administration: Dollars and Sense,” “Estate Planning for the Elderly,” and “Will Drafting Techniques.”

Mr. Carney is the author of “The Right to a Nonjury Trial in Probate Court,” which appeared in the August, 1991 issue of Laches.