Rebecca Tooman
Estate Planning Attorney
I understand that conversations about the future can feel overwhelming, which is why I focus on making the process as comfortable and straightforward as possible. My goal is to ensure clients feel confident, informed, and supported every step of the way. I believe that planning for the future should feel empowering—not overwhelming. My goal is to make complex legal concepts understandable and approachable. I take pride in building meaningful relationships with my clients and providing thoughtful, personalized solutions tailored to their unique circumstances. My background includes accounting, finance, estate planning, and family law. Before law school, I obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and worked as a financial analyst. I am a fourth-generation lawyer and accountant; my grandparents met in law school in Washington D.C., and my great-grandfather, who served in WWI, was also an attorney and accountant. My father served in the US Marine Corps, and I was born near the base in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. In my spare time, you can find me in the garden, kayaking, or hiking with our family dog.
Professional Experience & Training:
J.D., Wayne State University Law School, 2007 & B.B.A. Accounting, Eastern Michigan University, 2000
Estate Planning & Family Law Certificate programs issued by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education and the State Bar of Michigan Family Law Section & Estate Planning & Probate Section.
Seminars: Fundamentals of Estate Planning, Post-death Tax Planning and Preparing Fiduciary, Estate, and Gift Tax Returns, & Handling Contested Probate Proceedings and the Elder Law Institute Seminar. Fundamentals of Divorce Practice & Procedure, Handling Child Custody, Child Support & Parenting Time, Handling Property Division & Spousal Support Issues, Taxation and QDROs for Family Law Practitioners, Negotiating and Drafting a Property Settlement Agreement, Resolving a Custody Dispute and Drafting the Settlement Agreement, Masters in Litigation: Persuasive Presentation Skills & Revisiting Younger’s Ten Commandments, and Advanced Negotiation & Dispute Resolution Institute Seminar.
Domestic Relations Mediator Training, General Civil Mediation Training, and Collaborative Practice Training with the Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Business Valuations for Lawyers.
Published Works & Presentations:
Alternative Dispute Resolution: You Have Choices in the Process You Use to Resolve Your Family Law Disputes Written by Marie A. Pulte & Rebecca Tooman, MI Family Law Section - Special Edition 2007.
Affordable Care Act & What it Means for Mediators, Attorneys and Clients.
Handling Joint Custody Issues, ICLE Presentation 2015
Limited Scope Representation, ICLE Presentation 2017 & 2019
Associations & Memberships:
State Bar of Michigan Estate Planning & Probate Section
Oakland County Bar Association & Oakland Family Court Committee 2020
Family Law Advisory Board Member & New Lawyers Advisory Board Member 2011 - 2013
Collaborative Practice Institute of MI and International Academy of Collaborative Professionals 2013 - 2016
Family Mediation Council Board of Directors 2014 - 2015