Bio
Nancy A. Nihem is a partner in Plunkett Cooney’s Trusts and Estates Practice Group and the managing attorney of the firm’s Grosse Pointe office.
With over 35 years of experience, Ms. Nihem partners with individuals, families and business owners to create thoughtful, forward-looking estate plans tailored to their unique goals and circumstances. She helps clients navigate through complex family dynamics, business succession planning, and estate tax and gifting strategies. Her approach focuses on developing long-term plans that preserve wealth, minimize tax exposure and create meaningful, lasting legacies.
Ms. Nihem combines deep technical knowledge with a highly personalized approach. She understands that no two estate plans are alike and takes pride in guiding clients through the planning process with clarity, care and attention to detail. Her work is centered on helping clients protect what matters most, achieve peace of mind and build lasting legacies that support their families for generations.
Her practice includes drafting wills, a wide range of trusts and powers of attorney for both financial and health care decision-making. Ms. Nihem also has significant experience serving as a successor trustee and advising personal representatives, trustees, fiduciaries and beneficiaries in both complex and uncontested estate and trust administration matters.
Known for her steady guidance and compassionate counsel, Ms. Nihem is committed to making estate planning accessible, practical and aligned with each client’s long-term vision. She works closely with individuals and corporate fiduciaries alike, providing confident leadership at every stage of the estate and trust administration process.
A member of the State Bar of Michigan, Ms. Nihem is active in Wealth Counsel, a national collaborative of estate planning attorneys and financial professionals, and she is a volunteer in the Grosse Pointe community.
Representative Client Work
- Designs comprehensive estate plans, including will, revocable and irrevocable trusts, and durable power of attorney for financial and healthcare decision making
- Counsels clients on effective wealth transfer strategies, probate avoidance techniques and asset protection planning to preserve and safeguard assets for future generations
- Provides counsel to families navigating complex dynamics, blended families and special needs planning
- Advises business owners on succession planning, ownership transitions, buy-sell agreements and integration of business interests into overall estate plans
- Serves as successor trustee for estates ranging from modest to multi-million-dollar matters. Responsible for the valuation and sale of assets to facilitate timely distributions to beneficiaries
- Assists trustees with the valuation, sale and transition of estate assets, including personal property, real estate and closely held business interests
- Advocates for beneficiaries to promote the fair, efficient administration of estate assets and timely distributions
- Represents successor trustees, advising them on the proper fulfillment of their statutory duties and promoting clear, effective communication with beneficiaries to help ensure a smooth and orderly transfer of assets following death
- Coordinates with financial advisors and tax professionals in the preparation of trust and estate tax returns, ensuring accurate asset valuations for surviving spouses and beneficiaries and helping to minimize future tax exposure
Professional Affiliations
- State Bar of Michigan
Areas of Practice
Trending
Credentials
Education
- University of Detroit School of Law, J.D., 1991
- University of Detroit, B.S., 1987
Admissions
- Michigan, 1991
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1991
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2014
