Madison, Wisconsin
Service Areas:
Education:
- J.D., cum laude, University of Wisconsin Law School
- Estate Planning Concentration, with Honors
- B.A., summa cum laude, University of California, Los Angeles
Admissions:
- Wisconsin
- United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Michael is an attorney at DeWitt’s Madison office. Michael specializes in matters relating to trusts and estates. He advises clients in both non-adversarial settings such as in the preparation and design of an estate plan and in adversarial settings such as trust and/or estate litigation.
Within the context of Michael’s estate planning practice, Michael designs and drafts comprehensive estate plans for clients with vastly diverse backgrounds, objectives, and net worths. Michael has extensive experience drafting wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, and other advance directives. As part of the estate planning process, Michael enjoys reviewing the documents he has prepared with his clients and explaining their purpose and importance. Michael’s clients often compliment his ability to explain complex legal concepts in simple, easy-to-understand terms. In addition, Michael’s near-decade-long personal interest in the intersection between blockchain technology and estate planning and taxation makes him particularly well-suited to assist clients who hold digital assets.
Michael's practice also includes representing clients in both contested and uncontested trust and estate administrations. When Michael assists clients with trust and estate administrations, he works to ensure that the process is as seamless as possible to make the grieving process for a decedent’s loved ones less burdensome. He works with both individual and corporate fiduciaries and also represents beneficiaries in estate or trust proceedings. Michael understands the often-contentious nature of trust- and estate-related litigation and works with clients to bring resolutions to their disputes. Within the context of both contested and uncontested matters, clients often commend Michael for his responsiveness and his diligence communicating case updates.
While in law school, Michael was a Managing Editor for the Wisconsin Law Review.
Michael is fluent in reading, writing, and speaking Armenian.
Affiliations
- Madison Estate Council – Member
- Wisconsin State Bar Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section – Member
- Wisconsin State Bar Litigation Section – Member
Articles & Presentations
- "Buy-Sell Agreements and Their Impact on Estate Taxes"– DeWitt Trusts & Estates News, Jul 2024
- This article was also published by the Wisconsin Family Business Center, an affiliate of UW-Madison's School of Business (a/k/a the Wisconsin School of Business)
- "How Your Intellectual Property Factors into Your Estate Plan"– DeWitt Trusts & Estates News, May 2024
- "How Wisconsin’s SB759 May Affect the Administration of Your Trust" – DeWitt Trusts & Estates News, Apr 2024
- Michael has presented on issues relating to trusts and estates attended by other attorneys and professionals for continued learning credits such as:
- "Wisconsin Probate Process: In 7 Simple Steps," hosted by National Business Institute, on the topic of "Resolving Disputes and Navigating Probate Litigation"
- “Advanced Estate Administration: A Wisconsin Guide,” hosted by National Business Institute, on the topics of “Procedural Hurdles” and “Trusts in Estate Administration"
- Co-authored Thomson Reuters Practical Law articles relied upon by other practitioners regarding the following areas of Wisconsin trusts and estates law:
Client Recommendations
- “The service provided by Attorney Michael Bezoian was exceptional as he assisted my family and me in navigating through the legal aspects of an estate during a difficult time. Despite the circumstances, he made me feel comfortable during the entire process through his professionalism, knowledge, [and] communication.” - Nic Z.
- “My husband and I recently worked with Michael Bezoian of the DeWitt Law Firm to set up our trust. Michael was knowledgeable, professional, and wonderfully personable. He listened to our wishes, gave us options, and guided us through the process with much expertise. Michael and his assistant JoJean were the epitome of helpful in all respects. We give them an enthusiastic thumbs up!” - Susan K.
Clients
Michael works with clients with a diverse variety of family situations, net worths, and objectives. Michael takes great pleasure in preparing comprehensive estate plans that are designed to avoid disputes, probate, and guardianship proceedings, and to mitigate estate and gift taxes. Michael also works with clients to resolve trust- and estate-related disputes.
Notable Representations
- Obtained favorable settlement for surviving spouse disinherited by late husband by challenging validity of pre-nuptial agreement.