Overview

Michelle Chapin advises individuals, families and small business owners regarding their estate and gift planning needs in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia.

Approachable and responsive, Michelle focuses on listening to understand her clients’ needs while providing guidance and practical solutions.  

Michelle excels at communicating easy to understand explanations of intricate legal and tax matters. She works closely with her clients to create comprehensive and customized estate and business succession plans to achieve their tax and non-tax wealth preservation objectives.

Michelle also helps clients implement lifetime gifting and post-mortem wealth transfer strategies and counsels fiduciaries on estate and trust administration matters. She focuses a part of her practice on estate planning for clients with international issues, including estate, gift and other tax concerns of non-U.S. citizens, U.S. citizens with non-U.S. citizen spouses, and U.S. citizens owning property abroad.

Outside of the office, Michelle can be found cheering on her kids in their many activities and giving exceptional book recommendations.

Education

  • Georgetown Law Center (LL.M. in Taxation, With Distinction, Dean’s List, 2011)
  • Georgetown University Law Center (Certificate in Estate Planning, Dean’s List, 2011)
  • American University Washington College of Law (J.D., 2005)
  • University of Florida (B.A., 2002)

Admissions

  • Maryland
  • Virginia
  • District of Columbia
  • United States Supreme Court

Honors and awards

  • “Top Financial Professional,” Bethesda Magazine (2022)
  • Listed in Super Lawyers Maryland, Estate Planning & Probate (2022-2023)
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America: Trusts and Estates (2020-2023)
  • Top Financial Advisers – Estate Attorneys – Washingtonian magazine (2019, 2021, 2022)
  • Named to Top Attorney List by Bethesda Magazine ​(2019, 2021) – Trusts and Estates
  • “Top Lawyers” – Washingtonian magazine (2018, 2020, 2022)
  • “Top Estate Lawyers (Rising Stars)” – Bethesda Magazine (2018)
  • “Washington’s Best Lawyers,” Trusts and Estates, Washingtonian magazine (2017)
  • Listed as “Rising Star” by Maryland Super Lawyers (2014-2020)
  • Listed as “Rising Star” by Washington D.C. Super Lawyers (2014-2020)
  • Graduate of Class I of the ACTEC Mid-Atlantic Fellows Institute (2019-2020)
  • Ranked AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings

Community involvement

  • International Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP-USA) (Member)

Professional memberships

  • Montgomery County Bar Association
  • Fairfax County Bar Association
  • Washington D.C. Estate Planning Council (Director, 2022-present; Professional Development Committee – Co-Chair, 2019-present; Program Committee – Co-Chair, 2016-2019; Golf Tournament Committee, 2014-2016)

Speaking engagements

  • “Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts,” MSBA’s presentation: Using &Drafting Trusts in Estate Planning, January 2023
  • “Pre-Retirement Planning Series – Estate Planning for U.S. and Non-U.S. Citizens,” World Bank Pre-Retirement Series, multiple presentations annually
  • “Critical Issues in Estate Planning,” Speaker, Georgetown University, June 2022
  • “Of Art and Science: Valuations in the Time of Covid-19 and Beyond” Moderator, Washington- D.C. Estate Planning Council, February 2022
  • “Estate and Tax Planning in Uncertain Times,” Georgetown University Law Center, October 2019
  • “Inheriting Your Parents’ Assets,” Move or Improve with Debbie Podcast, September 2019
  • “Tips, Tricks and Pitfalls when Representing an International Client,” MSBA Estate & Trust Study Group, April 18, 2019
  • “Estate Planning After a Divorce,” The Divorce Chronicles Podcast, February 2019
  • “Inheriting Your Parents’ Assets,” Move or Improve with Debbie Podcast, September 2019
  • “Tips, Tricks and Pitfalls when Representing an International Client,” MSBA Estate & Trust Study Group, April 18, 2019
  • “Estate Planning After a Divorce,” The Divorce Chronicles Podcast, February 2019
  • “The New Tax Law and Its Implications on Charitable Giving,” Washington English Center, October 2018
  • “International Mystery: Unlocking the Secrets to Tax Efficient Trust Structures For Non-U.S. Persons,” STEP Mid Atlantic, September 2018
  • “Recent Estate, Gift and GST Tax Changes and Planning Considerations for the International Client,” Greater Society of CPAs, May 2018
  • “International Mystery – Unlocking the Secrets to Tax Efficient Trust Structures for Non-U.S. Persons,” Maryland State Bar Association’s Advanced Estate Planning Institute, May 2018
  • “Estate Planning General Session, Estate & Gift Taxes for Non-U.S. Citizens and U.S. Citizens with Non-U.S. Citizen Spouses,” World Bank Pension Department Pre-Retirement Seminar, October 2017
  • “Women in the Building Industry Lunch & Learn: Estate Planning with Michelle Chapin,” NVBIA, August 2017
  • “DIY Pitfalls of Estate Planning,” Rotary Club of Potomac-Bethesda, August 2017
  • “Juggling Three Jurisdictions: Estate Planning Differences in DC/MD/VA,” Wills, Trusts & Estates Section Meeting, Fairfax Bar Association, April 2017
  • “Special Needs Estate Planning,” Autism Speaks, Transition Planning Town Hall, December 2016
  • “Tax and Estate Planning Seminar for G-4 Visa Holders,” International Monetary Fund Family Association, November 2016
  • “Juggling Three Jurisdictions: Estate Planning Differences in DC/MD/VA,” DC Bar, October 2016
  • “Transfer Tax Planning for Non-citizens and Multinationals,” National Capital Chapter Society of Financial Service Professionals, October 2016
  • “Estate Planning General Session, Estate & Gift Taxes for Non-U.S. Citizens and U.S. Citizens with Non-U.S. Citizen Spouses,” World Bank Pension Department Pre-Retirement Seminar, June 2016
  • “What Every Parent Needs to Know About Estate Planning,” Robert E. Simon, Jr. Children’s Center, March 2016
  • “2014 Legislative Changes for Estate Tax Law,” Paley Rothman Estate Planning Webcast, December 2014
  • “Basic Steps in the Estate Planning Process, Common Pitfalls and Why Everyone Can Benefit from a Professionally Prepared Estate Plan,” Rockville Senior Center, October 2014
  • “An overview of your Estate Planning Documents and Charitable Giving,” Metropolitan Washington Chapter of the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation, Inc. (ARCS), September 2014

Practice Areas

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Estates/Trusts

Lerch Early’s estate and trust attorneys help people throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area protect their assets while minimizing tax liability through sophisticated planning and administration.

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