Roles and Responsibilities of Michigan Bankruptcy Trustees
The Role of the Michigan Bankruptcy Trustee
By Alexander Hernandez, J.D., Professor, and Author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge).
The Michigan bankruptcy trustees are responsible for overseeing cases filed under Chapters 7 and 13 of the Bankruptcy Code. It’s easy to get confused by the different roles in the bankruptcy process, so it’s helpful to start by distinguishing between the bankruptcy trustee and the Office of the U.S. Trustee (UST).
The bankruptcy trustee is a private individual appointed to your specific case. They are responsible for a range of duties, including reviewing your bankruptcy petition and financial documents, handling the 341 Meeting of Creditors, and the sale of non-exempt assets in Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases. In Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases, they also handle the payment plan by disbursing payments to creditors.
The Office of the U.S. Trustee, on the other hand, is a government agency within the Department of Justice. It acts as a “watchdog” for the entire bankruptcy system, supervising the work of private bankruptcy trustees to ensure they comply with federal law. The UST also plays a key role in identifying and prosecuting cases of bankruptcy fraud.
Key Points: The Role of the Michigan Bankruptcy Trustee
The role of a private bankruptcy trustee in Michigan is distinct from the government’s Office of the U.S. Trustee (UST).
| Role | Key Responsibility |
| Private Bankruptcy Trustee | An individual appointed to a specific case. Their role is to administer the bankruptcy estate on behalf of creditors. |
| Office of the U.S. Trustee (UST) | A division of the Department of Justice that acts as a “watchdog,” supervising private trustees and prosecuting fraud. |
The 341 Meeting of Creditors
The bankruptcy trustee is responsible for managing bankruptcy estates, conducting Section 341 Meetings of Creditors, and ensuring compliance with federal procedures. The 341 Meeting is a key part of the trustee’s job. The trustee conducts the 341 Meeting of Creditors, which typically occurs a few weeks after you file. Here, you meet with the trustee and answer questions under oath about your financial situation. Creditors may attend, but they rarely do.
It’s also important to note that bankruptcy trustees don’t represent you; they represent the bankruptcy estate, which includes all of your assets. This should be considered in any communications you have with the trustee.
Their primary role is to protect those assets, scrutinize your financial disclosures, and, if any assets aren’t exempt (i.e., not legally protected), sell them off to repay your creditors (liquidation). Only your bankruptcy attorney represents you and has your best interests in mind.
In Chapter 13, the trustee acts more like a payment processor, collecting your monthly plan payments and distributing them to creditors according to the court-approved schedule.
Trustees are also empowered to investigate any potential fraud or improper financial transactions, such as payments made to a family member shortly before filing. If they suspect foul play, they can take legal action to recover assets and protect the integrity of the bankruptcy estate. This may even include a referral to the U.S. Trustee for criminal prosecution.
Trustee Duties by Chapter
The trustee’s specific duties vary significantly depending on the chapter of bankruptcy filed:
| Chapter | Trustee’s Primary Function |
| Chapter 7 (Liquidation) | Oversight and Liquidation: Reviews the petition, conducts the 341 Meeting, and sells non-exempt assets to repay creditors. |
| Chapter 13 (Reorganization) | Payment Processing: Manages the court-approved repayment plan by collecting monthly payments from the debtor and distributing them to creditors. |
Below is the list of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 trustees in the state of Michigan.
Chapter 7 Trustees in the Eastern District of Michigan
Collene K. Corcoran
P.O. Box 535
Oxford, MI 48371
E-mail: trusteecorcoran@gmail.com
Phone: (248)969-9300
Douglas S. Ellmann
3140 Baker Rd.
#395
Dexter, MI 48130
E-mail: dse@ellmannlaw.com
Phone: (734) 668-4800
Karen E. Evangelista
2956 South Rochester
Suite 208
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
E-mail: kevangelistalaw@gmail.com
Phone: (248) 652-7990
Randall L. Frank
P.O. Box 2220
Bay City, MI 48707 -2220
E-mail: randall.frank@gmail.com
Phone: (989) 893-2461
Fax: (989) 893-9331
Stuart A. Gold
24901 Northwestern Highway, Suite 444
Southfield, MI 48075
E-mail: agold@glmpc.com
Phone: (248)350-8220
Fax: (248)350-0519
Daniel C. Himmelspach
P. O. Box 5856
Saginaw, MI 48603
E-mail: danhimmelspach@gmail.com
Phone: (989) 790-0400
Fax: (989) 401-9575
Wendy T. Lewis
444 West Willis Street, Suite 101
Detroit, MI 48201
E-mail: wtlewis@outlook.com
Phone: (313) 832-5555
Fax: (313) 832-5566
Kyung-Jin Lim
176 South Harvey, Suite 1
Plymouth, MI 48170
E-mail: kjinlim7@gmail.com
Phone: (734)416-9420
Fax: (734)416-9423
Homer W. McClarty
19785 West Twelve Mile
#331
Southfield, MI 48076
E-mail: trustee@morganmcclarty.com
Phone: (248)352-7686
Fax: (248)352-7734
Timothy J. Miller
64155 Van Dyke
Suite 145
Washington, MI 48095
E-mail: tjmillerplc@gmail.com
Phone: (313) 682-0124
Kenneth Andrew Nathan
29777 Telegraph Road
Suite 1170
Southfield, MI 48034
E-mail: ken@nathanlawplc.com
Phone: (248) 663-5133
Mark H. Shapiro
25925 Telegraph Road
Suite 203
Southfield, MI 48033
E-mail: shapiro@steinbergshapiro.com
Phone: (248)352-4700
Fax: (248)352-4488
Basil T. Simon
645 Griswold
Suite 3466
Detroit, MI 48226
E-mail: bsimon@sszpc.com
Phone: (313)962-6400
Fax: (313)963-4614
Michael A. Stevenson
26100 American Drive
Suite 500
Southfield, MI 48034
E-mail: mstevenson@sbplclaw.com
Phone: (248) 354-7906
Fax: (248)423-8201
Samuel D. Sweet
52 E. Burdick St. #10
Oxford, MI 48371
E-mail: trusteesweet@hotmail.com
Phone: (248)236-0985
Fax: (248)236-0984
The Eastern District of Michigan – Chapter 13
Melissa A. Caouette
400 North Saginaw Street
Suite 331
Flint, MI 48502
E-mail: mcaouette@flint13.com
Phone: (810) 238-4675
Krispen S. Carroll
26999 Central Park Blvd.
Suite 125N
Southfield, MI 48076
E-mail: krispen@det13ksc.com
Phone: (313)962-5035
Fax: (313)965-1940
Thomas W. McDonald, Jr.
3144 Davenport Avenue
Saginaw, MI 48602
E-mail: Tom@McDonald13.org
Phone: (989)792-6766
Fax: (989)791-6565
David W. Ruskin
1100 Travelers Tower
26555 Evergreen Road
Southfield, MI 48076
E-mail: dwr@det13.com
Phone: (248)352-7755
Fax: (313)352-2902
Tammy L. Terry
535 Griswold
Suite 2100
Detroit, MI 48226
E-mail: terryt@det13.net
Phone: (313)967-9857
Fax: (313)967-9501
Chapter 7 Trustees – Western District of Michigan
Scott A. Chernich
313 S. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48933
E-mail: schernich@fosterswift.com
Phone: (517)371-8100
Fax: (517)371-8200
Darrell R. Dettmann
1207 Gray Street
Marquette, MI 49855
Phone: (906) 235-7739
Fax: (906) 228-7357
Greg Ekdahl
230 East Fulton Street
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
E-mail: gekdahl@kalawgr.com
Phone: (616) 364-2100
Laura J. Genovich
1700 E. Beltline Avenue, NE Suite 200
Grand Rapids, MI 49525 -7044
Phone: (616) 726-2280
Fax: (616) 726-6813
Lisa E. Gocha
P. O. Box 398
Hudsonville, MI 49426
E-mail: lgchapter7@yahoo.com
Phone: (616) 797-4206
Fax: (616)662-4148
Allison Greenlee
902 S Westnedge Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
E-mail: allison@greenlee-law.com
Phone: (269) 381-4471
Kelly M. Hagan
P.O. Box 384
Acme, MI 49610
E-mail: Kelly@HaganLawOffices.com
Phone: (231)938-7095
Fax: (231)938-7995
April Hulst
25 Division Avenue S.,
Suite 500
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
E-mail: trustee@cbhattorneys.com
Phone: (616) 608-3061
Marcia R. Meoli
17 West 10th Street, Suite 120
Holland, MI 49423
E-mail: mmeoli@meolilaw.com
Phone: (616) 396-2124
Thomas C. Richardson
P.O. Box 51067
Kalamazoo, MI 49005 -1067
E-mail: TCRTrustee@lewisreedallen.com
Phone: (269) 349-7415
Western District Chapter 13
Elizabeth T. Clark
50 Louis Street NW, Suite 700
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
E-mail: beth@clarkch13.com
Phone: (616) 454-9638
Kurt Steinke
P.O. Box 51109
Kalamazoo, MI 49005
E-mail: ksteinke@ch13.com
Phone: (269) 343-0305
Understanding the jurisdiction of the Michigan Bankruptcy Courts and the oversight role of the Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 trustees is the first critical step in a successful case. The bankruptcy trustees are appointed to these essential positions within the Eastern and Western Districts and are responsible for enforcing the law and administering justice.
Below is the current list of appointed trustees responsible for overseeing cases throughout the state of Michigan.
Professor Hernandez is an attorney specializing in consumer finance and debt relief. He is the published author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge Publishing) and teaches law and finance courses in both English and Spanish for an international university.
Colleges and universities can purchase my bankruptcy law textbook directly from Routledge Publishing. Paralegals and students who are buying single copies can do so via Amazon Books. To access my YouTube channel, click this link. You can also listen to my podcast on Spotify.
You can learn more about filing for bankruptcy and the bankruptcy petition via this link. Information on the bankruptcy court system, contact information for trustees, and your state’s exemptions can be found here. The federal bankruptcy exemptions are listed here. The latest version of the 341 Meeting of the Creditors can be found here.
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Please note that the information on this site does not constitute legal advice and should be considered for informational purposes only.