Michelle Jacobs Chapin

Michelle Jacobs Chapin

Principal, Paley Rothman
  • Estate Planning, Tax Law
  • District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia
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Claimed Lawyer Profile
Biography

Michelle Chapin, a member of the firm’s Estate Planning, Estate & Trust Administration, Tax and Corporate practice groups, advises individuals, families and small business owners regarding their estate and gift planning needs. Recognized as a Top Trusts and Estates Lawyer in Washingtonian magazine, Michelle excels at providing clients with 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. She also helps clients implement lifetime gifting and post-mortem wealth transfer strategies and counsels fiduciaries on estate and trust administration matters. Michelle 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. When she's not being interviewed by the Wall Street Journal or speaking to various groups in the DC metropolitan area, Michelle enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and 2 children.
Prior to joining Paley Rothman, Michelle practiced for several years at a law firm in Northern Virginia where she assisted clients with gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax planning as well as probate.

Education
Georgetown University Law Center
Certificate | Estate Planning
Honors: With Distinction, Dean’s List
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Georgetown University Law Center
LL.M. (2011) | Taxation
Honors: With Distinction, Dean’s List
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American University Washington College of Law
J.D. (2005)
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University of Florida
B.A. (2002)
Honors: With Honors
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Professional Experience
Principal
Paley Rothman
Current
Awards
Top Estate Lawyers (Rising Stars)
Bethesda Magazine
"Rising Stars"
Maryland Super Lawyers
"Rising Stars"
Washington D.C. Super Lawyers
“Washington’s Best Lawyers,” Trusts and Estates
Washingtonian Magazine
Best Law Firms
U.S. News & Best Lawyers
- Tier 2 National Ranking for Trusts & Estates - Tier 1 Metropolitan (D.C. area) Ranking for Trusts & Estates
Professional Associations
Virginia State Bar
Member
Current
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Maryland State Bar
Member
Current
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District of Columbia
Member
Current
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United States Supreme Court
Current
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Washington D.C. Estate Planning Council
Professional Development Committee - Co-Chair - Program Committee - Golf Tournament Committee
Current
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nternational Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP-USA)
Member
Current
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Fairfax County Bar Association
Member
Current
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Montgomery County Bar Association
Member
Current
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
District of Columbia
District of Columbia Bar
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Maryland
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Virginia
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U.S. Supreme Court
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Practice Areas
Estate Planning
Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
Tax Law
Business Taxes, Criminal Tax Litigation, Estate Tax Planning, Income Taxes, International Taxes, Payroll Taxes, Property Taxes, Sales Taxes, Tax Appeals, Tax Audits, Tax Planning
Additional Practice Areas
  • Corporate
  • Estate & Trust Administration
Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Websites & Blogs
Website
Paley Rothman
Contact & Map
Paley Rothman
4800 Hampden Lane
6th Floor
Bethesda, MD 20814
Telephone: (301) 656-7603
Fax: (301) 654-7354