Jeanne M. Hannah of Traverse City, Michigan was born and raised in Michigan. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a major in English literature.  Jeanne Hannah enrolled at the Detroit College of Law in 1982, gradating Magna cum laude in 1985. She was a member of the Law Review in 1983 and 1984. She was the recipient of the AmJur Book Award for Contracts (1983) and Equitable Remedies (1984).

Ms. Hannah represents fathers and mothers in divorce and custody proceedings; she helps them to obtain and to exercise their rights to child custody, parenting time, equitable property distributions, and alimony/spousal support. She believes that  in order for a client to successfully navigate the often rocky terrain of a divorce and/or custody action, he or she must be informed about what his or her options are and about how the court will look at the particular facts of the case. Knowledge is power, and Ms. Hannah makes an effort to help her clients understand how the specific facts of the case may impact on the court's ultimate decision. Making tough decisions as a parent is not easy, and when a family is disintegrating, those decisions become even more difficult to make. Jeanne Hannah believes that giving parents information that helps them to disengage from the emotional issues of divorce helps them to make good parenting decisions.

Drawing upon her life experiences, Jeanne Hannah’s goal as sole practitioner is to advocate for her clients through a very difficult process. "Good people get divorced," she says, "and these people deserve quality representation in a very unpleasant arena. One thing I can guarantee is that I will advocate for my clients to achieve a result that is in their best interests and is also in the best interests of their children."

Jeanne Hannah is a member of the Family Law and Elder Law Sections of the State Bar of Michigan and of the American Bar Association Family Law Section. She is often a speaker at Family Law Section conferences and she also contributes on a regular basis to discussions on the State Bar of Michigan and the ABA Family Law Listserv. Ms. Hannah writes a family law blog: Updates in Michigan Law. She also writes a divorce blog "Ask the Family Lawyer" for the Traverse City Record Eagle. Both are updated frequently. Recently Ms. Hannah authored the chapter "Divorce Cases" for ICLE’s Basic Practice Handbook (6th ed 2008) and "Family Law Issues for Elders and Disabled Persons" for ICLE's "Advising the Older or Disabled Client." (3d ed 2008) A member of the Family Law and Elder Law and Disability Rights Sections of the State Bar of Michigan, she is often a speaker at Family Law Section conferences and contributes regularly to the section's Internet discussion group.

►PRACTICE AREAS◄

In 2001 and 2002, Jeanne took time from her practice to research and write on elder care / family caregiver issues. She is the primary author of Taking Charge: Good Medical Care for the Elderly and How to Get It. Her co-author is Dr. Joseph H. Friedman who specializes in neurology and Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Friedman teaches at Brown University Medical School in Rhode Island.

In addition, Ms. Hannah writes two elder care / family caregiver Blogs. Good Medical Care for the Elderly and How to Get It  and Aging in Place, an online blog for the Traverse City Record Eagle, a local newspaper.

Taking Charge: Good Medical Care for the Elderly and How to Get It identifies the six most prevalent serious medical complications threatening the elderly. This book is a resource for family lawyers, elder law lawyers, caregivers, and all people over the age of 60.