TESTIMONIAL
“The Jordan Balkema Elder Law Center was very thorough and informative. They consistently called to tell me what I needed to do and always took my calls. They always had an answer for me. I would recommend them highly. They are easy to talk to, and are still there for me!”- Arlene H.-
Jordan-Balkema Elder Law Center
Profiles
Peter A. Jordan: Peter has resided in the Big Rapids area for over 37 years and has practiced law, specializing in Estate Planning, for that period. He received his bachelor of business administration degree from Western Michigan University and his juris doctor degree from Creighton University. After graduating from law school, Mr. Jordan was employed by the Internal Revenue Service, Estate and Gift Tax Division, as an Estate Tax Attorney. During his career, Mr. Jordan has given over 500 seminars on Estate Planning and Medicaid Planning and has written many articles pertaining to these topics. Mr. Jordan also offers financial planning for seniors. Throughout the years in his law practice, he has encountered many clients who needed his financial advice (long-term care insurance, annuities, life insurance) and decided to create a financial service company to offer his clients professional financial service without bias toward any product or company. This was the beginning of Jordan Financial, Inc.
Contact Pete at pjordan@thejordanlawoffice.com
R. Todd Balkema: Todd received his Bachelor of Science degree from Western Michigan University majoring in Political Science and Economics. He received his juris doctorate degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan. Mr. Balkema is a member of numerous professional organizations including the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. His practice concentration is in the area Elder Law with an emphasis in Medicaid Planning, Special Needs Planning, Probate and Trust Administration. He currently resides in Big Rapids with his wife and two children.
Contact Todd at tbalkema@thejordanlawoffice.com
Mara Raven Spence: Mara received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in General Business Administration from Michigan State University in 1994. In 1997, she graduated from Creighton University School of Law located in Omaha, Nebraska. Upon returning to Michigan, Mara began working at the Jordan Balkema Elder Law Center focusing on probate and trust administration. After one year, Mara and her husband, Lynn, moved to the Brighton area where she continued her own practice focusing on Elder Law issues. Mara and Lynn saw an opportunity to move back to Northern Michigan and will be building a house in the LeRoy area. She is happy to be back at the Jordan Balkema Elder Law Center.
Contact Mara at mspense@thejordanlawoffice.com
Marcia R. Cebulla: Marcia has been the office manager and a paralegal in the Jordan Balkema Elder Law Center in the Estate Planning and Medicaid Planning areas for over 20 years and is a partner in the financial services company, Jordan Financial, Inc. She graduated in the Paralegal program at Ferris State University in 1988. She currently has her insurance license, stockbroker's license and is certified as a Long-term Care Specialist.
Contact Marcia at mcebulla@thejordanlawoffice.com
Ellen Grubaugh: Ellen has worked for the Jordan Balkema Elder Law Center since 1998. She is a legal assistant providing support in the areas of probate, real estate and general business. Before joining our staff, Ellen worked as a legal assistant in a primarily defense litigation firm in the Auburn Hills area, giving her over 13 years of legal experience. She is also a licensed real estate agent and has worked part time selling real estate since 2002. In her spare time, Ellen enjoys spending time with her husband, Curtis, and their two dogs and cat.
Contact Ellen at egrubaugh@thejordanlawoffice.com
Jill Howard: Jill has worked for the Jordan Balkema Elder Law Center since 2005 as the receptionist. Jill is responsible for scheduling all appointments and does the office billing. Prior to joining the Jordan-Balkema Elder Law Center she worked in the banking industry for 11 years. Jill will generally be the first person you meet when you enter our offices. She lives in Lakeview with her two sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, her yellow lab and being outdoors.
Contact Jill at jhoward@thejordanlawoffice.com
Associations:
- Members National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
- State Bar of Michigan-section Members of 'Elder Law and Disability Rights' and Probate and Estate planning'
- American Bar Association Section Members-Real Property, Probate & Trust law
- Members of Elder Law Answers
- Certificate Holders in The ICLE Probate & Estate Planning Program, 2005,2006 & 2007