
Attorneys / Of Counsel
Michael L. Johnson
Of Counsel · With the firm since 1985
Michael L. Johnson joined Smith Johnson as a Partner in 1985 after practicing law in Omaha, Nebraska and is currently Of Counsel to the firm. Mr. Johnson specializes in estate planning, trusts and probate, and will contests, trusts and probate litigation. Mr. Johnson continues to provide legal services from the office in Grand Island, Nebraska to clients of his father's law firm established in 1946 in Superior, Nebraska.
Practice Areas
Education
- L.L.M., University of Illinois College of Law, 1984
- J.D., cum laude, Creighton University School of Law, 1976
- B.S. Business Administration, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, 1975
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- Nebraska, 1976
- United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, 1976
- United States Tax Court, 1977
- United States Supreme Court, 1988
Areas of Practice
- Will Contests, Trusts and Probate Litigation
- Estate Planning, Trusts and Probate
- Real Estate
- Corporations, Partnerships, and Other Legal Entities
- Business Litigation
Professional Memberships & Affiliations
- Nebraska State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Hall County Bar Association
Publications & Presentations
- Author: "The Crummey Trust After the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981," 37 CLU Journal 50, 1983
- Author: "All in the Family: Should the Attribution Concept Apply to Disallow a Minority Discount For Lack of Control," 16 Creighton Law Review 669, 1983
- Author: "Survivorship Interests: The Costs of Probate Avoidance," 20 Real Property, Probate and Trust Journal 985, 1985
- Author: "Surcharge Litigation in Nebraska," 22 Creighton Law Review 351, 1989
Community Involvement
- Past: Community Redevelopment Authority for the City of Grand Island, Chairman; Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporation, Member of Board of Trustees
Honors & Awards
- Editor-in-Chief, Creighton Law Review, 1975-1976
- Nebraska State Bar Foundation Shining Light Award, 1989
- Nebraska State Bar Foundation Fellow
- Beta Gamma Sigma
- Alpha Sigma Nu


