Thomas R. Vander Hulst

Contact Information

tomvh@bolhouselaw.com
Telephone: (616) 531-7711
Fax: (616) 531-7757

Legal Assistant

PRACTICE DESCRIPTION AND EXPERIENCE

Business Law. Tom has handled almost every type business matter most companies encounter. He has assisted client is starting businesses and has assisted clients in selling multi-million dollars businesses. He has drafted contracts of all kinds to meet the specific needs of his clients. He has advised his clients on maintaining the legal requirements of their business, employment matters, collection matters and passing their businesses on to their children.

Estate Planning. For over 20 years, Tom has been assisting his clients and their families in developing and implementing plans to insure that they are taken care of if they become disabled and to provide for the orderly distribution of their estates upon their deaths. Trusts, Will, Powers of Attorney and Patient Advocates are typically parts of most plans. Tom has also assisted clients in providing for children with special needs and planning the transfer of their businesses.

Medicaid Planning. More and more couples and families are seeking legal advice about how to preserve their family’s assets when one of them needs to enter long-term care. Tom helps families navigate the complex and ever-changing Medicaid rules in order to qualify the long-term care patient for Medicaid and preserve the assets for the spouse who remains at home. Simply because one spouse need long-term care does not mean that the other spouse needs to become destitute.

Probate. When individuals pass on leaving assets in their name alone, the Probate Court must be used to transfer the assets. Probate is a complex process with many requirements and deadlines. Tom helps his clients navigate the probate process to insure the estate is administered efficiently and according to the deceased’s wishes.

Charitable Organizations. West Michigan is a very philanthropic community with many people wanting to help others through organizations that qualify for tax deductible contributions under the Internal Revenue Code. Tom assists such individuals in establishing the appropriate-not-for profit corporation and qualifying the organization as a charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

EDUCATION

Juris Doctor from Valparaiso University School of Law - 1989.
Bachelor of Arts from Calvin College - 1986.

COURT ADMISSIONS

All Michigan State Courts – 1989
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan – 1989
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit – 1993

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Tom has served as a Director and President of the Greater Ottawa County United Way Board of Directors, Director and President of Love In The Name of Christ, Director and President of the Grandville Chamber of Commerce, Director of the Hudsonville Chamber of Commerce, and a Member of the Hudsonville Downtown Development Authority. Tom lives in Hudsonville and attends Hillcrest Christian Reformed Church where he has served as an Elder.