About Michael J.
Michael J. Swogger began his path to law at Western Michigan University, where he earned a B.A. in economics and political science in 1986. He went on to Michigan State University College of Law and received his Juris Doctor in 1989. Those formative years set the stage for a long career in Michigan courts and law offices.
He entered private practice immediately after law school as an associate at Harvey, Kruse, Weston and Milan in 1989. Three years later he moved to Read & Sharp, joining as an associate and becoming a partner during his time there. In 1999 he joined Garan Lucow Miller as a partner. In 2012 he helped found Swogger, Bruce & Millar Law Office, serving as a partner and founding member. In 2023 he established SWOGGER ESTATE LAW, where he continues to practice.
Swogger’s work has largely centered on wills, trusts and probate matters. He completed the Probate and Estate Planning Certificate of Completion from the Michigan Bar Association, a credential that aligns with the kinds of files he handles. Over decades in practice he has moved from general litigation and firm work toward estate planning and administration. He has handled routine estate administrations as well as more complex trust arrangements.
Colleagues describe his style as steady and pragmatic. He has maintained professional memberships since 1989. That continuous participation in the professional community has kept him connected to changes in Michigan probate law and related practice areas. He has practiced exclusively in Michigan throughout his career and is familiar with local court procedures and judges.
Clients at the firms where he has practiced have consulted him on asset transfer, incapacity planning and probate administration. He has worked inside larger firms and in smaller, locally focused practices. The shift to founding his own estate law practice reflected a narrower choice of work and a desire to manage estate matters from intake through closing in a small-office setting.
Today he operates SWOGGER ESTATE LAW. His office handles estate planning, trust formation and probate administration for clients across Michigan. He continues to work on estate-related matters as his main area of practice.
