Scott & Huff, P.C.

1000 S. Garfield Ave.
Suite 3
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 933-5322

dkhuff@scotthuffpc.com

About Diane Kuhn Huff

Professional Experience:

• March 2000-Present:  Attorney.  Scott & Huff, P.C., Traverse City, Michigan.

-Private practice attorney emphasizing Estate Planning, Elder Law, Medicaid Planning and Real Estate.

-Certified Elder Law Attorney through the National Elder Law Foundation.

• February 1998-March 2000:  Assistant Vice President and Trust Officer.  Citizens Bank, Charlevoix/Cadillac/Traverse City, Michigan.

-Initiated a Trust Office for Citizens Bank, serving the Charlevoix, Cadillac, Traverse City, Gaylord and Grayling markets.

-Responsible for new business development and account administration.

• September 1996-February 1998:  Assistant Vice President and Compliance Manager.  Citizens Bank, Flint, Michigan.

 -Developed and implemented a corporate Compliance Program for Trust, Brokerage, Insurance and Proprietary Mutual Funds. 

- Assisted in consolidating trust policies and procedures after collapsing six corporate charters into one.

- Participated in developing policies and procedures relating to all nondeposit investment products and services offered at Citizens Bank, including annual reviews for personal trust and employee benefit accounts, conflict of interest policies relating to affiliated insurance company, risk management policies for irrevocable life insurance trusts, tax issues, confidentiality issues relating to corporate data warehouse. 

- Educated staff on regulatory, legal and tax changes that affect their products and services. 

• January 1994-September 1996: Trust Officer.  Citizens Bank, Saginaw, Michigan.

-Administrator for personal trusts of private banking clients. 

-Advised trust clients on estate planning, taxation, administrative and investment matters relating to trusts.

-Researched and advised on trust issues such as managing irrevocable life insurance trusts, gifting from trusts, disclaimers, holding S-corp. stock in irrevocable trusts and, funding trusts with individual retirement accounts.

-Chair of Trust Quality of Service Committee in 1996. 

-Chair of Trust Education Committee in 1995.

• September 1989-January 1994: Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney.  Isabella County Prosecutor's Office, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.

-Primary attorney responsible for all abuse, neglect and delinquency proceedings.

-Handled all stages of criminal prosecution, including issuing charges, preliminary examinations, pretrial motions, jury trials and sentencing.

-Established precedent in Isabella County to allow children to testify by video camera.

-Drafted Isabella County Domestic Abuse Response Policy.

• May 1988-September 1989: Attorney.  Private practice in Traverse City, Michigan.

• August 1983-September 1984: Financial Services. 

 -Runner on Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago, Illinois. 

-Broker's Assistant with Thomson McKinnon Securities, Traverse City, Michigan.

Education:

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School:  Lansing, Michigan. 
  -Juris Doctorate with distinction conferred January 1988. Class rank: 13th out of 102.

• Michigan State University:  East Lansing, Michigan. 
  -Bachelor of Science in Sociology conferred June 1983. 
  -One year foreign study at the American College of Rome.

Memberships, Licenses, And Honors:

• State Bar of Michigan since May 1988.

• Council Member of the Elder Law and Disability Rights Section of the State Bar, 2008 to present.

• Member Probate & Estate Planning and Elder Law and Disability Rights Sections of State Bar of Michigan.

• Certified as an Elder Law Attorney through the National Elder Law Foundation, the only certification approved by the American Bar Association.

• Board Member of Woodland School, a tuition free public school academy.  2007 to present.

• Rotary exchange student to the Philippines, 1977-1978.