LAW OFFICES - Key Persons
Chuck Lillis grew up in northern Michigan and graduated from Michigan State University. Chuck has a Master's degree from Ball State University, and obtained his Law Degree from Indiana University. Chuck has been practicing in the areas of Estate Planning and Probate; Business Law, Real Estate Law; Municipal Law and Domestic law for over 30 years. Chuck is a member of the Coldwater United Methodist Church, the Coldwater Township Sunrise Rotary Club and serves on the board of the Branch County Community Foundation. Chuck is an avid golfer, reader, and chef. He is married with two daughters and a soon to arrive grandchild.
Colleen is the lead legal secretary for the firm. She has over 32 years experience as a legal secretary in Branch and Hillsdale Counties. Colleen enjoys spending time with her family, camping, canoeing, gardening, being outdoors and especially riding her Harley Davidson.
Diane is the office manager and Probate specialist for the firm. Diane has over 25 years experience in law firm management and probate,, and over 35 in office management.
Nearly a lifelong resident of Branch County, her parents, Richard and Catherine Jansen, relocated the family to Coldwater in 1987 after her father took a promotion with the Michigan Department of Corrections. Erin attended Coldwater schools and graduated in 2001. While in high school she attended the Branch Area Career Center in the criminal justice program and was a dual enrolled student with Kellogg Community College. While in high school, she was very involved in athletics and various extracurricular activities including being on the cross country, volleyball and track teams. Erin was also involved in Youth in Government, Who's Who as well as several 4-H clubs. After graduation she attended undergraduate school at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Erin earned her Bachelor in Arts degree studying Criminology with a minor in political science and a concentration in pre-law in 2004. She then went on to attend Thomas Cooley Law School in Lansing Michigan and graduated with her Juris Doctorate in 2007. Erin took and passed the Michigan Bar exam in February 2008 and was sworn in to practice law in May 2008 by the Honorable Michael Cherry. After graduating law school Erin married another lifelong Branch County resident and Bronson High School graduate, Jereme Miller. Together they had twins in 2013, a boy and a girl. Erin is still very actively involved in many community activities. In her spare time, she plays recreation league volleyball, has assisted in several fundraisers for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and has helped her husband raise funds for the Domestic Violence Shelter.