Consider for your vote:
>> Extensive Legal Experience
>> Oceana County Commitment
>> Reputation and Integrity
>> Community Involvement
Detailed Qualifications for Eric R. Fox
as Oceana County Probate Court Judge
Probate Court is an important public resource for the people and families of Oceana County, Michigan.
We invite you to review the qualifications of Eric Fox to fulfill this impactful role.
Jump to:
Legal Experience | Family Court | Reputation & Integrity | Community Involvement
>> Legal Experience
30 Years Practicing Law in Oceana County
Eric Fox has been serving clients, individuals and families in Oceana County since graduating from law school in 1994. He established his law practice right here in Oceana County.
Courtroom Experience
Eric's expertise covers a wide range of legal issues, but he has never strayed from being active in the courtroom on behalf of clients. He has been involved in hundreds of cases in federal courts, state courts, and administrative proceedings all over the state of Michigan.
Focus on Probate
Early in his career in Oceana County, Eric recognized the need for competent legal guidance on elder law, estate planning and succession planning, especially for members of the agricultural community. Eric invested in becoming certified as a practitioner in probate and estate planning by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education. A significant part of his law practice has involved helping clients ensure that their last wishes are observed.
Eric Fox has handled more probate estates than any other candidate for Oceana County Probate Court Judge.
Family Court/Divorce Court
In 2007, Probate Court took on a greater role in handling family court disputes. Clients old and new trusted Eric Fox to advocate for them by focusing on fair and equitable results that caused families as little disruption as possible. Eric has been honored to represent hundreds of individuals through what is potentially the most difficult chapter of their lives – divorce and custody disputes. Eric has the trust of hundreds of clients who have experienced his counsel on more than legal matters.
Business & Real Estate Acumen
Based on his extensive experience in handling business, real property and estate planning issues, Eric Fox is the best candidate to preside over the other aspects of the family court – division of assets. Eric has meaningful experience in business affairs and real estate matters that are essential to helping the family court determine how assets should be allocated in a divorce proceeding.
>> A Family Man for the Family Court
From Oceana County, For Oceana County
Eric's Oceana County roots run deep. Eric is a fifth-generation Oceana County resident, born and raised in Shelby and a graduate of Shelby Public Schools. He believes the most impactful thing he did in high school was meeting his future wife, Deana Rumsey. Deana and Eric were married in 1994 and are celebrating their 30th anniversary in September.
Parenting Matters
Eric and Deana raised two daughters, Megan and Natalie, in Oceana County. Both are graduates of Shelby High School and completed degrees at Michigan State University and University of Michigan. Eric believes that raising children – particularly raising children in Oceana County – has given him important wisdom for any person asking to be put in the position of judging other Oceana County parents.
>> Integrity and Fairness
Impartiality and Respect
Eric's prime directive is that everyone be treated fairly. His experiences in private practice have taught him that for clients and adversaries to feel as though they have been treated fairly, they must be treated with dignity and respect. Eric holds no bias or preconception when he meets with a client, and the same will be true for individuals appearing before him if he is elected Judge.
Trained Mediator
Eric is a Certified Mediator, earned through the Westshore Dispute Resolution Center, giving him deep insights into helping people resolve conflict. This advanced training reinforces the paramount nature of giving fair treatment to all.
>> Community Involvement
Proven Leadership
Over the past thirty years, Eric has been actively involved in a wide range of community organizations.
>> Oceana County Community Foundation: Eric served as a Board Member for six years including time as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
>> Oceana County Economic Alliance: Eric served as the Chairman of Oceana County's economic development boards for six years, first with Oceana Economic Development Corporation and then its successor, the Oceana County Economic Alliance.
>> Shelby Optimist Club: Eric has been an active member and volunteer of the Shelby Optimist Club for the last thirty years and served as President for many of those.
>> United Way of the Lakeshore and Hart Lions Club: Eric has served as Campaign Director for United Way of the Lakeshore and is a former member of the Hart Lions Club.
>> Oceana/Mason County MSU Alumni Club: Eric served as President of the local MSU club for many years and sold thousands of bratwursts year after year to raise scholarship money for students from Oceana and Mason Counties to attend Michigan State University.
Professional Organizations
>> Bar Associations and Committees: Eric is a past or present member of the State Bar Representative Assembly, the State Bar Ethics Committee, American Bar Association, and the Oceana, Mason, Muskegon and Newaygo County Bar Associations.
>> Continuing Legal Education: Eric regularly attends continuing legal education programs to keep abreast of current trends in the law, including family law and probate law annual meetings.
Education
>> Undergraduate: After graduating from Shelby High School in 1985, Eric attended Michigan State University - James Madison College where he studied International Relations, Economics and World Religions.
>> Capitol Hill: Upon graduation from MSU, Eric worked in the United States Congress as a staff assistant to Congressman Guy VanderJagt (R - Luther).
>> Juris Doctorate: Eric attended law school at George Washington University in Washington, DC, a top tier law school in 1991, where he was published in the George Washington Law Review.
Personal Life
Oceana County is home. While Eric had opportunities to practice law anywhere, he chose to bring his education and training home to benefit the County and communities he loves. In 1994, Eric returned home and married Deana. They have been blessed to raise their daughters in Oceana County and to have many family members living here and in West Michigan.
Deep Roots
The Fox side of Eric's family has been involved in Oceana agriculture since the 1940s. Eric grew up working at the N.J. Fox & Sons warehouse for his great-grandfather N.J., grandfather Roy, and father Bruce. He did everything from picking up rocks in the fields to packing apples, driving a forklift, and transporting fruit to the processing plants. Eric's maternal family also has deep connections to Oceana County. His mother is a former Pentwater Public School employee and a long-term Shelby Public School board member. His uncle Tom Kirk is a retired educator, and created and directs the Hart Performing Arts series. His grandfather John Kirk is a former Oceana County Commissioner and his grandmother Gladys Kirk taught school at Thomas Read Elementary.
Free Time
When away from work, Eric enjoys going on adventures with his grandson, playing fetch (actually chase) with his Springer spaniel Fergus, golfing with friends in the Wednesday night golf league, and entertaining family and friends with Deana.
As we elect the next Oceana County Probate Judge, we are grateful to have such experience, qualifications and commitment to the community in candidate Eric R. Fox. Please join us in getting involved and supporting Eric Fox for Judge!