Elisabeth Dery, a probate attorney and co-owner of Yun, Dery & Morgan in Clarkston, is running for Oakland County Probate Court judge in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
She faces Jessica Ann Hallmark in the nonpartisan contest for a six-year term, according to Oakland County Times’ election coverage. Voters may choose one candidate.
Dery responded to the Rochester Register candidate questionnaire. Unless otherwise noted, the information and responses below come from that questionnaire.
Asked why she is running, Dery emphasized public trust, probate experience and understanding the circumstances of people appearing in court.
“I'm running because I'm confident that I have what it takes to restore the community's trust in the probate court system and make life better for the people of Oakland County,” she said.
She said judges need to understand both the law and the people affected by their decisions.
“Understanding the person’s situation in a broader context means listening to the full story and considering all resources so that a person might have the best life possible for them,” she said.
Candidate information
Residence: Royal Oak.
Party affiliation: Dery reported no party affiliation. The judicial election is nonpartisan.
Education: Dery reported earning a bachelor’s degree in pre-veterinary medicine from the University of Maryland in 2007 and a law degree from Cooley Law School in 2012.
She also reported completing Institute of Continuing Legal Education certificates in probate and estate planning in 2016 and elder law in 2017.
Family: Dery said she is married and lives with her spouse and their pets, Natasha and Willow. She attended Holy Family in Rochester and Marian High School.
Previous elected or appointed office: Dery reported none.
Family in politics or government: Dery said no family member works in politics or government.
Experience and public service
Dery said she has been a partner and owner at Yun, Dery & Morgan since January 2022. She previously worked as an attorney at John Yun’s firm and as a paralegal and associate attorney at Kemp Klein.
Her practice includes estate planning, estate and trust administration, guardianships, conservatorships and court-appointed representation.
“I accept cases as court appointed attorney for individuals who cannot afford to hire an attorney by their own means,” she said.
Dery also described almost 20 years of work as an emergency veterinary technician. She said helping pet owners through difficult decisions helped prepare her to assist legal clients facing crises.
Her professional service includes chairing and serving as vice chair of the Oakland County Bar Association’s Probate, Estate and Trust Committee, according to her questionnaire.
She also reported service with the Michigan Guardianship Association, Social Program Evaluators and Consultants, and Wayne State University’s Institute of Gerontology.
On the issues
Public trust: Dery identified confidence in the judicial system as a central challenge.
“Everyone deserves to be heard, to feel they had a fair trial and to be treated with respect and dignity,” she said. “I will work hard to make sure everyone who steps in my courtroom feels this way.”
Access to legal assistance: Dery supports expanding clinics that help people complete court paperwork and prepare responses when they cannot afford a lawyer.
She also wants stronger funding for court-appointed representation.
“We need to have better funded court-appointed attorney programs so that there are more attorneys willing to step up and represent low-income individuals,” she said.
Court education and outreach: Dery said giving people information and practical tools can help them navigate the legal system.
“I am a big believer in education and giving individuals the tools to do more for themselves,” she said.
Her campaign website also emphasizes community education about probate law for people representing themselves, families, caregivers, guardians and other court participants.
Experience and compassion: Dery said her work has included representing people seeking guardianships or conservatorships and people seeking to end those arrangements.
She said listening, patience and understanding are important when people come to probate court during difficult periods in their lives.
Endorsements and rating
Dery’s campaign lists supporters including state Sen. Rosemary Bayer, state Rep. Natalie Price, Oakland County Commissioner Ann Erickson Gault and Farmington Hills Mayor Theresa Rich.
The Women Lawyers Association of Michigan gave Dery an “Outstanding” judicial candidate rating in March 2026. That is a professional evaluation, separate from a campaign endorsement.
Advice that guides her
“Always keep an open mind, an open heart, and lead with love,” Dery wrote.
“Every experience has something to teach us, if only we are open to the lesson to be learned,” she said.
This profile draws primarily on Elisabeth Dery’s responses to the Rochester Register candidate questionnaire, with additional information from her campaign website, the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan and published election reporting. Responses have been excerpted and paraphrased; direct quotations retain her wording.
