Boroja, Bernier & Associates serves Lapeer County families from our Shelby Township headquarters and through convenient virtual consultations. From the farms of Dryden to the horse country of Metamora, we help Lapeer County families protect land, legacies, and everything they’ve built.
Serving Lapeer County | Virtual & In-Person Consultations Available
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You Chose Lapeer County for a Reason. Your Legal Planning Should Reflect That.
People don’t end up in Lapeer County by accident.
You’re here because you wanted something different. Space instead of subdivisions. Gravel roads instead of strip malls. Land where your kids can ride four-wheelers without a neighbor calling to complain. A community where the guy at the hardware store knows your name and your father’s name.
Some families have been here for generations — working the same land their great-grandparents cleared, raising cattle, growing crops, building something that outlasts any single lifetime. Others arrived more recently, refugees from Oakland County traffic and subdivision HOAs, looking for acreage and privacy and a different way of raising a family.
Either way, you’ve built something here. Farmland. Homes on ten or twenty or eighty acres. Horse properties in Metamora. Retirement savings accumulated through careers that took you elsewhere but brought you back. Small businesses that serve communities where people still support local.
Lapeer County families tend to be self-reliant. You figure things out. You don’t ask for help unless you need it.
But estate planning, probate, elder law, and family law aren’t areas where self-reliance serves you well. These are matters where getting it wrong costs your family — sometimes enormously. Where Michigan law has specific requirements that DIY solutions miss. Where the difference between proper planning and “good enough” shows up at the worst possible moment.
Boroja, Bernier & Associates has served more than 2,000 families since 2014. We understand rural property, agricultural succession, and the specific considerations that Lapeer County families face — because we’ve handled these matters before.
“Lapeer County families often have estates that suburban attorneys don’t know how to handle properly — agricultural land with complex title history, equipment and livestock that need specific treatment, property that’s been in families for generations. These families need attorneys who understand rural Michigan, not lawyers who’ve never driven past the last subdivision.”
Legal Services for Lapeer County Families
Whether you’re in Lapeer, Metamora, Imlay City, or the rural townships in between, Boroja, Bernier & Associates provides comprehensive estate planning, probate, elder law, divorce, and family law services designed for how Lapeer County families actually live.
Estate Planning for Lapeer County Residents
What happens to your land when you’re gone?
Not your “assets.” Your land. The forty acres your family has owned since the 1950s. The horse property you’ve spent years developing. The farm that’s been passed down through three generations and needs to make it to the fourth.
Standard estate plans written for suburban families don’t account for what Lapeer County families actually own. Agricultural property has title considerations that tract homes don’t. Equipment and livestock need specific handling. Land that’s been in a family for generations requires succession planning that keeps it intact rather than forcing a sale to divide proceeds.
We create estate plans — wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives — designed around rural property and agricultural assets. Plans that account for children who want to keep farming and children who don’t. Plans that address how to transfer land without triggering reassessment. Plans that actually work for how your family lives.
Comprehensive will-based estate plans typically range from $1,500 to $2,500. Trust-based estate plans generally range from $2,500 to $5,500. Estates involving agricultural property, complex land ownership, or business interests may be higher. We provide flat-fee pricing after your consultation — you’ll know exactly what you’re paying.
Note: Estate planning services are available to all Michigan residents. If you have family elsewhere in the state who need help, we can assist them too.
Probate & Trust Administration in Lapeer County
Settling an estate is complicated enough when someone owned a house and a retirement account. When there’s farmland, equipment, livestock, and property that’s been in the family for decades, the complexity multiplies.
We guide personal representatives and successor trustees through estate administration in Lapeer County Probate Court. From opening proceedings to final distributions, we handle the legal requirements while you handle the family.
Lapeer County estates often involve assets that require specialized knowledge: agricultural property that needs proper valuation, equipment that may need to be sold or transferred, land with multiple potential heirs who have different ideas about what should happen. We’ve navigated these situations before. We know what’s involved and how to keep matters moving toward resolution.
Elder Law & Medicaid Planning for Lapeer County Families
Rural families often assume Medicaid planning doesn’t apply to them. They’re wrong — and the mistake can cost everything.
Michigan nursing home care runs $9,000 to $12,000 monthly. At those rates, a lifetime of building equity in your land disappears fast. And Medicaid’s 2026 asset limit is just $9,950. The farmland your family has held for generations? Medicaid sees that as an asset to spend down before benefits kick in.
But legal strategies exist to protect family land and still qualify for Medicaid. The rules are specific. The timing matters. And the planning is completely different depending on whether you’re thinking ahead or already facing a crisis.
We help Lapeer County families protect agricultural property and family land through proper Medicaid planning, navigate crisis situations when a loved one needs immediate care, and handle guardianship or conservatorship when someone can no longer manage their own affairs.
Losing the farm to pay for nursing home care isn’t inevitable. It’s what happens when families don’t plan.
Divorce in Lapeer County
Divorce in rural Lapeer County involves assets that don’t divide like suburban portfolios. Land. Equipment. Agricultural operations. Homes on acreage that can’t simply be sold and split. Family property with generations of history.
You need attorneys who understand how Michigan law treats agricultural assets in divorce, how to value property that doesn’t have easy comparables, and how to structure settlements that don’t force the sale of land that’s been in your family for decades.
We handle contested and uncontested divorce in Lapeer County Circuit Court. When negotiation serves your interests, we negotiate effectively. When litigation is necessary, we’re prepared to fight.
Family Law Across Lapeer County
Custody disputes, parenting time modifications, child support, and other family law matters need to account for the realities of rural life — distances between households, school district logistics, and parenting schedules that work around the demands of agricultural operations and rural careers.
We represent clients in Lapeer County Circuit Court’s Family Division. Whether you’re establishing a custody arrangement, modifying an existing order, or addressing a support issue, we bring thorough preparation and practical judgment to every case.
Lapeer County Court Information
We handle matters in Lapeer County’s courts and understand the procedures and practical realities of how cases move through this system.
Lapeer County Probate Court
The Lapeer County Probate Court handles estate administration, guardianship, conservatorship, and other probate matters.
Address: 255 Clay Street, Lapeer, MI 48446
Phone: (810) 667-0314
Website: Lapeer County Courts
Note: Verify current address and contact information before visiting.
Lapeer County Circuit Court — Family Division
The Lapeer County Circuit Court handles divorce, child custody, parenting time, child support, and other family law matters.
Address: 255 Clay Street, Lapeer, MI 48446
Phone: (810) 667-0314
Website: Lapeer County Courts
Note: Verify current address and contact information before visiting.
Communities We Serve in Lapeer County
Boroja, Bernier & Associates serves families throughout all of Lapeer County:
- Cities: Lapeer, Imlay City
- Townships: Metamora Township, Dryden Township, Hadley Township, Attica Township, Imlay Township, Lapeer Township, Oregon Township, Elba Township, Arcadia Township, Goodland Township, Marathon Township, North Branch Township, Burnside Township, Mayfield Township, Rich Township, Burlington Township, Deerfield Township
- Villages: North Branch, Otter Lake (Lapeer County portion), Clifford, Columbiaville, Dryden
- Unincorporated Communities: Metamora, Hadley, Attica, Almont (Lapeer County portion)
From the horse farms of Metamora to the agricultural operations around Imlay City and North Branch — if you’re in Lapeer County, we can help.
How to Work With Us from Lapeer County
We’ve structured our practice to serve rural clients who don’t have time to waste on unnecessary trips.
Virtual Consultations: Connect via secure video conference from your home, your barn office, or wherever you happen to be. Many Lapeer County clients prefer this option — thorough legal consultation without losing half a day to driving.
Phone Consultations: We handle comprehensive consultations by phone when that fits your schedule better.
In-Person Consultations: Our Shelby Township headquarters is approximately 35-45 minutes from most Lapeer County communities via M-24 or I-69. Available for clients who prefer meeting face-to-face.
What to Expect: Every consultation is with an attorney. We’ll discuss your situation — including any agricultural property or rural-specific considerations — explain your options under Michigan law, and give you clear next steps with transparent pricing. No runaround. No wasted time.
Why Lapeer County Families Choose BBA Law
We Understand Rural Property
Agricultural land isn’t the same as a house in a subdivision. Equipment, livestock, and farming operations have specific legal considerations. Family land that’s been held for generations requires succession planning that actually keeps it in the family. We’ve handled these matters before — we know what’s involved.
We Don’t Waste Your Time
You have work to do. We get it. Virtual consultations that don’t require half a day of driving. Clear communication without endless phone tag. Straightforward answers without legal jargon designed to confuse you. We respect your time because we know it’s valuable.
We Follow Through
When we tell you documents will be ready by a certain date, they’re ready. When we say we’ll call, we call. When complications arise, you hear about them immediately — not weeks later when you finally track us down. Reliability isn’t negotiable.
We’ve Done This Before
Since 2014, Boroja, Bernier & Associates has served over 2,000 families across Michigan. That includes families with agricultural property, complex land ownership, and rural estates that required attorneys who knew what they were doing. We bring that experience to every Lapeer County family we serve.
“Lapeer County clients value straight talk and reliable follow-through. They’re busy people who don’t have time for attorneys who overcomplicate things or disappear between meetings. We communicate clearly, we deliver what we promise, and we handle rural property the right way — because that’s what these families deserve.”
Frequently Asked Questions: Legal Services in Lapeer County
No. We offer virtual and phone consultations specifically for clients who don’t want to spend hours driving. Most Lapeer County clients work with us remotely — it’s efficient and just as thorough. In-person meetings at our Shelby Township office are available when you prefer face-to-face.
The Lapeer County Probate Court is located at 255 Clay Street in Lapeer, MI 48446. We handle probate matters in this court and understand its procedures.
Costs depend on complexity. Comprehensive will-based plans typically range from $1,500 to $2,500. Comprehensive trust-based plans generally range from $2,500 to $5,500. Estates involving agricultural property, complex land ownership, or business interests may cost more. We provide flat-fee pricing after your consultation — you’ll know exactly what you’re paying.
Proactive elder law planning typically ranges from $6,500 to $9,500. Crisis elder law planning — when a loved one already needs nursing home care — generally ranges from $12,000 to $20,000 or more, depending on complexity. The earlier you plan, the more options you have and the more assets we can protect.
Yes. Agricultural property requires specific planning — how to transfer land without triggering reassessment, how to handle situations where some heirs want to farm and others don’t, how to structure ownership to protect the land long-term. We address these issues as part of estate planning for Lapeer County families.
Most probate matters take six to twelve months. Michigan requires a minimum four-month creditor claim period. Estates involving agricultural property, equipment, or family disputes may take longer. We’ll give you realistic expectations for your specific situation.
We serve all of Lapeer County, including Lapeer, Imlay City, Metamora, North Branch, Dryden, Hadley, Attica, and all townships throughout the county.
Protect the Land. Protect the Legacy.
You didn’t choose Lapeer County because it was easy. You chose it because it was worth it — the space, the privacy, the land, the community.
That choice deserves protection. Estate plans that account for agricultural property. Probate administration that doesn’t force families to sell land to settle estates. Elder law strategies that keep the farm in the family instead of losing it to nursing home costs. Divorce and family law representation that understands rural assets.
Boroja, Bernier & Associates isn’t going to waste your time with unnecessary meetings or complicated jargon. We’re going to listen, understand what you’ve built, and put together a plan that actually protects it.
Protecting Your Family, Your Life, and Your Legacy. Because You Deserve Better.
To schedule a consultation with the Michigan attorneys at Boroja, Bernier & Associates, call (586) 991-7611.
Contact Information:
Headquarters: 49139 Schoenherr Rd., Shelby Township, MI 48315
Phone: (586) 991-7611
Email: admin@bbalawmi.com
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Friday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Saturday & Sunday: By Appointment
