When Metro Detroit families begin estate planning, one of the most important decisions they face is whether to use a revocable living trust, an irrevocable trust, or some combination of both. Each type of trust serves different purposes, and choosing the wrong one can mean missing out on important benefits or creating unintended tax consequences. … Read more
In a military divorce, the most valuable asset is often invisible until it’s gone. Retirement pay, disability elections, and survivor benefits don’t sit in a bank account—but decisions made during divorce can determine whether tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars will ever be paid at all. Unlike civilian divorces, military divorces operate at the … Read more
If something happened to you tomorrow, who would raise your children? More importantly, who has the legal authority to make that decision—you, or a Michigan probate judge who has never met your family? Without proper estate planning documents, the answer is the judge. Michigan law does not automatically transfer custody to grandparents, siblings, or anyone … Read more
For business owners, executives, and professionals, divorce isn’t just emotionally disruptive—it can threaten the very assets that generate income, fund retirement, and support future opportunities. When a closely held business, investment portfolio, or professional practice is on the line, the stakes are fundamentally different. High-asset divorces demand more than rough estimates and rules of thumb. … Read more
Why Prenuptial Agreements Matter In Michigan Estate Planning Many people think of prenuptial agreements only in the context of divorce. In our Michigan estate planning practice, we see something very different. Prenuptial agreements are often used to protect families, clarify expectations, and coordinate an estate plan well before a crisis occurs. They are especially important … Read more
In Michigan, living together and raising a child does not make you legal parents in the eyes of the law. There is no “common-law custody,” no automatic visitation rights, and no obligation to support a child—unless paternity has been formally established. This reality catches many unmarried parents off guard. Fathers who have been present since … Read more
When a loved one passes away, the last thing any family wants is a legal battle over their estate. Yet disputes over wills, trusts, and inheritance are more common than many people realize—and St. Clair County is no exception. Probate litigation in St. Clair County follows the same Michigan laws that govern estate disputes statewide, … Read more
Estate planning for blended families is not about choosing sides. It is about making deliberate legal decisions that protect everyone you love—because without those decisions, Michigan law will make them for you. The uncomfortable truth is this: a standard will designed for a traditional nuclear family almost always fails blended families. Verbal promises between spouses … Read more
In Michigan, moving with your child after divorce is not just a personal decision—it is a legal event with serious consequences. A job offer, a new partner, or family support in another city may make relocation feel urgent, but the law moves more slowly and far more deliberately. Michigan’s 100-mile rule exists to protect a … Read more
For Michigan families pursuing surrogacy, the most important legal decision often happens before a pregnancy even begins. Parentage, compensation, medical authority, and what happens if circumstances change are all determined long before a child is born—and mistakes are rarely fixable after the fact. Michigan’s shift from criminalizing surrogacy to fully regulating it is one of … Read more
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Boroja, Bernier & Associates
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