He was married for 35 years. He was the stable one. The good provider. The guy who went to work, paid the bills, and came home to his family. By most measures, he was a good husband. Then his wife left him for another man, a wealthy executive she met through her work. They relocated … Read more
Many Michigan residents try to handle estate planning on their own using online forms or generic templates. At first glance, do-it-yourself estate plans seem simple, affordable, and convenient. In reality, these plans often fail when they are tested under Michigan law. We regularly meet families in Oakland County and Macomb County who believed they were … Read more
Every estate plan answers a fundamental question: what happens to everything you’ve built? For many Michigan families, the answer includes more than just providing for loved ones. It includes giving back, to the communities, causes, and institutions that shaped their lives. But in 2026, charitable giving in estate planning carries new urgency. The One Big … Read more
You’ve been named successor trustee. Now what? For many Oakland County families, that question hits without warning. A parent passes away or becomes incapacitated, and suddenly a son, daughter, or trusted friend is responsible for managing a trust worth hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions, of dollars. There’s no court appointment, no formal swearing-in, no judge … Read more
Second marriages create a planning problem that love alone doesn’t solve. You want to provide for your spouse. You also want to make sure your children, especially children from a prior relationship, actually receive the inheritance you intend for them. In most Metro Detroit blended families, those two goals are in direct tension, and a … Read more
Divorce is complicated. Divorce when you own a business is a different category of problem entirely. For entrepreneurs, practice owners, and business operators across Oakland County, the business is often the most valuable marital asset, and the most difficult to divide. Unlike a bank account or a retirement fund, a business can’t simply be split … Read more
If something happened to you tomorrow, who would raise your kids? Most parents in Metro Detroit have an answer in their head. A sister, a grandparent, a close friend. But unless that answer is written down in a legally valid document, it doesn’t matter. Without a will naming guardians, a Macomb, Oakland, or Wayne County … Read more
In Genesee County, the most expensive decision you can make in a divorce often happens before the first hearing: choosing a process that turns a private family problem into a litigation machine. Every disputed issue becomes a formal event, motions, hearings, discovery deadlines, expert reports, and court congestion. Mediation compresses that into guided problem-solving sessions. … Read more
Your business is probably the most valuable asset you own – and in Metro Detroit, where family-owned companies anchor entire communities, it may also be your family’s primary source of income, identity, and financial security. Here is the uncomfortable truth: without a succession plan, that business could collapse within months of your death or disability. … Read more
Digital assets are now a permanent part of many Michigan estates. Cryptocurrency, online investment accounts, digital wallets, NFTs, cloud-based financial records, and even monetized social media accounts can carry real value and legal significance. Many families are surprised to learn that these assets are often inaccessible after death or incapacity if planning documents are outdated … Read more
Get In Touch
Phone
Main Office Address
Boroja, Bernier & Associates
Corporate Office
49139 Schoenherr Rd. Shelby Township, MI 48315
(586) 991-7611
By Appointment Only
100 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200, Troy, MI 48084
(248) 677-2250
2723 South State Street, Suite 150, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 749-9400
120 N Washington Square Suite 300, Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 760-6600
© 2026 BBA Law. All rights reserved.
