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Many Michigan families want real estate to pass smoothly to loved ones without probate and without losing control during life. We meet clients in Troy, Shelby Township, and across Oakland and Macomb Counties who want to retain ownership, retain the right to sell, and avoid the court process at death. A Lady Bird deed, also … Read more
Elder abuse is a hidden crisis affecting thousands of Michigan seniors every year. In Monroe County, families face the same risks as communities across Southeast Michigan—physical abuse, neglect, emotional manipulation, and financial exploitation that can devastate vulnerable adults and drain lifetimes of savings. The good news is that Michigan law provides meaningful protections for seniors … Read more
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
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
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
If you live in Metro Detroit or anywhere in Southeast Michigan, you may wonder whether your estate will owe taxes after you pass away. The good news: most Michigan families will not owe federal estate tax. The better news: understanding how estate and gift taxes actually work can help you make smarter planning decisions that … Read more
When an aging parent can no longer manage daily decisions or handle finances safely, Michigan families face difficult choices. Guardianship in Livingston County provides a legal pathway to protect vulnerable seniors when powers of attorney don’t exist, have been rejected, or abuse and exploitation are involved. Understanding how guardianship and conservatorship work under Michigan’s Estates … Read more
When a Michigan resident passes away, their loved ones often face an unexpected challenge: probate court. This legal process—designed to distribute assets and settle debts—can stretch for months or even years, tying up family inheritances and adding stress during an already difficult time. The answer is clear: probate is a court-supervised process for settling a … Read more
Life doesn’t always give you time to plan. One moment, your parent is living independently; the next, you’re facing a nursing home bill of $10,000 or more per month. For Michigan families in Washtenaw County and throughout Southeast Michigan, understanding how Medicaid pays for long-term care—and how to protect your family’s assets while qualifying—can mean … Read more
That will you signed ten years ago? It might be working against your family right now. Life changes—marriages, divorces, new grandchildren, deaths, and shifting assets—but wills don’t update themselves. And in Michigan, an outdated will isn’t just a minor inconvenience. It’s a roadmap to probate disputes, unintended distributions, and family conflict in Wayne, Macomb, and … Read more