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Two Michigan families lose a parent in the same week. Both children are named to settle the estate. One spends the next year filing with the probate court, publishing notices, and waiting on a judge. The other handles almost everything from the kitchen table in a few months, and no stranger ever sees the details. … Read more
The person who created the trust has died, and you have just learned that you are the successor trustee. The moment the grantor passed away, a living trust that was revocable for the grantor’s entire life became irrevocable, and you stepped into a legal role with real duties and real deadlines. Here is the honest … Read more
When someone you love dies, the legal system doesn’t wait for you to catch your breath. Bills keep arriving. Bank accounts get frozen. The mortgage company wants answers you don’t have yet. And somewhere in the middle of all of it, someone tells you that you need to “open probate.” For Oakland County families, that … Read more
Washtenaw County residents tend to be planners. You research school districts before buying a house. You max out retirement contributions. You carry the right insurance. But here’s the gap in that otherwise meticulous preparation: roughly half of American adults don’t have a basic estate plan – and Ann Arbor professionals are no exception. The consequences … Read more
A Shelby Township couple owns a home worth $350,000, holds retirement accounts, and has two kids under 12. One of them dies unexpectedly without a trust in place. That house – the one they spent years paying off – is now tied up in Macomb County Probate Court at 40 N. Main Street in Mount … Read more
Nobody budgets for probate. That’s part of the problem. When a loved one dies, the last thing families expect is a bill from the court system – but that’s exactly what Michigan probate delivers. Filing fees, inventory fees, attorney fees, publication costs, appraisal charges, and personal representative compensation. By the time the estate closes, families … Read more
Many Michigan residents wonder whether a will is sufficient or if a trust offers better protection. We assist clients throughout Oakland County, Macomb County, and Southeast Michigan in understanding these options and selecting the best fit for their needs. Wills and trusts serve distinct purposes and provide different benefits. Michigan law determines estate administration, property … Read more
Michigan’s Medicaid asset limit for a single applicant in 2026 is $9,950 in countable assets. That’s not a typo. If you or a parent ever need nursing home care – which costs $10,000-$15,000 per month in Michigan – the state expects you to spend down nearly everything before it helps. And yet, the number one … Read more
When a loved one passes away in Michigan, families often encounter the term “probate” but may not understand its meaning or impact. Probate is the legal process for administering a deceased person’s estate, settling debts, and distributing assets to beneficiaries. Although sometimes necessary, probate can be time-consuming, costly, and stressful for families. However, with proper … Read more
You’d spend $4,500 to prevent a $100,000 problem in any other area of your life. If your mechanic told you a $4,500 repair today would prevent $100,000 in engine damage next year, you wouldn’t think twice. If your doctor said a $4,500 procedure now would avoid a $100,000 surgery later, you’d schedule it tomorrow. Estate … Read more