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Estate planning mistakes don’t announce themselves. They surface in the worst possible moments—when a loved one dies, when someone becomes incapacitated, when a family that expected unity finds itself in Wayne County Probate Court fighting over assets that should have transferred cleanly. The stakes are real. An invalid will means Michigan’s intestacy statutes—not your intentions—decide … Read more
Every week, families walk into Michigan probate courts facing the same preventable crisis. A parent has suffered a stroke, a spouse has been diagnosed with dementia, or an accident has left someone unable to manage their own affairs—and no one in the family has the legal authority to step in and help. That’s the reality … Read more
Long-term care planning isn’t something most families think about—until they have to. A sudden fall. A dementia diagnosis. A hospital discharge with nowhere safe to go. In Oakland County, thousands of families face these moments every year. The questions come fast: How much will care cost? Will Medicare help? What about our savings? Here’s what … Read more
Most adult children assume their parents have estate planning handled. After all, your parents have always had things under control. They raised you, managed a household, built careers. Surely they’ve thought about what happens next. This assumption is where many Michigan families get hurt. The problem isn’t that parents don’t care about planning. It’s that … 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
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
Life in Metro Detroit moves fast. Between work, family, and everything else demanding your attention, thinking about what happens after you’re gone probably falls pretty low on your to-do list. But here’s something that might change your perspective: without a proper estate plan, the state of Michigan decides who gets your home, your savings, and … Read more
As attorneys serving clients throughout Troy, Shelby Township, Oakland County, and Macomb County, we often meet individuals who assume that a spouse or family member will automatically gain authority to handle financial or personal matters if they become incapacitated. In Michigan, that assumption creates significant risk. Without a properly executed Durable Power of Attorney, important … Read more
At Boroja, Bernier & Associates, we regularly meet with individuals and families who believe estate planning is something only older adults or those with serious illnesses need to think about. The truth is that unexpected medical emergencies can happen to anyone, regardless of age or health. If you become unable to make your own medical … Read more
At Boroja, Bernier & Associates, we often meet families who know they need an estate plan but are unsure where to start. Estate planning is more than just drafting a will. It involves preparing a comprehensive set of documents to ensure your wishes are carried out during your lifetime and after you pass away. Without … Read more