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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 … 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
Setting The Stage For Smart Asset Protection Decisions Many families across Oakland and Macomb counties seek simple ways to protect property, avoid unnecessary court proceedings, and ensure assets pass smoothly to loved ones. We often meet people who have added a child to a deed or bank account because someone told them joint ownership “keeps … 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 … 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 And in Michigan, an outdated will isn’t just a minor inconvenience.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, … Read more
If you’ve started thinking about protecting your family’s future, you’ve probably encountered two fundamental estate planning tools: wills and trusts. The question isn’t whether you need estate planning, it’s which approach actually accomplishes your goals under Michigan law. The answer is more nuanced than most people realize. A will alone won’t avoid probate in Michigan. … Read more
A Lady Bird Deed is a special type of property deed that allows Michigan homeowners to transfer real estate to beneficiaries upon death without going through probate court. Unlike a traditional deed transfer, you retain complete ownership and control of the property during your lifetime, including the right to sell, mortgage, or even change your … Read more
Michigan families work hard to build their legacies, yet many unknowingly make estate planning mistakes that can cost their loved ones thousands of dollars, months of delays, and unnecessary heartache. The good news is that these mistakes are entirely preventable once you know what to watch for. Estate planning under Michigan law involves more than … Read more
Planning for incapacity is one of the most important steps in any Michigan estate plan, yet it is often overlooked until a crisis forces families to act. We regularly meet individuals and families in Troy and Shelby Township who assume that a spouse or adult child will automatically be allowed to manage finances or make … Read more
Selecting an executor or trustee is one of the most important decisions a person can make when preparing an estate plan. At Boroja, Bernier & Associates, we understand that this choice carries both legal and personal consequences. The executor or trustee is responsible for carrying out the instructions in an estate plan, managing assets, paying … Read more