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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
Selecting a personal representative is a critical step in Michigan estate planning. This individual manages the estate, pays debts, and distributes assets according to the will or state law. The choice directly affects the efficiency of estate administration and the likelihood of family disputes. Michigan law sets clear rules for who may serve and outlines … 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
An estate plan should not be signed and forgotten. As life, laws, and finances change, an outdated plan can cause confusion or conflict among family members. Many clients in Southeast Michigan have discovered that major life events rendered their documents obsolete. Michigan estate planning is governed by the Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC), MCL … Read more
Most Michigan families don’t set out to put their loved ones through probate. But that’s exactly what happens when assets aren’t structured to transfer outside the court system, and it happens far more often than people expect. Probate is Michigan’s court-supervised process for settling an estate after someone dies. It’s public, it takes time, it … Read more
Your divorce is final. The paperwork is signed, the assets are divided, and you’re ready to move forward with your life. But there’s one critical step most people forget: updating your estate plan. Here’s the uncomfortable truth, if you die tomorrow with your old documents in place, your ex-spouse might still inherit your retirement accounts. … Read more
Someone you love has died. Now, amid grief, you’re confronting questions that most people never think about until it’s too late: What are you legally entitled to inherit? Does a missing will change everything? Could family members you barely know have a claim to the estate? Here’s the core trap most Southeast Michigan heirs fall … Read more