Compassion, integrity and trust
Probate is the process in which a deceased person’s estate is processed through the legal system. In the state of Michigan, when an individual dies without an estate plan or with a will, that person’s estate will go through probate court in the county where
Probate is the process in which a deceased person’s estate is processed through the legal system. In the state of Michigan, when an individual dies without an estate plan or with a will, that person’s estate will go through probate court in the county where
The Lady Bird Deed is a way to transfer land at death without probate. This specific form of life estate deed allows the owner to retain control of the property during his or her lifetime including the ability to sell it. Upon death, it is
Preparing an estate plan does not have to be a complicated process. Certain important decisions need to be made regarding who will handle your estate upon your death, who will take care of your minor children, and who will handle certain roles in the event
Not all assets are considered fair game for probate of an estate. Only the assets that are in the deceased person’s (or decedent’s) sole name need to be processed by the probate court. Anything that is jointly owned or anything that has a beneficiary associated
For most clients, the act of simply completing their estate plan is a difficult enough step to take. However, one of the biggest mistakes that clients can make is to take that newly completed estate plan and file it away, never to look at it
As an estate planning attorney, I routinely hear clients say that they want to avoid probate at all costs. Most of the time, these statements are based off horror stories that clients have heard from other individuals. They may not even understand what all is
While estate planning tends to be much less litigious than other areas of the law, coming to an attorney’s office for the first time can still be an intimidating experience for many clients. The potential client may not know what to expect, know what questions
When meeting with a client for the first time to discuss an estate plan, I usually go over the Michigan probate process. Many times, clients hear that it is important to avoid probate at all costs, and while I tend to agree with this sentiment