In its lame duck session of 2016, the legislature passed a package of bills abolishing Michigan dower. Effective 90 days from the date the bills are signed by the governor and filed with the Secretary of State, transfers of real estate in Michigan will no longer be...
Estate Planning
Family Feud: Estate Edition
No family is immune from the ravages of estate-related fights.Not even the families of well known celebrities and politicians. Fred Thompson's progeny are not happy campers.The sons of the late former United States Senator and Law & Order star are pursuing a...
Estate Planning Mistakes To Avoid
Whether you are single, newly married, young or reaching your golden years, having an estate plan is important. But not just any plan will do; it is important to make sure you have a plan that works for your situation and avoids the common pitfalls of probate and...
Wills, trusts, powers of attorney and more
Estate planning is not something anyone really wants to think about. After all, our own demise is not a topic of conversation anyone really wants to participate in. However, estate planning is not so much about you as it is the people who are left behind. It's up to...
Ensuring your estate planning is more than just a bunch of forms
If you've got a will, a power of attorney and a trust in place, you've probably done more than most people have in Michigan. Even getting that far can take a bit of time. That's one reason many people put off estate planning. Another reason is because they don't like...
What are the 2 advance directives in Michigan?
The state of Michigan has two types of advance directives. The first is the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. The second is a Do-Not-Resuscitate Declaration. Both can be vital components of your estate plans and your health care plans.A Durable Power of...
The connection between prenups and estate planning
Last week we talked about the importance of understanding the legalities of alimony when you are planning to end a marriage. This week, we're looking at the importance of the prenuptial agreement when you plan on starting a new marriage, especially when you do so...
Why a power of attorney completes your estate plan
Is your Michigan estate plan really complete? Many of our clients think that all they need is a will, and their estate planning is squared away. The truth is that estate planning can be a little -- or a lot -- more complicated than just a will, depending on your...
You don’t always need to avoid probate
Some people in Michigan believe that it is best to avoid the probate process if possible, and they do this by using living trusts instead of standard wills. These trusts can distribute assets while a person is still alive so that less must be done when he or she...
Why estate planning documents make a great gift
If you are the parent of adult children in Michigan, you might struggle to find them the perfect present -- after all, what do you get the young grown-up who seems to have everything? We have you covered for at least the next major event: Consider purchasing estate...