Dying intestate, referring to the absence of a will, generally means your spouse or an asset’s co-owner inherits your property. Your parents or your siblings may also stand to inherit portions of your assets. As noted by the Michigan Legislature, if you die intestate...
Can trusts help my heirs avoid probate?
Many Americans start estate planning in order to help their heirs avoid probate. There are multiple reasons why you might want to do so, chief among them that probate can take a very long time and while your assets are in probate your heirs have no access to them. ...
Who makes for a good executor?
As a Michigan resident, you may have questions about how to create a good estate plan. You might want to skip ahead to things that seem important. You may want to first focus on asset division or your beneficiaries. But there is something you need to do before...
Estate planning misconceptions
Upon hearing the words “estate planning”, everyone seems to imagine something a little bit different. This may be due to its multitudinous depictions in the media, or because it’s something we all encounter in life, if only tangentially. Relatedly, estate planning is...
How can estate planning help keep my secrets, secret?
This is a judgment free blog post. Most Michiganders have things in their lives or past that they would rather other not know. Perhaps, there is a folder on one’s phone that they would not want their mother to open, or a website membership they would rather their wife...
On what basis can I challenge a loved one’s will in court?
When a person in Michigan executes a will, they do so with the intention that their wishes will be followed regarding the distribution of assets to their chosen heirs through the probate process. However, things do not always run so smoothly especially if an heir...
Bringing up estate planning with your parents
Worried that your parents have not done their estate planning? Unsure how to bring it up with them? You’re not alone. Most people in the United States have not done any estate planning. Children know this, even as their parents continue to put it off. However, it’s a...
Do you intend to disinherit somebody? You should probably read this first
When an expectant heir finds out that they’ve been disinherited, shock usually quickly gives way to anger -- and anger often leads to a bitter fight over the estate. If you intend to disinherit one of your close family members, here are a few things to consider first:...
Setting up a trust based on age
There are many different types of trusts that you can use when doing your estate planning. If you have an heir with special needs, you can set up a trust to provide for them without making them ineligible for government assistance. If you have an heir who is going to...
Now is a great time to make your estate plan
If you have switched on the news or opened a paper in Michigan recently, one thing is clear: Many people are dying before they expect to. Knowing that you are going to die one day, it is essential to prepare for the unexpected. If you have time on your hands, this...
