Probate includes paying a deceased's remaining debts before distributing his or her assets to heirs. As noted by the Michigan Court Rules website, an estate's personal representative must publish a notice informing creditors of the name of the deceased and the date of...
Reducing inheritance conflict among siblings
When you have more than one child, it may bring you comfort to think about your kids coming together and leaning on one another after your passing. However, in some cases, inheritance conflicts throw a wrench in the works and result in children facing off against one...
What should executors know about the probate process?
Being named the executor of a loved one's will is a huge responsibility. That is why you must ensure you are fully prepared for the many tasks involved. According to Kiplinger, executors are responsible for paying debts, dispersing assets, and handling estate...
Can small estates skip probate?
You have likely heard horror stories from people forced to endure a prolonged probate process. Indeed, these tales probably have you nervous about enduring a similar episode following the death of a loved one in Michigan. It is true that probate can linger, and that...
How should your executor prepare to close your estate?
While planning for estate administration, you keep thinking about the person in charge of closing your affairs. What tips should you consider for yourself and your executor? Kiplinger offers guidance on how estate creators and their executors may prepare for the...
What do you know about avoiding probate?
While you know little about estate administration in Michigan, you know you want to avoid probate at all costs. What does that look like? Forbes offers strategies for circumventing the judicial process. Take steps to ensure your heirs and beneficiaries receive their...
Challenging a will in Michigan
In cases where a family member passes away and leaves a will behind, certain heirs may incur shock when they discover that the will does not leave them an inheritance. Intentional or not, this can be a hard situation to face. In certain cases, the would-be-heir may...
Should your executor be a family member?
When it comes time to start working on end-of-life plans, you may feel overwhelmed at first. A lot of moving parts make up an estate, after all. But what you should focus on first and foremost is the stability of your plan. You can do this by building strong...
5 things probate lawyers do
Probate attorneys help you settle the affairs of an estate. They perform many tasks within the context of the law. The job could entail work that does not appear on this list. Please think of this only as a starting point to help you understand why people hire lawyers...
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. ...
