In our last blog entry, we discussed the process of becoming a guardian of an incapacitated individual. We also touched upon how, in most cases, guardianship does not contain financial powers for the incapacitated individual, and instead that is a separate process called conservatorship. If you have questions about conservatorship or guardianship, our Troy, MI  … Read more

You have a spouse, adult child, or other relative, friend, or neighbor that is seriously ill or injured and is no longer able to manage their own affairs. People are asking you who has the power to make decisions for this person. However, when you try to make these decisions, you are told that they  … Read more

Online tools and downloadable templates have made it easier than ever for individuals to create legal documents on their own. While this might seem convenient, drafting your own trust without input from a qualified attorney carries risks that often don’t become clear until it’s too late. Trusts are more than just paperwork—they’re legal instruments that  … Read more

Trusts are common estate planning tools that allow individuals to direct how their assets are handled during their lifetime and after they pass away. While there are many types of trusts, most fall into one of two categories: revocable or irrevocable. Each serves a distinct purpose and comes with its own set of rules. Deciding  … Read more

If you’re falling behind on your credit card payments, you’re not alone. Many people in Michigan and across the country face the same challenge, especially when interest rates, late fees, and minimum payments make it harder to catch up. The good news is there are steps you can take to get control of the situation  … Read more

Many people assume that having a will means avoiding probate altogether. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. A will is an important part of estate planning, but it doesn’t automatically bypass the probate process. Whether probate is required depends on several factors, including how the assets were titled and what type of property the estate  … Read more

Inheriting a home that’s in bad shape after a loved one dies can add more stress to an already emotional situation. Whether the house is outdated, has major structural issues, or simply hasn’t been maintained in years, you might be wondering if you can sell it as-is during the probate process. The good news is  … Read more

Understanding Conservatorship In our last blog entry, we discussed the process of becoming a guardian. We also touched upon how in most cases guardianship does not contain financial powers for the incapacitated individual and instead that is a separate process called conservatorship. Our Troy, MI estate planning lawyer is available to answer questions about becoming  … Read more

Understanding Guardianship If you have a relative, friend, or neighbor that is seriously ill or injured and is no longer able to manage their own affairs and people are asking you, who has the power to make decisions for this person? You may step in to help. However, when you try to make decisions for  … Read more

Probate Process Without Estate Planning Documents In this blog entry, we will discuss the probate process when a decedent passes away and they do not have any estate planning documents and have no co-owners or beneficiaries on their accounts. An estate for a person who does not have a Last Will and Testament is called  … Read more