Estate planning lawyer Troy, MI

Trusted estate planning attorneys serving Troy, MI and surrounding Oakland County communities for over 45 years.

If you’re trying to plan your estate or settle a loved one’s affairs in Troy, you may be dealing with paperwork, family dynamics, and real uncertainty about what comes next. A Troy, MI estate planning lawyer from our office can provide you with over four decades of experience. We handle each matter with the attention it deserves. When you’re ready to get started, contact Gudeman & Associates, P.C. to schedule a consultation.

Estate Planning Attorney Troy, MI

What does an estate planning attorney actually do? At its core, estate planning is about making decisions now so that others don’t have to make them for you later. It covers who receives your property, who makes medical decisions if you can’t, who manages your finances during incapacity, and how your affairs get wrapped up when you pass.

Many people put this off because they assume it’s only for the wealthy or the elderly. It isn’t. If you own anything, have children, or have opinions about your medical care, you have reasons to plan. A Troy estate planning attorney helps you understand your options under Michigan law and put documents in place that actually hold up when they’re needed.

Types of Estate Planning Cases We Handle in Troy

We work with Troy residents and families throughout Oakland County on a broad range of estate planning matters. Every situation is different, and the documents that make sense for one family may not be the right fit for another.

  • Wills. A will directs how your property is distributed after your death and names who carries out those instructions. For parents of minor children, it also allows you to designate a guardian. Without a valid will, Michigan’s intestacy laws control the outcome, and that outcome may not reflect what you would have chosen.
  • Revocable living trusts. A trust transfers assets to a separate legal entity managed by a trustee for the benefit of your named beneficiaries. Trusts can help your family avoid probate, provide for a child with special needs, and in some cases offer a degree of creditor protection. We work with revocable living trusts and other trust arrangements depending on what your situation calls for.
  • Powers of attorney. A durable power of attorney designates someone to manage your financial affairs if you become incapacitated. Without one, your family may have to seek court authority to act on your behalf. We also prepare health care powers of attorney, which authorize a trusted person to make medical decisions if you cannot.
  • Living wills. A living will sets out your preferences for end-of-life medical treatment. It spares your family from having to make those calls in an already painful moment and gives your medical providers clear direction.
  • Special needs planning. Families with a disabled loved one need to plan carefully to preserve eligibility for government benefits while still providing financial support. A properly structured special needs trust addresses both concerns.
  • Asset protection planning. For business owners and individuals with significant assets, structuring matters. We advise on strategies that can help shield property from future claims while remaining within the bounds of Michigan law, including family LLC planning where appropriate.
  • Medicaid planning. Long-term care costs can deplete a lifetime of savings quickly. We help older Michigan residents think through Medicaid eligibility and asset structuring well before a crisis forces the issue.
  • Conservatorship. When someone can no longer manage their own finances and no power of attorney exists, a conservatorship may be the only path forward. We guide families through that process in the Michigan probate court system.

Why Choose Gudeman & Associates, P.C. for Estate Planning in Troy?

Edward J. Gudeman is the founder and managing attorney of Gudeman & Associates, P.C. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School in 1971 and has been admitted to practice in Michigan since 1973. He is also admitted before the United States Tax Court and the U.S. Supreme Court. Before opening his own firm, he worked in the tax department at Arthur Andersen in Detroit, which is where his focus on tax-integrated planning began.

For Troy residents seeking an estate planning attorney in Troy, that combination of estate planning and tax law experience is meaningful. Wills and trusts don’t exist in a vacuum. How assets are titled, how beneficiaries are designated, and how a trust is structured all carry tax implications. We take those into account from the start.

A Practice Built on Estate Planning From the Beginning

Gudeman & Associates, P.C. has focused on estate planning, business law, and taxation for over 45 years. Mr. Gudeman has been a member of the State Bar of Michigan since 1973 and has worked with thousands of individuals and families across southeastern Michigan. He graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1968 before going on to law school, and he is the proud father of three children, including a set of twins.

What Our Clients Say

“My husband and I used Gudeman Law to do our estate planning. Everyone there went above and beyond to help us through this stressful experience and put us at ease. Absolutely highly recommend this caring company. 100% satisfied.” — Sandy DeLaGarza

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Troy Estate Planning Infographic

6 Things You Need To Start Estate Planning Infographic

Understanding Estate Planning in Troy

Key Estate Planning Documents and What They Do

Estate planning involves a set of legal documents, each serving a specific function. No single document does everything, and most complete plans involve several working together.

  • Last will and testament. Directs the distribution of your probate estate and names a personal representative to carry out your wishes.
  • Revocable living trust. Holds assets during your lifetime and transfers them to beneficiaries outside of probate upon your death. You retain control as the trustee while you’re alive and capable.
  • Durable power of attorney. Authorizes an agent to handle financial matters on your behalf. “Durable” means it remains effective even if you become incapacitated.
  • Health care power of attorney. Names someone to make medical decisions on your behalf when you cannot make them yourself.
  • Beneficiary designations. Retirement accounts, life insurance, and certain bank accounts transfer outside of your will entirely. Keeping these current is a critical and often overlooked part of any plan.

Important Aspects of Your Estate Plan

The documents themselves are only part of the picture. Several practical considerations affect how well an estate plan actually functions.

  • Funding your trust. A revocable living trust only controls assets that have been properly transferred into it. An unfunded or partially funded trust may leave your family facing the probate process you were trying to avoid.
  • Coordination with beneficiary designations. A will doesn’t control who receives your 401(k) or life insurance. Those assets go to whoever is named on the account, regardless of what your will says.
  • Regular updates. Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a death in the family, or a significant change in assets can make an existing plan outdated.
  • Choosing the right fiduciaries. Your personal representative, trustee, and agent under a power of attorney carry real responsibility. Choosing someone capable and trustworthy matters as much as the documents themselves.

Estate Planning Timeline

The time it takes to complete an estate plan varies depending on complexity, but most clients can expect the following general process.

  • Initial consultation to discuss your goals, family situation, assets, and concerns
  • Information gathering, including an asset inventory, beneficiary decisions, and fiduciary appointments
  • Draft documents prepared and sent to you for review, typically within a few weeks
  • Review period for corrections, questions, and any changes
  • Signing appointment with proper execution formalities under Michigan law
  • Follow-up steps such as trust funding and beneficiary designation updates

For most clients with straightforward circumstances, the full process takes four to eight weeks. More complex plans involving business interests, blended families, or special needs considerations may take longer.

What to Bring to Your Estate Planning Consultation

Coming prepared helps us make the most of your time together. Before your consultation, gather the following if possible.

  • A general list of your assets, including real estate, bank accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and any business interests
  • Names and contact information for people you’re considering as personal representative, trustee, or agent under a power of attorney
  • Names and ages of any beneficiaries, particularly minor children
  • Any existing estate planning documents you already have in place
  • Questions about specific concerns, such as a blended family situation, a child with special needs, or a family business

You don’t need to have everything perfectly organized. We’ll work through the details together. The goal of the first meeting is to understand your situation and give you a clear picture of what a plan would involve for you specifically.

Michigan Legal Resources for Estate Planning

Michigan residents have access to a number of resources when researching estate planning law and requirements.

Schedule a Consultation With Gudeman & Associates, P.C.

If you’re ready to put an estate plan in place or have questions about where to start, we’re here to help. Gudeman & Associates, P.C. has worked with Troy families and individuals across Oakland County for over 45 years. Contact our office to schedule a consultation with an estate planning lawyer in Troy, MI.