We had one of our clients in this week for a trust review. She said that estate planning and trusts have been regular topics of discussion with her friends. They all have trusts which have been drafted by different attorneys. …
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Does Your Trust Plan Have These Options?
We regularly to get people coming into our office with existing trust-based estate plans. These plans are typically prepared by their previous divorce attorney, real estate attorney, the family lawyer or other general practitioner. When we review these plans, rarely …
New Year’s Estate Plan Resolutions
It’s New Year’s Eve. Have you made your New Year’s resolutions for 2018? If you have, you are with the majority of respondents of a recent YouGuv online survey. The top four resolutions for 2018 were to eat better, exercise …
Plan While You Can
Would you agree that you have more options now while you are alive and well, than after you’re dead? Would you also agree that you have more options now when you are alive and well, than after you are mentally …
More Estate Planning Questions
On a daily basis in our office, we get a lot of estate planning questions because of all the estate planning that we do. In this column, I like to periodically cover the questions we get. Today, we are going …
No Will? You Still Have a Plan
Last week, we discussed that to make your will work, it had to go through the probate court process. But what if you have not will or trust? Well firstly, you would be like the majority of people in America …
Wills Won’t Work Without Probate
“Mom’s (or Dad’s) will says I get everything. I took the will to the bank. Why won’t they give me my money?” We get this question all the time. We heard it again this week. What many beneficiaries do not …
So You Are In Charge of the Estate or Trust
Mom or dad has named you as personal representative of their estate or as trustee of their trust. As a personal representative or trustee, you are considered a fiduciary. This is someone who handles funds or property of another. As …
Who Needs Estate Planning?
You are age 18 or over. You are also with the majority of Michiganders and have done no estate planning. No will, no trust, no financial or health care powers of attorney, no nothing. If you became mentally incapacitated, do …
Reasons to Choose a Professional Trustee
When you do your estate plan, you have to choose someone to handle your property and financial affairs during your mental disability as well as after your death. You may be tempted to name your spouse or the kids in …