Insights
Writing worth your time.
Clear, unhurried explanations of the Michigan estate and elder law questions we are asked most. No jargon, no scare tactics. Just the things we find ourselves explaining, written down.
The Lady Bird Deed in Michigan: How It Works and When to Use OneThe enhanced life estate deed lets a Michigan homeowner keep full control of the house during life and pass it automatically at death, without probate. Here is how it works, and when it fits.Read the article
How Long Does Probate Take in Michigan? A Realistic TimelineA straightforward Michigan estate usually takes around seven months to a year to settle. Here is what happens at each stage, and what actually drives the length.Read the article
The Medicaid Look-Back Period in Michigan, ExplainedMedicaid reviews five years of financial history when you apply for long-term care coverage. Here is what the look-back really examines, and how the penalty works.Read the article
The Small Estate Affidavit in Michigan: When the Short Path AppliesMichigan offers two simplified alternatives to full probate for modest estates: the small estate affidavit under MCL 700.3982 and the summary proceeding under MCL 700.3987. Knowing which path applies, and where families commonly go wrong, can save weeks of delay and real legal exposure. This guide walks through both options in plain language.Read the article
Dying Without a Will in Michigan: Who Inherits WhatWhen a Michigan resident dies without a will, state law decides who inherits, and the outcome often surprises families, especially those with blended households or unmarried partners. Michigan's Estates and Protected Individuals Code assigns heirs in a fixed order, leaving no room for personal wishes. Understanding this hierarchy helps families see exactly what is at stake and what a simple estate plan can change.Read the article
How to Avoid Probate in Michigan: The Five Tools That WorkMichigan families have five proven tools to keep assets out of probate: a funded revocable trust, a Lady Bird deed, beneficiary designations, joint ownership, and POD/TOD designations. Each tool works differently, and most estates benefit from using more than one. This guide walks through how each tool works, when to use it, and where people most often go wrong.Read the article- Michigan's Patient Advocate Designation ExplainedMichigan uses its own statutory name for what other states call a medical power of attorney: the patient advocate designation. This article explains how the document works under MCL 700.5506, who can serve as your patient advocate, and what happens to Michigan families who do not have one in place.Read the article
- Revocable Living Trust in Michigan: Cost and What It DoesA revocable living trust holds your assets during your lifetime and transfers them to beneficiaries after death without Michigan probate court involvement. This guide explains what a trust does and does not do, what it costs, and the funding step most families miss.Read the article
- Medicaid Planning in Michigan: The Five-Year LookbackMichigan's Medicaid five-year lookback rule can turn a well-intentioned gift into months of uncovered nursing home costs. This guide explains how the penalty is calculated, which assets are protected, and what your family can still do whether you are planning ahead or facing an immediate crisis.Read the article
- Lady Bird Deed in Michigan: How It WorksA Lady Bird deed lets Michigan homeowners pass their property directly to named beneficiaries at death, skipping probate entirely, while keeping full control during their lifetime. Michigan recognizes this enhanced life estate deed through common law practice rather than a single statute, which makes careful drafting essential. This guide explains how it works, when it makes sense, and where families commonly go wrong.Read the article
- Life Leases in Michigan: When a Parent Stays in the HomeMichigan does not recognize a formal 'life lease' instrument, but the life estate deed accomplishes what most families are looking for: a parent keeps the right to live in the home until death, and the property passes to children automatically without probate. Understanding the Medicaid look-back rules, property tax consequences, and lending limitations can make the difference between a plan that holds and one that creates unexpected problems.Read the article
- Closing an Estate in Michigan: A Representative's Final DutiesA Michigan personal representative closes an estate either by filing a sworn statement under MCL 700.3954 or by formal petition under MCL 700.3951. This guide walks through every step, from publishing notice to creditors through filing that final sworn statement, so you know exactly what must happen before the court file closes.Read the article
- Lady Bird Deed vs. Living Trust in MichiganBoth a Lady Bird deed and a revocable living trust can help Michigan homeowners avoid probate, but they serve different estates and family situations. Understanding which tool fits your circumstances depends on your assets, your family structure, and whether Medicaid planning is a concern. This article walks through the key differences so you can arrive at a conversation with an attorney already knowing the right questions to ask.Read the article
- What an Executor Must Do in Michigan: A Step-by-Step GuideIf you have been named executor of a Michigan estate, you are now a personal representative with legally enforceable fiduciary duties and a court-supervised timeline to follow. This guide walks you through every phase of the process, from the first 14-day filing deadline to final distribution and estate closure, in plain language.Read the article
- Michigan Filial Responsibility Law ExplainedMichigan law can hold adult children financially responsible for a parent's unpaid care costs under MCL 400.602, a statute most families have never heard of. Understanding how this law works, when it is enforced, and what families can do now is the first step toward protecting yourself. This guide explains the statute in plain language, identifies the situations that create the most risk, and outlines practical steps Michigan families can take.Read the article
- Beneficiary Designations in Michigan: Why They Override Your WillIn Michigan, a beneficiary designation on a life insurance policy, IRA, or bank account overrides whatever your will says, every time. Understanding how these non-probate transfers work, and where they go wrong, is one of the most practical things a Michigan family can do. This guide explains the rules in plain language, with specific attention to divorce traps, minor children, and the tax consequences of the SECURE Act.Read the article
Begin here
Have a question these did not answer?
The clearest answers come from a real conversation about your own family. That is where we start.
Book a consultation(248) 555-0142