Naming a guardian to care for your children if something should happen to you can seem like an unpleasant and morbid task. However, if you have minor children, considering guardianship in the event of your untimely death is just as important, if not more so, as naming...
Estate planning for your second home
As you wrap up another summer of memories at the family cottage, you may be thinking about whether the next generation of your family will keep up your tradition of summer weekends in your special spot. Will the centerpiece of your estate be your beloved lakeshore...
Michigan law simplifies digital asset management
It's easy to overlook digital assets in estate planning. Many of us have more online accounts than we can keep track of, and your PayPal and Facebook accounts may not be the first thing you think of when you think of leaving a legacy. Michigan has joined a growing...
Does the unlimited marital deduction apply to non-citizens?
Like many people in Detroit and across the country, you might have married someone who is not a United States citizen. Understandably, you would want to make sure your spouse is taken care of if you are the one to pass away first. How does estate planning apply to...
Undue influence: A three-part test
Every state has its own definition of undue influence. The key word, however, is not "influence" - it is "undue." For example, married couples have a great amount of influence over one another, and so this influence, while strong, is not considered "undue" under the...
Understanding which assets are likely to go through probate
If you are making plans for your loved ones to receive an inheritance, you may wish to assist your relatives in avoiding probate as much as possible. Confusion over your will – or the lack thereof – may result in family disagreements that you never...
Can you disinherit your spouse or children?
Recently in this blog, we talked about whether you could leave a family member less than another one in your will, as well as cutting some relatives out of the inheritance. However, do you and other Michigan residents have complete freedom in picking and choosing...
Why would you need to plan a living will?
When you think about your estate planning, you might focus your attention on how you are going to provide for your loved ones after you are gone. What about while you are still alive, though? How can you and other Detroit residents take care of your needs if something...
