One of the driving forces behind Americans establishing estate plans is to lower the possibility of conflict between beneficiaries after death. Namely, dying without an estate plan can cause your surviving children to fight over your estate. Even a well-crafted estate...
Will my estate end up in probate?
Concerns about probate administration are common during estate planning. Everyone has heard horror stories about estates held up for months or years while the court decides on how to administer them. According to U.S. News & World Report, the probate process is a...
Probate basics: What you should know
Whether you need to plan your estate or have recently lost a close friend or family member, it is important to understand the probate process. Depending on the situation, the case may need to enter the probate process before property is distributed to the...
Does a living trust help you avoid probate?
Creating a will that outlines your wishes concerning the division of your assets after you are gone can help your family understand how to handle the disbursement, but what happens when there is a disagreement among your heirs? Such arguments can lead to probate...
How do you avoid disputes among heirs over your will?
Sometimes, people have complaints about elements of an estate plan or a will. The best way for you to avoid this is typically to consider the human element while planning for the future. However, even the best plans sometimes fail to address every possible outcome....
How does Michigan handle probate?
Understanding the probate and estate administration process can help you make important decisions about your will. In Michigan, specific requirements determine whether a will must go through probate, or court supervision, after you die. Review the probate laws in...
Should I put my adult child on my deed?
Many people wish to avoid probate at all costs. Probate can be very expensive, time-consuming and the public nature of it is off putting for most. However, some strategies for avoiding probate are more problematic than not. For instance, if you are going through the...
Probating Out-Of-State Properties
It is very common these days for Michigan residents to own real estate in warmer climates (to be used during our cold winter months). It is also common for people in other states to own lake homes and other vacation properties here in Michigan. These are great assets...
What should you look for when choosing an executor?
After your death, you will no longer have control over what happens to your property and assets, so you want to pick the right person to serve as the executor of your estate. You want to avoid potential issues with your pick, though. Choosing the wrong executor may...
How to keep more of the estate during probate
When a person passes away, their estate begins moving through probate court. Each state has a probate court that oversees the distribution of a person’s estate. This process ensures that the estate satisfies outstanding debts, pays finals taxes to the government and...
