Blog
“Estate Planning for D.I.N.K.S. (Dual Income, No Kids)”
ESTATE PLANNING FOR D.I.N.K.S. (Dual Income, No Kids) If we have no children, why do we need an estate plan? It is a common misunderstanding that people without children do not really need an estate plan. The following lays out several reasons why even couples...
“Are My Attorney Fees Recoverable In My Divorce”
ARE MY ATTORNEY FEES RECOVERABLE IN MY DIVORCE? Attorney fees are not ordinarily recovered unless a specific court decision or rule provides for it. The party asking for attorney fees must show facts sufficient to justify the award. Michigan Court Rule 3.206(D)...
“Your Living Trust After A Divorce”
YOUR LIVING TRUST AFTER A DIVORCE Once a divorce is complete, it is wise of the divorced party to consider some aspects of estate planning. An area where people sometimes have some confusion is the answer to the question, “Do I need a Will or a Trust?” There are...
“Affidavit of Parentage”
AFFIDAVIT OF PARENTAGE When a child is born in Michigan, generally in an institutional setting, the parents are immediately asked to sign an Affidavit of Parentage. This is usually presented in a hospital setting when the parents are present. Many unmarried parents...
“Do I Really Need an Attorney?”
DO I REALLY NEED AN ATTORNEY? I am quite often asked “Do I really need an Attorney?” after someone describes a series of events and appears to be looking for legal advice. My response obviously varies, depending upon the situation. However, the answer...
“MI-POST: What Are They and Why & When May I Want to Sign One?”
MI-POST: WHAT ARE THEY AND WHY & WHEN MAY I WANT TO SIGN ONE? Michigan recently joined over 40 other states in adopting what are called Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment, or POST, or MI-POST. In some states these are referred to as POLSTS, an...
Give Me Some RESPECT (Is Your Estate Plan In Order?)
Give Me Some RESPECT (Is Your Estate Plan In Order ?) Well, it has happened again. A couple of years ago I wrote on the lack of a Will, and its consequences, after the sudden death of iconic pop star Prince. With the recent passing of the Queen of Soul,...
“Cellphone Wills – Is This a Good Idea?”
CELLPHONE WILLS – IS THIS A GOOD IDEA? You may have recently read or heard about the decision of the Michigan Court of Appeals issued in mid-July, 2018. It held that a “Final Note” which was found on the decedent’s cellphone did, indeed, constitute a valid...
“Free Mediation at Kent County Friend of the Court”
Free Mediation at Kent County Friend of the Court The Kent County Friend of the Court is now available for walk in Mediation on certain issues. This program is outlined in the attached notice provided by the Kent County Friend of the Court. FOC Walk-In Mediation The...
“Meeting With A Lawyer – What to Expect (And What We Dislike)”
MEETING WITH A LAWYER – WHAT TO EXPECT (AND WHAT WE DISLIKE) When you are in need of legal assistance, whether it be to have some estate planning documents drafted, to defend (or start) a lawsuit, to file for divorce, to deal with a real estate transaction, or some...
“What Not to do during the Divorce Process”
“WHAT NOT TO DO DURING THE DIVORCE PROCESS” In a previous recent Blog, we discussed some of the issues surrounding the sale of the marital residence, refinancing, and that the spouse not receiving the home somehow being able to purchase another home in spite of the...
“Removing the Ex-Spouse from the Mortgage”
“REMOVING THE EX-SPOUSE FROM THE MORTGAGE” A very common problem in concluding a divorce matter is following up on an agreement where one spouse is to “buy out” the other spouse’s interest in the former marital residence. If an agreement as to the amount of payment...