Probate & Estate Administration
ADMINISTERING THE SMALL PROBATE ESTATE – PART I In many cases, after a loved one has passed away, you find that there really are not a whole lot of assets to be dealt with, or “administered”. This could be because the deceased simply was a person of little means;...
Divorce & Family Law, Probate & Estate Administration
What is the Difference Between Marital and Separate Property? Usually we think of marital property as property that is obtained by the couple during the marriage. However, the law in Michigan does not clearly define separate property. Courts typically adopt a rule...
Probate & Estate Administration
Do They Really Read the Will? (Estate Administration) – Part II) In the prior article I addressed the question about reading a Will (it rarely occurs) and spent some time on reviewing the probate process and what usually happens when a probate estate is opened. This...
Probate & Estate Administration
Do They Really Read the Will? (Estate Administration) – Part I Generally, the answer is “no”. On occasion, you will see a movie or television show where someone has passed away and there is a subsequent meeting of the heirs, with the attorney for the deceased. They...
Probate & Estate Administration
Many people defer on doing anything estate planning-wise, as they do not like to think about the prospect of death, particularly their own death. In the end they die “intestate” (without a will), or they may have taken some interim steps to dispose of some of their...
Probate & Estate Administration
Quite often I am asked by clients: What is the difference between a Will and a Trust? They also inquire as to the advantages and disadvantages of each. Below are some of my responses. SIMILARITIES: As a start, let’s take a look at how they are similar. Both a...
