One of the most important decisions when drafting a trust is deciding who will serve as the successor trustee, which is the person or institution who takes over management of the trust when the trustor (the creator of the trust) has died or has becom…
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Estate Planning: Cottage Succession Plans According to Travel & Leisure, Michigan ranks as one of the top states to own a vacation home. While many families have undoubtedly made memories along the fresh-water shores and wooded trails, what happe…
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As a personal representative of an estate, it is your responsibility to carry out the wishes and manage the estate of the decedent as outlined in his or her will. This often includes administering the decedent’s digital assets. But, what is a digit…
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Estate planning is important for everyone, but it is especially vital for a person living with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or a similar disease. A newly diagnosed individual should finalize their estate plan right away so that he or she can fully engage…
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A new Michigan law amends the Revised Judicature Act to authorize an additional judge for the Macomb County Probate Court beginning Jan. 1, 2025. Currently the county has two probate judges. The addition of a third probate judgeship would be subject…
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The Uniform Power of Attorney Act (UPOAA) provides uniformity when exercising powers of attorney, especially for people who move to another state after creating the document. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently signed the UPOAA into law. The Act repeals s…
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A judge overseeing a dispute surrounding the estate of the late singer Aretha Franklin has awarded her sons ownership of her homes. Earlier this year a jury decided that one of Franklin’s handwritten wills was valid. The singer left multiple handwr…
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Estate planning isn’t just for older adults. Estate planning benefits people of all ages and income levels, even teenagers with limited assets. Below are some of the reasons why each generation benefits from estate planning. Why would Generation Z…
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According to a 2023 Caring.com study, two out of every three Americans do not have any type of estate planning document in place. Some of the reasons people avoid creating essential estate planning documents include inflation and the cost of creating…
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A jury recently decided that Aretha Franklin’s 2014 handwritten will, which was found stuffed in her couch, is a legal document. A dispute involving the validity of the will, which turned Franklin’s family against each other, serves as a reminder…
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