Winnings from gambling of any kind are fully taxable under federal law. Gambling income includes, but is not limited to, winnings from lotteries, casino, raffles, sweepstakes, horse races and other sports betting. The taxable value is generally the cash winnings...
Month: July 2018
Michigan’s Expungement Statute: Can I Set Aside My Criminal Convictions?
There are strict rules regarding eligibility for setting aside certain criminal convictions (also known as "expungement"). However, if qualified, the ability to remove a misdemeanor or felony from your criminal record can create personal or professional opportunities...
The Right To Grandparenting Time In Michigan: Legal Requirements and Procedure
The Michigan Legislature passed the first version of the grandparenting visitation statute in 1982 which granted standing for grandparents to petition the circuit court for potential court-ordered visitation of their grandchildren. By 1999, all fifty states had a...
Pet Trusts In Michigan: Providing Care For Your Animal Friends When You’re Gone
When you write a will, you have the freedom to leave a bequest or legacy to any person you choose. However, you cannot legally leave a bequest to an animal. No matter how much that treasured dog or cat is a member of your immediate family, Michigan law treats pets as...
The Federal Gift Tax Return: Who Files and Who Pays?
The Internal Revenue Code imposes a federal gift tax on any transfer by gift of real or personal property, whether tangible or intangible, on the donor of the property, not the recipient. As a result, the donor may have to file Form 709 - Gift Tax Return to report the...
What Are The Penalties And Defenses To Domestic Violence Charges In Michigan?
The crime of domestic violence is a very serious offense with tough penalties in the State of Michigan. The classic scenario most people envision is an angry or drunk husband violently striking his wife, but the applications of this offense are actually much...
What Are Grounds To Remove A Personal Representative In Michigan?
The position of personal representative is a fiduciary position of great trust and responsibility. It is also an office that one can be stripped of by the probate court if they fail to act with care as to the estate's assets or do not comply with their statutory...
U.S. Supreme Court Rules Law Enforcement Needs Search Warrant To Acquire Cellphone Location Records
On June 22nd, 2018, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Carpenter v. United States, 585 U.S. ___ (2018) that the government's acquisition of cell-site records was a search within the definition of the Fourth Amendment and, therefore, the warrantless acquisition...
