A conservator in Michigan has the authority to manage the protected person's estate. This can be a misleading phrase because the protected person is still alive so there is not an estate in the classic sense that someone died and property must be administered and...
Wills, Trusts And Estates
Is An Out-Of-State Last Will And Testament Valid In Michigan?
In the mobile society that we live in, it is becoming increasingly rare to live in one place for very long. Sometimes, our adventures don't just limit us to moving between different states but also different countries. If you come to live in Michigan from other...
How Do Michigan Probate Courts Handle Disputed Property Ownership In Estate Administration?
Whether or not an item of personal property belongs to a decedent's estate is not always an easy determination. When it comes to real property or a vehicle, it is easy to determine legal ownership by simply looking at the title or deed (assuming that the real estate...
Does The Obligation To Pay Child Support Continue After Death In Michigan?
In many cases when parents are either divorced or legally separated, there is an obligation for the non-custodial parent (or joint-custodial parent with higher income) to pay child support to the custodial parent (or joint-custodial parent with lower income) for the...
Can You Sue A Deceased Person In Michigan?
Consider the following scenario: a wealthy socialite crashes his luxury car into a family sedan driven by a couple and their two young children. The socialite blew through a stop sign and was clearly at-fault, but it resulted in severe and permanent injuries to the...
Can My Revocable Living Trust Shield My Assets From Creditors?
A revocable living trust is a very useful estate planning tool that can help your beneficiaries avoid the expense and inconvenience of probate. Essentially, a grantor creates a legal document that authorizes the trustee to hold legal title to and manage his or her...
Can I Disinherit My Child In Michigan?
There are many reasons why someone would want to disinherit their child in his or her will. Perhaps the parent disapproved of a life choice of the child such as marrying the wrong person or entering the wrong profession. Perhaps the child committed an unforgivable act...
U.S. Supreme Court Sets Limits On State’s Power To Tax A Trust
On June 21st, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court released its unanimous opinion in North Carolina Department of Revenue v. The Kimberley Rice Kaestner 1992 Family Trust, No. 18-457, 586 U.S. ___ (2019), holding that the presence of in-state beneficiaries alone did not...
What Are The Inheritance Rights Of The Second Spouse If The Will Left Everything To The First Spouse?
Picture this scenario that could come up in estate administration. A testator creates a last will and testament that leaves his entire estate to his first wife. Many years later, the testator divorces the first wife and subsequently marries his second wife. The...
What Happens If You Die Without Any Heirs In Michigan?
A recurring plot in books, film or television is the story of the childless bachelor billionaire who dies and his vast wealth is inherited by a distant relative who probably had no idea he or she was related to the billionaire in the first place. Adam Sandler plays a...
