Wills, Trusts And Estates

  A last will and testament can take many forms whether it is typed and prepared by the testator or drafted by an attorney.  At a minimum, a will is valid in Michigan only if it has all of the following: It must be in writing. MCL 700.2502(1)(a). It must be...

  A self-proving will is a last will and testament that is acknowledged by the testator and two witnesses simultaneously before a notary public authorized to take oaths in the State of Michigan.  The benefit of a self-proving will is that there is no need to...

  Heath Ledger was an Australian actor who was famous for starring in well-known films such as 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), The Patriot (2000), A Knight’s Tale (2001) and Brokeback Mountain (2005).  He was particularly lauded for his performance as the...

  In Michigan, a valid last will and testament requires all of the following: It must be in writing. MCL 700.2502(1)(a). It must be signed by the testator or in the testator’s name by some other individual in the testator’s conscious presence and by the...

  If someone dies without a last will and testament in Michigan, then the distribution of his or her estate is determined by Michigan’s intestate laws.  The Estates and Protected Individuals Code sets out the list of individuals that would inherit if someone dies...

  Chadwick Boseman was an actor that rose to international fame by portraying the superhero Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, beginning with the film Captain America: Civil War in 2016 and concluded with Avengers: Endgame in 2019.  Unfortunately,...

  Many remarriages with children create a host of new relationships between everyone involved: stepmothers, stepfathers, stepchildren, step-siblings, step-grandparents, etc.  Over 4 million children in the United States live in a household with a stepparent. ...

  In Michigan, the Estates and Protected Individuals Code determines the inheritance rights of adopted children.  What are the rights of adopted children to inherit from their adoptive parents?  Do adopted children retain any rights to inherit from their...

  Generally, a valid last will and testament in Michigan requires all of the following: It must be in writing. MCL 700.2502(1)(a). It must be signed by the testator or in the testator’s name by some other individual in the testator’s conscious presence and by the...