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Ann Arbor - Washtenaw
(734) 994-3000
Bloomfield Hills - Oakland
(248) 594-5776
Brighton - Livingston
(810) 227-3800
Estate Planning is an important step in planning for the unexpected; protecting yourself, your loved ones, and your assets; and preserving your legacy. For most people, estate planning does not have to be too complex or too costly to adequately prepare for your future, but it is important to consult with a professional to make sure it is done properly and will achieve the goals you desire.
Our law firm helps individuals and families near Ann Arbor and surrounding communities with estate planning services. Our experienced lawyers can help with wills, trusts, probate, durable power of attorney, deeds and elder mediation.
Do you or your family need help with estate planning in Michigan? Contact our experienced wills, trusts and probate attorney, Mara Kent. Call (734) 994-3000 or email marakent@nsssb.com.
An estate plan should be part of your or your family’s overall financial plan, like saving for your retirement or a child’s college tuition, or investing your financial assets. A good estate plan will not only consider what happens to your assets when you die, but it will also consider what happens to you, your finances, and your property while you are alive but incapacitated due to accident, injury, or illness. If you have minor children, planning for their future will help a court to decide where your children will live and who will make important decisions about their money, education, and way of life. Our attorneys can assist you in making these important decisions in a simple, easy-to-understand way that protects you and future generations of your family.
It’s never too late to plan for your future, but the earlier you plan, the less risk you have for being unprepared when life takes an unexpected turn. Our experienced estate planning attorneys can help you understand what documents you may need, how to best protect yourself and your children, and whether you should update any estate planning documents you already have.
With pre-made estate planning documents readily available on the internet, it’s only natural to wonder why you should consult with an attorney for your estate plan. However, estate planning is serious business, which can also have serious legal consequences. It’s important to fully understand the purpose of each document, the nuances that accompany different types of language in each document, and the consequences for signing any legal document. Every word, sentence, clause, and yes, even punctuation mark, can have significant legal consequences. One missing word or signature can invalidate a document or change your intent.
Consulting with an attorney can still be affordable, and it can save your family from the very real, sad, and often-times even more costly realization that the estate planning document you downloaded will not work as you planned. Our attorneys have seen far too many documents, many downloaded from the internet or drafted by inexperienced attorneys, which have not only been improperly executed or worded, but which have cost our clients more in legal fees to defend or correct than it would have cost to have them done properly in the first instance. Our experienced attorneys know the pitfalls to avoid, the added language needed to protect you and your loved ones, and the legal requirements necessary to ensure that your customized plan is properly executed.
Consider the following reasons for consulting one of our estate planning attorneys:
Probate is the process a court uses to supervise a deceased person’s estate. At times, it can be costly and time-consuming, so many people consult with an estate planning attorney to try to avoid the probate process. A common misconception is that if you have a will, you can avoid the probate process. However, while there are several ways to avoid probate, merely having a will is not one of them. Our attorneys can discuss with you the various and often free or inexpensive ways that you can avoid probate for many of your assets.
The short answer is: maybe. For many estates, you may be able to save your loved ones from the expense, time, and headaches that probate can cause by establishing a solid estate plan designed to avoid probate. But there are always exceptions to the rule. For a few people, their probate assets may be small enough that a unique procedure for small estates can be used that is quicker and easier than typical probate. Additionally, some assets may be easily handled through the probate process, while others may not. Thus, it is important to consult with someone who is knowledgeable about the subject of probate law to help guide you through the considerations.
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