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A trust for the care of a designated domestic or pet animal is valid in Michigan. The trust terminates when no living animal is covered by the trust. The trust will be liberally construed by the probate court to carry out the general intent of the tr… Read More

Statutory Priority for Appointment: 1. Person, or persons, nominated as Personal Representative in the will. 2. If there is a will, the decedent’s surviving spouse if he/she is a devisee. 3. If there is a will, other devisees. 4. Surviving spou… Read More

Studies show that only 30% of all Americans have a Last Will and Testament in place. Even less have set up a power of attorney or patient advocate designation. Why don't the vast majority of Americans have an Read More

Originally published in WealthCounsel Newsletter July 2013 The boomers are coming! That’s the gist of the many reports and news stories that have been published in the last few years. It seems that every week there are at least a few new stories wh… Read More

Even in death, Michael Jackson remains controversial. Jackson’s estate is still battling with the IRS, almost five years after The King of Pop’s death. Read an excerpt from the Forbes articles below: “It’s possible that the legacy… Read More

One question always asked at the seminars I give on living trusts and estate planning is: “How much does ‘it’ cost?” In a sense that question qualifies as an “oxymoron, meaning a phrase which is incongruous (not consistent with what is logi… Read More

How to Make a Family Meeting a Successful Part of the Estate Planning Process You’ve made the hard decisions, your documents are signed, your trust is funded, a business succession plan is in place. Congratulations, you’ve finished your estate pl… Read More

Check out this recent New York Times article, exploring the dispute over an heiresses’ $300 million dollar fortune. Does the family or the medical staff deserve the fortune? Click the link below. The New York Times–The Two Wills of the He… Read More