Detroit's Leading Attorney for Estate Planning, Estate Administration and Probate Law
No matter your net worth, it's important to have a basic estate plan in place.
Without proper planning, property will often pass in a way that is different
from what the owner would have wanted, or in a way that is unduly expensive.
As your attorney, Alexander Law Associates of West Bloomfield, MI will provide your family with the legal expertise and personal attention in all matters relating to probate law, estate planning and administration of estates and trusts.
Without proper planning, property will often pass in a way that is different
from what the owner would have wanted, or in a way that is unduly expensive.
As your attorney, Alexander Law Associates of West Bloomfield, MI will provide your family with the legal expertise and personal attention in all matters relating to probate law, estate planning and administration of estates and trusts.
Acting as your estate planning attorney, our estate and probate legal services include:
- Drafting Wills.
- Establishing powers of attorney so that family or guardians can provide appropriate medical care and financial management in accordance with your instructions.
- Estate planning to include a Trust (revocable and irrevocable).
- Custom, personalized estate planning taking into account probate avoidance and the reduction/elimination of estate taxes.
- Estate Tax planning.
- Assisting executors, trustees and personal representatives in administering a decedent's estate and trust.
- Preparation of trust instruments and related documents.
- Business succession planning.
- Conservatorship and guardian matters.
- Wealth transfer devices (family limited partnerships and intra-family sales).
- Estate planning concerning disability and documents to delegate health care decision.
- Life insurance planning.
- Asset protection in estate planning.
- Will contests/protests.
Call Today (248) 865-2500
Understanding Estate Planning Services in Michigan
Whether you live in West Bloomfield, Novi, Northville, Royal Oak, Detroit or among the Downriver communities, working with an attorney for estate planning is ultimately the same process - though highly customized to meet your needs. Our specialized attorneys will personally meet with you, answer your questions and develop the right estate plan for you.
What is Estate Planning?
Estate planning is a means by which you actively plan for the future of your loved ones and the transfer of your estate assets once you pass away. It also involves planning for the care and use of your assets in the event of your mental incapacity. Your estate includes everything - all the liquid and tangible assets you own such as cash, clothes, jewelry, property, vehicles, homes, retirement and investment accounts, savings, etc. Estate planning involves wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, powers of appointment, property ownership, gifts, and powers of attorney - specifically the durable financial power of attorney and the durable medical power of attorney.
The goal of estate planning focuses on transferring the control of all property to a your beneficiaries to eliminate uncertainties regarding the disposal of your assets, to maximize the value of your assets by reducing taxes and other expenses, handle transfers of business ownership and legal business issues, and to establish trusted guardians for your minor children.
Many people don’t’ realize that your estate assets are comprised of all the liquid and tangible assets you own such as cash, clothes, furniture, collectibles, jewelry, real estate, vehicles, homes, retirement and investment accounts, bank accounts, life insurance, jointly owned assets, and more.
Through this process, an estate planning lawyer reviews a number of important items with you.
The following are typical estate plan documents that can be used together or individually:
Wills - Your will is a legal document that lays out the transfer and disbursement of your property upon your death. A will must go through probate to be administered.
Trusts - A trust is a private legal document arrangement where you entrust your property to an individual or an organization, referred to as the “trustee”. It is the trustee’s responsibility of managing manage the property on behalf of your beneficiary or beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of your trust.
Durable Power of Attorney: With a durable power of attorney, you choose who will stand in your shoes to manage your personal and financial affairs when you no longer can, and you can define their authority and limitations. Your durable power of attorney gives a person or organization, referred to as your “agent”, legal power to handle your financial affairs if you become unable to do so due to incapacity or disability. It also avoids the necessity of probate guardian and conservatorship proceedings. This could be a medical or financial power of attorney.
Medical Power of Attorney or Patient Advocate – Healthcare Directive: Through this document, you can appoint an individual to make medical decisions on your behalf in the event you become incapacitated or disabled and can no longer express your preferences or make decisions for yourself. With a medical directive, you can ensure that your preferences are made known to your doctors and loved ones by designating your desires regarding medical treatment, undesirable medical procedures and/or life support.
Whether you live in West Bloomfield, Novi, Northville, Royal Oak, Detroit or among the Downriver communities, working with an attorney for estate planning is ultimately the same process - though highly customized to meet your needs. Our specialized attorneys will personally meet with you, answer your questions and develop the right estate plan for you.
What is Estate Planning?
Estate planning is a means by which you actively plan for the future of your loved ones and the transfer of your estate assets once you pass away. It also involves planning for the care and use of your assets in the event of your mental incapacity. Your estate includes everything - all the liquid and tangible assets you own such as cash, clothes, jewelry, property, vehicles, homes, retirement and investment accounts, savings, etc. Estate planning involves wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, powers of appointment, property ownership, gifts, and powers of attorney - specifically the durable financial power of attorney and the durable medical power of attorney.
The goal of estate planning focuses on transferring the control of all property to a your beneficiaries to eliminate uncertainties regarding the disposal of your assets, to maximize the value of your assets by reducing taxes and other expenses, handle transfers of business ownership and legal business issues, and to establish trusted guardians for your minor children.
Many people don’t’ realize that your estate assets are comprised of all the liquid and tangible assets you own such as cash, clothes, furniture, collectibles, jewelry, real estate, vehicles, homes, retirement and investment accounts, bank accounts, life insurance, jointly owned assets, and more.
Through this process, an estate planning lawyer reviews a number of important items with you.
The following are typical estate plan documents that can be used together or individually:
Wills - Your will is a legal document that lays out the transfer and disbursement of your property upon your death. A will must go through probate to be administered.
Trusts - A trust is a private legal document arrangement where you entrust your property to an individual or an organization, referred to as the “trustee”. It is the trustee’s responsibility of managing manage the property on behalf of your beneficiary or beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of your trust.
Durable Power of Attorney: With a durable power of attorney, you choose who will stand in your shoes to manage your personal and financial affairs when you no longer can, and you can define their authority and limitations. Your durable power of attorney gives a person or organization, referred to as your “agent”, legal power to handle your financial affairs if you become unable to do so due to incapacity or disability. It also avoids the necessity of probate guardian and conservatorship proceedings. This could be a medical or financial power of attorney.
Medical Power of Attorney or Patient Advocate – Healthcare Directive: Through this document, you can appoint an individual to make medical decisions on your behalf in the event you become incapacitated or disabled and can no longer express your preferences or make decisions for yourself. With a medical directive, you can ensure that your preferences are made known to your doctors and loved ones by designating your desires regarding medical treatment, undesirable medical procedures and/or life support.
Benefits of Early Estate Planning
A properly drafted estate plan allows you to designate someone you trust to manage your affairs and is done while you are in good health. If you never create an estate plan, or create one while sick and under emotional and mental stress due to illness, the 'soundness' of your estate plan (as well as the control of your estate) could be disputed.
Start Planning for the Future Before it's Too Late - Contact Us Today
(248) 865-2500
Working with a Michigan Probate Attorney in the Death of a Loved One
The probate process can be complicated and your family will be faced with a number of legal requirements including petitions, inventories and accountings. In addition, the individual or persons acting as Executor may be required to present a last will and testament. Without a will or named executor the court will be forced to appoint an estate administrator. Depending on some situations, estate assets may need to be sold, taxes returns may have to be filed, negotiations made with creditors and other items distributed in a timely manner to beneficiaries.
In any instance where you're dealing with the death of a loved one it's important to work with a compassionate, knowledgeable probate lawyer in Michigan. Our probate law services include:
A properly drafted estate plan allows you to designate someone you trust to manage your affairs and is done while you are in good health. If you never create an estate plan, or create one while sick and under emotional and mental stress due to illness, the 'soundness' of your estate plan (as well as the control of your estate) could be disputed.
- An estate plan protects inherited assets from lawsuits, creditors, divorce and other claims.
- Proper estate plans allow your real estate and other property to pass to beneficiaries without the long and costly process of probate.
- Properly drafted estate plans can minimize or eliminate estate, income and capital gain taxes.
- Estate plans can protect the inheritance of your children should your spouse get remarried after death to someone else who already has children, meaning step-children cannot have claim to your estate.
- An estate plan can designate how inheritance is spent to help inexperienced beneficiaries manage their inheritance.
- Properly planned estates provide for special needs beneficiaries by ensuring they can receive inheritance without losing government assistance.
- As your estate planning attorney, we work with you to make sure that your assets are distributed in accordance with your wishes after death.
Start Planning for the Future Before it's Too Late - Contact Us Today
(248) 865-2500
Working with a Michigan Probate Attorney in the Death of a Loved One
The probate process can be complicated and your family will be faced with a number of legal requirements including petitions, inventories and accountings. In addition, the individual or persons acting as Executor may be required to present a last will and testament. Without a will or named executor the court will be forced to appoint an estate administrator. Depending on some situations, estate assets may need to be sold, taxes returns may have to be filed, negotiations made with creditors and other items distributed in a timely manner to beneficiaries.
In any instance where you're dealing with the death of a loved one it's important to work with a compassionate, knowledgeable probate lawyer in Michigan. Our probate law services include:
- Gathering information about the estate or guardianship you are servicing.
- Counseling you regarding your legal responsibilities as the appointed representative, conservator or guardian (fiduciary).
- Preparation of pleadings, accounts and inventories with respect to the administration of a decedent's estate, guardianships and conservatorships.
- Advising you with regard to spousal elections, family allowances, and tax matters that typically arise during administration of an estate.
- Accompanying you to court appearances and hearings.
Trust your Estate to an Experienced Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Lawyer
Alexander Law Associates specializes in estate planning needs including wills, trusts, health care proxies and durable power of attorneys. Unlike other Estate planning lawyers in Michigan, however, we also guide families through - and educate you on - the entire probate process when a loved one passes.
When you're facing the complicated and confusing decisions that arise during traumatic and stressful times such as the death of a family member, it is always our goal to provide affordable, personable, efficient and compassionate legal services to make this process as simple as possible.
Our estate planning attorneys and probate lawyer services are available in (but not limited to) the following areas and surrounding communities of Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, Livingston and Wayne County.
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Attorneys at
Alexander Law Associates, PLLC are available to assist you with the estate
paperwork and court appearances as needed. Let us help you protect your family,
wealth, property, and assets.
Email Us or Call Today (248) 865-2500
We Appreciate Referrals:
Many new clients are referred by existing clients. You can be certain that everyone you refer to us will receive the same high standard of service and professional representations you received.
Email Us or Call Today (248) 865-2500
We Appreciate Referrals:
Many new clients are referred by existing clients. You can be certain that everyone you refer to us will receive the same high standard of service and professional representations you received.
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The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this or associated pages, documents, comments, answers, emails, or other communications should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. The receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute an attorney-client relationship.