Rochester Hills Estate Planning Lawyers

Helping Clients Plan For Their Future in Michigan

Little & Boylan PLLC has over 40 years of experience representing clients in a variety of estate-related matters. Whether you seek to create or examine a will, inquire about a trust in Michigan, or seek a power of attorney document, our lawyers can help.

Schedule a free consultation with us at (248) 809-1402 or online here.

Drafting and Understanding Wills

A will is a legal document that establishes who should receive an individual’s property or care for their children after their death. A person drafting a will should name a personal representative who will ensure that the provisions in the document are carried out after the person’s death. If they do not name a personal representative, the probate court will appoint someone to take on the job. Note that individuals must sign or acknowledge the will in front of two witnesses, and the witnesses must also sign the document.

It is possible to revoke or change a will at any time by making a new will that says it revokes the old will or by burning, tearing, canceling, obliterating, or destroying all or part of the will. Generally, to make changes to a will, it is best to simply revoke it and make a new one. If only very simple changes are required, a person can instead add an amendment to the existing will and finalize it with two witnesses once more.

Note that if two spouses divorce, Michigan law revokes any language in their individual wills that leave property to the other spouse or names the other spouse to be their executor unless it has been specifically stated in their will or divorce decree that divorce should not affect the provisions in the will.

After an individual’s death, anyone who has a copy of their will must deliver it to the probate court in their county of residence. If the deceased person has a child under 18 when they pass, the surviving parent, if any, will likely assume full custody. To learn more about the terms of a will after a person’s death, particularly regarding estates, visit our page on Wills.

Understanding Trusts and Trustees

Trusts are similar to wills in that they deal with a person’s assets and their distribution. Under the Michigan Trust Code (MTC), the capacity required to create or amend a revocable trust is the same as that required to make a will. Note that unless the terms of a trust expressly provide that the trust is irrevocable, the settlor may revoke or amend the trust at any time.

The trustee is the person who holds legal title to property for the beneficiary, and the person who creates the trust is usually called a grantor or settlor. A trustee may be responsible for:

• locating, safeguarding, and inventorying all trust assets, including real estate; personal property, like household items; securities, such as stocks and bonds; bank accounts; life insurance policies; and retirement, profit-sharing, and deferred compensation accounts;
• paying debts, expenses, and costs, as well as settling creditors’ claims;
• keeping records of all transactions and disbursements;
• communicating with and reporting to beneficiaries;
• administering the trust, which may include investing assets;
• distributing assets in accordance with the trust terms.

Michigan also imposes other specific responsibilities like loyalty, impartiality when there is more than one beneficiary, care and prudence in administration, and separation of the trust assets from the trustee’s own assets. Note that a trust document may contain provisions for removing trustees if there has been any violation of a duty owed to beneficiaries, constituting a breach of trust. To learn more about what might happen in such an event, refer to our page on Trusts.

Powers of Attorney

A power of attorney grants an agent the authority to manage a person’s financial affairs. An agent can be any adult or a bank that the person trusts, and an agent can perform a range of duties like signing the individual’s checks, paying their bills, contracting medical services for them, or selling their property. A person can give their agent authority to do anything they could do, or they can limit the agent's authority to only certain things like selling their home. The agent must follow all the person’s instructions and act in their best interest.

Note that a power of attorney is either durable or non-durable, where a durable power of attorney remains in effect when a person is unable to make their own financial decision, and a non-durable power of attorney terminates the moment the principal becomes disabled or incapacitated. However, keep in mind that in both scenarios, the agency relationship is not revoked or terminated until the attorney-in-fact has actual knowledge of the principal’s death.

Contact Us Today

If you are facing estate planning matters, consult an experienced attorney today for legal guidance. Whether you have questions about wills, trusts, or powers of attorney, our team at Little & Boylan PLLC can help. It is best to work with an experienced legal professional on estate-related matters, as they deal with important private assets.

To discuss your estate planning needs, call (248) 809-1402 or reach out online for a free consultation today!