Posts by Estate Planning Partners of Michigan
How Elder Law Planning Helps You Secure Long-Term Care and Financial Stability
Nobody likes thinking about getting older, needing care, or losing independence. We get it. But here is the thing: the families who have those conversations early are the ones who end up with the most options. At Estate Planning Partners of Michigan, we help Michigan families put elder law plans in place before a health…
Read MoreMichigan Estate Planning: Week #3 — Can You Disinherit a Spouse in Michigan? (Elective Share Explained) (Lansing Area Guide)
Across the **Lansing area—including East Lansing, Okemos, Holt, Grand Ledge, DeWitt, St. Johns, and Charlotte—**we frequently hear a version of this question: “Can I leave my spouse out of my will?” The short answer is: 👉 Not the way most people think. Michigan law gives a surviving spouse powerful rights—even if the will says otherwise.…
Read MoreMichigan Estate Planning: Week #2 — Why Banks Reject Power of Attorney Documents (and How to Fix It) (Lansing Area Guide)
If you ask most people in the **Lansing area—including Okemos, Holt, Grand Ledge, DeWitt, and St. Johns—**what a Power of Attorney does, they’ll say: “It lets someone help handle my finances if something happens.” That’s correct—but here’s the part many families don’t realize until it’s too late: 👉 A Power of Attorney only works if…
Read MoreWhat Every Family Needs to Know About Wills, Trusts, and Power of Attorney
Most families know they should have an estate plan, but far fewer actually have one in place. At Estate Planning Partners of Michigan, we hear the same concern from clients again and again: they kept meaning to get around to it. The truth is that wills, trusts, and powers of attorney are not complicated concepts.…
Read MoreWhy Beneficiary Designations Can Accidentally Break Your Estate Plan
One of the most common things we hear from clients in the Lansing area (Ingham County, Eaton County, and Clinton County) is: “I don’t think I need a trust—everything already has a beneficiary.” On the surface, that sounds efficient. After all: And under Michigan law, these types of transfers generally pass outside probate, meaning they…
Read MoreProtecting Your Legacy: A Complete Guide to Estate Planning for Families
If you are approaching retirement or have recently stepped away from your career, now is the time to take a serious look at your estate plan. At Estate Planning Partners of Michigan, we help families build estate plans that protect what they have worked a lifetime to build. Whether you are thinking about a will,…
Read MoreLady Bird Deeds vs. Trusts: Pros, Cons, and When Each Makes Sense (Michigan-Friendly Guide)
Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes and isn’t legal advice. Estate planning is very fact-specific—talk with an estate planning attorney about your goals, your assets, and your family situation before you sign anything. If you’ve started estate planning, you’ve probably heard two common strategies for avoiding probate: a living trust and a Lady Bird deed (also called…
Read MoreWhy If You Have Cryptocurrency, You Need a Trust—Or Risk Probate
Cryptocurrency has changed the way people think about wealth. It offers privacy, independence from traditional financial institutions, and the ability to transfer value anywhere in the world. But with those advantages comes a major estate planning problem that many crypto owners overlook: what happens to your crypto when you pass away? Unlike traditional assets—such as bank…
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