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Should I get a will or trust or both?
Should I get a will or a trust? Its an age old question, and like any good legal question, all it does is lead to more questions. However, the simple answer is that in most cases you should have both. The three main purposes for having a trust are, in no order of importance, 1.) Read More
Planning for families with minor children
If you are a family with minor children, then it is important you have an enforceable will or writing to appoint a guardian and conservator in case something happens to both parents. “Something happens” can mean both parents die or become incapacitated at the same time and are rendered unable to make legal decisions on Read More
Acting Responsibly on Social Media: Right Time, Right Place
Once introduced to technology, kids become addicted. According to a 2012 survey by The Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project, 95% of students have consistent online access and 81% use some kind of social media. As such, social media has had an impact on marketing, communication, advertising, and elementary and secondary classrooms. Vanwynsberghe Read More
Widening the World We Live in
Social networking provides businesses with new avenues for professional development, marketing and communications. Through a marketing and advertising standpoint, the progression of social media sites creates great strategies for the expansion of both small and large businesses. In this day in age, business development and online marketing is required for the success of one’s business. Read More
Debt collection in a nutshell
Debt collection in a nutshell Most of us owe money to people for one reason or another. It may be a mortgage, a car, credit card(s), medical bills, student loans, business loans, federal or state taxes, or any other imaginable form of debt. The terms of repayment are 99% of the time memorialized in some Read More
Government Benefits & Special Needs Trusts
When planning one’s estate, an attorney must analyze whether or not there may be heirs who have special needs and rely on government assistance for support. Such government assistance programs involved in this type of planning are commonly known as Social Security Disability (“SSD”), Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”), Medicare and Medicaid. Below is a brief Read More
Americans face post-foreclosure hell as wages garnished, assets seized
If you or someone you know is in this situation it is important to immediately seek an attorney to understand your rights. You have defenses such as the house was sold for less than fair market value. More importantly, even if you have no defenses, then you can work out a settlement plan to stop Read More
How do I open a probate estate? Miniseries part 3/3
In the last part of our miniseries on opening a probate estate, we will discuss the basics of opening an estate using a “formal” procedure and will include a brief discussion of what supervised estates are. Formal Procedure for Opening an Estate When used in probate court jargon, “Formal” is a bit of a misnomer Read More
Understanding Probate: Is my will a public document?
Is my will a public document? The answer to this question is “yes” and “no”. For guidance we will look to MCL 700.2515: Deposit of will with court in testator’s lifetime. First, one is not required to deposit a will with a court. One might keep their will in a safe deposit box, with an Read More
How do I open a Probate estate? Miniseries part 2/3
Miniseries part 1/3 discussed the basics of testate and intestate estates and some of the basics of unsupervised estates. In summary, if one dies without a valid will, trust or other instrument then one dies “Intestate” in the eyes of the law. Intestate comes from the Latin word “intestato” derived from ancient Roman law meaning Read More
