Grand Traverse County Michigan Divorce and Estate Planning Blog
Why updating your estate plan is important during divorce
If you’re divorcing, updating your estate plan may be the last thing on your mind. Yet, failing to do so can lead to repercussions in the long run. By making crucial changes, you can save your assets from falling into your spouse's hands. Beneficiary designation...
Don’t overlook residential real estate trends
Recent events may have complicated the ability of real estate analysts to accurately predict trends. Nevertheless, it may still be important for those involved in residential real estate development to be aware of the trends many experts expected to see throughout the...
Probate litigation for will contests
The purpose of a will is to clarify how the estate owner wishes to distribute the assets in the estate after his or her death. Testators, those who write wills, must comply with Michigan laws for executing wills, but generally they can distribute the estate as they...
Property division begins long before divorce
Marriages aren’t the same as they were in previous generations. More millennials who marry have already completed their education, established their own careers and even purchased property. When they marry, they may keep some aspects of their lives separate. It is not...
The risks of online estate planning
Life is fragile, and in uncertain times, some may realize the importance of planning for the future. This may include building an estate plan that will provide protection for loved ones at the end of a person’s life. While understanding the urgency of creating such a...
5 steps for creating an estate plan
Estate planning becomes a necessity as we grow older. We begin to worry about our assets and ensuring all our affairs are in order in the case of illness or death. Without an estate plan, you may have trouble passing assets onto your heirs. You may also have trouble...
Private messages are not off limits in divorce
By now, many in Michigan may understand that their social media activity can have unintended consequences during a divorce proceeding. Negative posts, compromising pictures and incriminating activity may have a detrimental effect on a spouse’s efforts to win child...
Condo deconversions are the new real estate trend
Sometimes it can be a delicate balancing act to keep up with ever-changing trends. Real estate is no different. One example is the practice of purchasing apartment buildings and converting them into condos, which was popular in the past decade or so. More recently in...
Is probate litigation reasonable if omitted from a will?
When a loved one passes away and leaves a child or other presumed heir out of the will, it can feel like a betrayal. Even if the child had been estranged from the family or in a disagreement with the deceased, he or she may still feel entitled to a share of the...
Establishing child guardianship in an estate plan
When you draft your estate plan, you need to consider the worst-case scenarios when it comes to your children’s welfare. Establishing guardianship is one of the most challenging considerations for a parent or couple making their estate plans. You want to choose...
