Generally, a Special Needs Trust is a very specific trust that can be beneficial to those receiving government benefits because of special needs. Most commonly in this category is Medicaid and SSI. To receive government benefits such as Medicaid and SSI, an individual must have limited assets and income. A Special Needs Trust is [...]
Congratulations to our very own Amy Peterman and Andrew Lorelli. Each recently won an important litigation case for their client in the Probate Court. Amy Peterman assisted her client in establishing the client's heirship to her deceased father who passed intestate (without a will). The personal representative for the decedent, one of his other daughters, [...]
Did you make any resolutions this year? Just 3 weeks in, how are you doing so far? Studies have shown that less than 25% of people actually stay committed to their resolutions after just 30 days, and even fewer actually accomplish them. Credit Forbes. Even if you've already given up on your resolutions, or if [...]
Many people with children give a great deal of consideration as to who will take care of them if something were to happen to both parents. But what about the furry members of our families? Without a written, clearly defined plan, your pets could end up in a shelter or euthanized. That’s why it is [...]
New Veterans Administration Rules Released in 2018 The new rules will impact the needs-based benefits for veterans and surviving spouses. Clarification of commonly confusing areas like evaluating net worth, asset transfers, and income exclusions were the focus of the new rules. The Veterans Administration Final Rule, as it’s being called, created a new net worth [...]
Conservator Appointment in Michigan Unfortunately, there are times when a person is not able to manage their own financial affairs. If the person has failed to adequately plan with a Power of Attorney, a person, called a “conservator” can be appointed by the probate court in which the individual resides. Upon the filing of a [...]
Why should an estate plan be top-of-mind for millennials? The truth is, we cannot predict the future. We don’t know when our time will come. Terrible accidents happen all the time. What we do know is what a mess you could potentially be leaving behind if you do not have a will. As millennials begin [...]
Different documents have different amounts of time that they should be kept. Tax returns, home sale documents, estate documents, and a death certificate are just some of the things that you might have left after the passing of a loved one. A general rule for keeping documents is to keep them for 7 years after [...]
Family Disputes Over Estates Happen Too Often Feuding over the estate of a loved one is a surefire way to cause separation within a family. Even within my own family there have been many arguments concerning assets that belonged to my grandfather. Not having a will or an estate plan can leave things messy, and [...]
Aretha Franklin - Queen of Soul We learned recently that Aretha Franklin, the late Detroit native and Queen of Soul to millions of her fans around the world, has died without a will. News reports to this effect broke early last week, causing many to wonder how this will affect the vast wealth she accumulated [...]
