What is Probate? Probate is a legal process in which a decedent's estate is properly distributed to heir and designated beneficiaries and any debt owed to creditors is paid off. For the most part, probate property is something that's distributed according to the decedent's last will and testament, if there is one, or according to [...]
News broke earlier this week that the late Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, had wills written out that were found between her couch cushions. What these wills represent are something called holographic wills. A holographic will is a will, but it ignores some of the formalities that go into putting together a will. Such formalities [...]
It seems like that with each passing day, we learn about a celebrity or famous figure who died without a will. Is it a big deal? The answer depends on the circumstances. When creating an estate plan, you'll be able to control how you want your affairs and life's assets to be taken care of. [...]
How do I probate? A loved one has recently passed away and I'm left without much of an idea as to what should happen next. Please help. When a loved one dies, there are many things to consider. Setting up funeral arrangements and deciding whether to do a burial or cremation are a few [...]
While at a recent party with friends and family, I discovered how many people had misconceptions about the probate process and what a probate attorney can do. Many of the people I spoke with had preconceived notions about what would actually happen to their estate after they pass, such as only needing a piece of [...]
Often times, when people think of attorneys, the word “winning” comes to mind. Attorneys want to be winning cases. Winning leads to client satisfaction. Winning generates more clients. Winning rules all. With that said, while you want an attorney to win for you, you want someone who cares about you as a person too. As [...]
Written by Brandon Thomson A Question, Often Asked Here at The Probate ProSM, we are often asked this question: “If a loved one receives Medicaid benefits, will the State of Michigan take their home?” The answer … it depends. The State of Michigan may recover property from estates of certain deceased Medicaid beneficiaries who have [...]
The Lady Bird Deed is a specific type of deed that has become popular in recent years. The reason for its popularity is simple – it has many benefits. Some of the benefits include the ability to transfer property outside of probate without using a trust and the avoidance of Michigan Medicaid Estate Recovery. What [...]
Michael Franklin is one of the many fantastic attorneys who are part of our team at The Probate ProSM. As an attorney, Michael deals with many cases and is in constant contact with many individuals involved in these cases. We sat down with Michael and heard from him about the work he does every day. [...]
A few weeks ago, we discussed how Luke Perry took steps to protect his family in the event that he passed away. Today, we’ll take a look at another celebrity who passed away last month, that being soap opera television star Kristoff St. John. Originally, it was reported that the Young and the Restless star [...]
