Will & Trust

Back in the day, when I started practicing law, clients would often come in with the notion that they needed a “quitclaim” deed (or “quick claim” deed as some would call...

A new policy from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will make it harder for people seeking assistance with nursing home costs to “spend down” on household...

The way I see it, people often struggle to find the right lawyer for their cases. Over the years, I have been involved in many cases in which more than one party is represented by an attorney. Not infrequently, I look across the table and wonder how this person ended up with that lawyer. Often what I learn is that…

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One of the more frequent conversations I have with clients these days comes up with people who are considering starting a lawsuit. Because of the nature of my practice, the type of lawsuit we are discussing would typically involve things such as: contests about…

For those who follow the “estate recovery” saga, you may be interested to know that there are two cases currently pending in the Court of Appeals. In Re Estate of Violet...

what could go wrong with your living trust

When asked about an estate plan, clients often say: “We’re all set, we have a living trust.” And that’s good. Often having a living trust (a.k.a. revocable trust) suggests that (more…)

Judge Barkey of Genesee County Probate Court recently issued an opinion in an estate recovery case. The case was handled by our office, Chalgian and Tripp Law Offices,...

A holographic will is a will that a person writes out in their own hand – and signs and dates. If this is done, the usual requirements that the will be witnessed do not...

It’s over – at least for now. The Mortimore case. This is a case I have spoken and written about quite a bit for the past year. Common facts: Older gentleman. His wife...

Is Your "Living Trust" Alive, or Barely Breathing?

I often tell clients that estate planning is about two things: (1) What happens to your stuff when you die; and (2) who can make decisions for you if you are alive and can’t make decisions for yourself…

There’s a case I read a couple years ago that bothers me and that I’ve been wanting to comment on it since. It is an unpublished decision in which the trial court held that...

You’ve got to love William Shakespeare, the ultimate Renaissance man offered insight into pretty much every aspect of the human condition. Estate Planning is no different. ...

It is a curious reality of probate litigation that the qualities common to people who create wealth are also qualities of people who create family dysfunction. What I see is that...

Within a couple weeks of oral arguments, we received a published opinion in the General Perry terror clause case that has been discussed in this blog before (really fast...

The topic for this post was triggered by my end of year clean up. During that process, I go through piles of things I think are interesting and have set aside. In doing so I...

Category: Will & Trust

DIY DEEDS (DONE DIRT CHEAP)

Medicaid Hunts Household Items

Finding the Right Lawyer

Starting a Lawsuit in the Real World

Estate Recovery in the Court of Appeals

What Could Go Wrong with Your Living Trust?

Estate Recovery Cases Continue

The Always Interesting Holographic Will | What is a Holographic Will?

Rebutting Presumption of Undue Influence

Is Your “Living Trust” Alive, or Barely Breathing?

Why the Lucid Moment Needs to End

Everything I Know About Estate Planning I Learned From Shakespeare

Family Dysfunction Part V: The Wake of the High Achiever

General Perry’s Terror Clause: Final Chapter (I think)

Case Trends and Technical Formalities