COA Rescues DIY Deed Drafter

By Doug Chalgian on May 31, 2022

  In this unpublished opinion, a caregiver child adds a parent to the title to her duplex in order to avoid a duplicate garbage fee.  She does so...

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Ademption Doesn’t Apply to Cash Gifts

By Doug Chalgian on April 24, 2022

  You wonder sometimes what people are thinking when they argue cases that seem like obvious losers, and even more so when these cases go up on appeal....

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Kids Face Laches for Failing to Read Mom’s Trust

By Doug Chalgian on April 23, 2021

  Really interesting facts. Important topic. Well thought out opinion. Plus a persuasive dissent. What more do you want from the Michigan Court of Appeals? In In Re...

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On the Brink

By Doug Chalgian on December 9, 2020

NOTE: THE LEGISLATION DISCUSSED BELOW DID NOT MAKE IT OUT OF THE SENATE AND DID NOT BECOME LAW.   Michigan might be on the brink of allowing for...

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Burned by the Boilerplate

By Doug Chalgian on August 2, 2020

A rainy Sunday morning.  No better time to write. And since it appears to be raining pretty much everywhere in Michigan this morning, maybe a longish ramble about...

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ILIT Survives Termination Attempt

By Doug Chalgian on May 17, 2020

[This post involves tax planning concepts and jargon. Some readers might benefit from a refresher on these topics before diving in. I’ve attempted to provide that refresher at...

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Gov Signs Remote Witnessing Order

By Doug Chalgian on April 9, 2020

Yesterday, Governor Whitmer signed an executive order allowing notarial acts and witnessing to be conducted remotely. To read the order click here. Probably the most curious aspect of...

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Six Month Discovery Rule Protects EP Attorney in Malpractice Action

By Doug Chalgian on February 27, 2020

As any estate planning attorney knows, representing both parties to a marriage in the estate planning process is dicey enough; and when it comes to second marriages, especially...

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Promises v Reality in the World of Charitable Giving

By Doug Chalgian on November 22, 2019

It’s not just basketball and football programs that have allowed our largest institutions of higher education to become so wealthy. As development officers at these institutions know, college...

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Expressions of Intent: Admissible but Insufficient

By Doug Chalgian on July 5, 2019

Dad holds family meeting before he dies, and says he wants everything to go equally to his six children. He specifically indicates that this includes all assets controlled...

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Doug Chalgian

About The Author: Doug Chalgian

I am an estate planning, probate litigating, elder law attorney. This is a blog for clients and professional colleagues. In it I offer my ideas about the state of the law and the practice of law. I believe we are living through a unique period during which the law (which is traditionally slow to change) and society are attempting to evolve to address the explosion of people living long lives. I find these developments fascinating and enjoy being involved in this evolution.