October Brings Bitcoin Rules and Waiver Snapshot Clarity

By Doug Chalgian on September 11, 2022

  The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has given notice of Medicaid policy changes taking effect October 1, 2022.  I’ll comment on two of those changes:...

Read More ›

Beneficiary Can’t Sue Attorney for PRs

By Doug Chalgian on September 8, 2022

Kathryn is one of four co-personal representatives of an estate.  She is also a beneficiary. Kathryn believes that the attorney that represents her and the other co-PRs provided...

Read More ›

COA puts Finer Point on Probate Jurisdiction

By Doug Chalgian on August 17, 2022

  In In Re Guardianship of Ronald William Layton, initial petitions for guardianship and conservatorship are filed alleging that Mr. Layton is cognitively impaired to the extent that...

Read More ›

“Tortious Interference with an Inheritance” Fails in Unpublished Decision

By Doug Chalgian on August 3, 2022

In Biondo v Shellenbarger (click on the name to read the case) Appellants are children cut out by their parents’ wills.  Appellee is the child who received the...

Read More ›

Medicaid Planners Consider Move to Circuit Court

By Doug Chalgian on July 31, 2022

  Over the years I’ve written about many appellate cases which began when an attorney went to court to engage in Medicaid planning.  Almost all of those cases...

Read More ›

Beneficiary Designation Dispute Elevates Contract over Intent

By Doug Chalgian on July 25, 2022

  Omari owned several life insurance policies on his own life.  He established beneficiary designations on those policies, giving the death benefit proceeds to various people.  Later he...

Read More ›

Court Terminates Irrevocable Trust when Circumstances Change

By Doug Chalgian on July 16, 2022

Talonda was injured in a car accident as a child.  An irrevocable Medicaid payback trust (aka “d4A Trust”) was established to hold the funds recovered from a personal...

Read More ›

Federal Preemption Limits Probate Court’s Authority over Social Security Benefits

By Doug Chalgian on June 27, 2022

  This post is about a published opinion which looks whether, and to what extent, a probate court can exercise authority over Social Security benefits paid to a...

Read More ›

Michipremes Do Right in Kermath

By Doug Chalgian on June 17, 2022

I previously posted (even wrote an article) about this case. The story is that Virginia Kermath, a demented elder, got locked out of a care home and froze...

Read More ›

Michipremes Release Von Greiff

By Doug Chalgian on June 11, 2022

  The Michigan Supreme Court has released its long-awaited decision in In Re Estate of Hermann A. Von Greiff (click on the name to read the majority opinion)....

Read More ›

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.