Michigan Estate Planning Lawyer

Wills, Trusts & Asset Protection: We help you create robust estate plans tailored to your needs, such as naming a will executor and trustee. This includes drafting wills and setting up trusts – from revocable living trusts to special needs trusts – to safeguard your assets and provide for loved ones. By funding a revocable trust (sometimes called a “living trust”), you can manage your assets during life and ensure a smoother transfer after death, often avoiding probate court entirely. Our attorneys also prepare durable powers of attorney and advance healthcare directives, so your financial, health, and end-of-life wishes are clearly documented.

Probate & Trust Administration: If you are dealing with the estate of a deceased loved one, we offer compassionate guidance through the probate process and trust administration. Our lead estate attorney, Craig R. Fiederlein, is certified in Probate and Estate Planning by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) in Michigan. We assist personal representatives (executors) and trustees in fulfilling their legal duties, from filing court documents and inventorying assets to distributing inheritances in compliance with Michigan law. Our goal is to make the probate process as smooth and efficient as possible, minimizing delays and ensuring all legal requirements are met. If your loved one’s estate plan includes trusts, we help with trust funding, accounting, and administration so that beneficiaries receive what they’re entitled to with minimal stress.

A well-crafted last will and testament and properly structured trusts form the foundation of a sound estate plan. Our Michigan estate planning attorneys ensure your documents comply with state law and truly reflect your wishes.

Contested Wills & Estate Litigation: In some cases, disputes can arise among family members or beneficiaries over a will or trust. Our team is prepared to advocate for you in probate court if litigation becomes necessary. With nearly 30 years of experience, Attorney Craig Fiederlein has successfully litigated complex estate and trust disputes – including recovering over $1 million for a client in a contested trust case. We handle will contests, trust contests, claims of undue influence or lack of capacity, and contested guardianship or conservatorship matters. You can rest assured that our attorneys’ extensive litigation experience and high level of skill in Michigan’s probate courts will be put to work to protect your rights and your loved one’s legacy. Our philosophy is to resolve conflicts efficiently and fairly, striving for settlements when possible but ready to fight in court when necessary.

Emotions can run high when there are ambiguities or conflicts in an estate plan. Our firm has the litigation experience from over 1,000+ cases to handle contested wills or trusts, protecting your interests and striving for a fair resolution in court.

Minimizing Taxes & Protecting Assets: A key part of estate planning is preserving your wealth by reducing taxes and expenses. We employ strategies to lawfully minimize estate taxes, probate costs, and other expenses that could erode your estate’s value. (Michigan has no state estate tax, but high-net-worth individuals may still face federal estate tax if their estate exceeds the federal exemption.) Our lawyers advise on federal estate tax planning, such as making full use of the unlimited marital deduction and lifetime gift tax exemptions, so that more of your assets pass to your heirs instead of to the IRS. We can also implement asset protection techniques – like irrevocable trusts or limited liability entities – to shield your property from potential creditors or nursing home costs, when appropriate. Every estate plan is designed with an eye toward efficiency: avoiding unnecessary court proceedings and taking advantage of legal tools to save your estate money in the long run.

Guardianships & Elder Law Planning: In addition to traditional estate planning, our firm assists with elder law matters to protect seniors and vulnerable adults. If you need to establish a guardianship or conservatorship for an aging parent or a family member with special needs, we handle the court process to appoint a responsible guardian or conservator. We also offer long-term care and Medicaid planning – helping you structure assets and income to qualify for Medicaid benefits without needlessly depleting your life savings. In fact, Medicaid planning is centered around using legal strategies to protect assets while ensuring eligibility for essential long-term care benefits. We can explain options like Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts, gifting strategies, and spend-down plans to preserve as much of your estate as possible while obtaining the care you or your loved one needs. By taking proactive steps, you can safeguard your family’s finances and ensure access to quality healthcare and nursing home care when necessary. Our holistic approach means your estate plan will also address these important elder care considerations, giving you and your family greater security for the future.

Business Succession Planning: If you are a business owner, an estate plan isn’t complete without a succession plan for your company. We help entrepreneurs and family businesses in Michigan develop clear, legally sound strategies for transferring ownership and management of the business when the time comes. Our attorneys have a strong background in business and real estate law, so we understand the unique challenges business owners face and will ensure your estate plan aligns with your professional and financial goals.