Keating Law Blog

Blended families face certain challenges that most traditional families do not encounter, and it is essential to recognize these differences to develop an effective estate plan. Estate planning for blended families requires careful consideration of each person’s needs and how they align with your overall goals. A well-thought-out estate plan should treat every family member fairly and distribute assets according to your wishes. You should openly discuss your plan with all family members to prevent misunderstandings and conflicts after your passing.

Wills and Trusts

Wills and trusts are useful estate planning tools for blended families.

When planning for the future, one of the best ways to ensure your loved ones are taken care of is by setting up a trust. But with all the different types of trusts, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. Whether you’re hoping to protect your assets, make sure your kids are provided for, or leave a charitable gift, understanding the different types of trusts can help you make the best choice for your situation.

Although you aren’t required by law to hire an attorney to assist you with the estate planning process, you should strongly consider doing so. The reason for this is simple: attempting to navigate the estate planning process by yourself can do more harm than good. In fact, a single misstep during the process can have major negative consequences for you and your loved ones.
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Most people are familiar with at least some of the benefits of estate planning. For example, with an estate plan, you can determine who will inherit your assets after you pass away and help your loved ones avoid the probate process. Lesser known, however, is the ability of an estate plan to address incapacity.
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One of the biggest misconceptions about estate planning is that it is only for the rich. Nothing could be further from the truth. Estate planning offers multiple advantages, even to people who have few assets. In other words, estate planning is for everyone. In this article, we examine four reasons that estate planning isn’t just for the rich.
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Estate planning is an effective way to pass along one’s assets with minimal court involvement. One particularly effective estate planning tool is the living trust. Whether you should include a living trust in your estate plan depends on your unique circumstances and needs. However, regardless of whether you ultimately decide to include one in your estate plan, understanding the pros and cons of a living trust can help you make an informed decision. In this article, we examine the pros and cons of living trusts.
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Many people believe that estate planning is only for the rich. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Without an estate plan in place, settling your affairs after you are gone could have a costly impact on your loved ones—regardless of your income or assets. In this article, we discuss four reasons that you need an estate plan.

Estate Planning Protects Beneficiaries

An estate plan can protect beneficiaries in a number of ways, including making arrangements for what will happen if something happens to you.
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Probate is a legal process that is sometimes required after a person dies. During probate, the assets of a deceased person—called a decedent—are distributed to his or her heirs or beneficiaries. In addition, if a decedent has outstanding debts, the probate court will sell his or her assets to pay creditors what they are owed. In this article, we discuss the probate process in Michigan.

When is Probate Required?

In Michigan, probate is necessary when a person dies while owning property or assets that are listed under his or her name alone.
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Probate is the process by which a court facilitates the distribution of a deceased person’s assets. Unfortunately, however, the probate process is often long, expensive, and confusing. Therefore, one of the primary goals of estate planning for most people is the avoidance of probate. In this article, we discuss some of the ways to avoid probate in Michigan.

Living Trusts

A living trust is a legal document that places your assets in trust for your benefit during your lifetime, and it details where you'd like these assets to go upon your death.

Everyone needs an estate plan. However, not just any estate plan will do. In fact, it may be better to have no estate plan at all than an estate plan that is riddled with mistakes. Therefore, before beginning the estate planning process, you should contact an experienced estate planning attorney for assistance.

A lot of people mistakenly believe that estate planning is only for the wealthy. This couldn’t be further from the truth. If you have any assets at all, you need an estate plan. In addition, with a Michigan estate planning attorney on your side, the estate planning process doesn’t need to be complicated or stressful. In this article, we examine six of the most common estate planning documents.
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