For many Michigan families, the end of summer means one last weekend at the cottage followed by the familiar fall checklist: pulling in the dock, shutting off the water, putting away the outdoor furniture and getting everything ready for winter. While you are protecting the cottage from another Michigan winter, it is also a good time to make sure the cottage is protected by your estate plan. One of the most important parts of a trust-based estate plan is making sure that the

Fraudulent telephone calls and emails are nothing new. Unfortunately, artificial intelligence is making some of the oldest scams much more convincing. We have had a number of clients encounter attempted scams involving someone pretending to be a family member, a government agency, a bank, or another trusted person. One of the most common is sometimes called the “grandparent scam.” The call often begins with frightening news. A person claiming to be a grandchild says that he o

Kids grow up fast. Some just happen to have four legs. Back-to-school season is a natural reminder of how quickly time passes. One year they are starting kindergarten, and seemingly overnight they are graduating from high school, heading off to college, and turning 18. That milestone is also an important estate-planning reminder. An estate plan should not be something that is signed once and then forgotten. We generally recommend reviewing your plan every few years and whenev

During National Estate Planning Awareness Month this October, as the leaves change and the days grow shorter, it's the perfect time to reflect on the future and ensure your affairs are in order before things take an unexpected turn. While Halloween is a time for ghosts and goblins, estate planning is about avoiding the real “monsters”—unnecessary confusion and complications for your loved ones when you're no longer around. Review or Create Your Will : If you don’t have a wil

October is recognized as Special Needs Law Month, an observance dedicated to raising awareness about the legal challenges faced by individuals with disabilities. This month highlights the critical importance of legal, financial, and healthcare planning to ensure that individuals with special needs are protected throughout their lives. The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) focuses on educating families, caregivers, and professionals about key areas such as creat

What’s Happening: The “Grandparent” or “Family Emergency” Scam Here’s how this frightening scam typically unfolds : You receive a sudden phone call claiming that a loved one has been in a car accident. The caller says your loved one hit a pregnant woman, is injured, and has been arrested. The caller claims to be a lawyer or police officer handling the case. The supposed loved one briefly comes on the line, crying or sounding distraught. The “official” demands immediate bail m