Some legacies need to be defended.
Others need to be built.

Before you take any action, understand the deadlines and notice requirements — fiduciaries have real legal duties, and mistakes can create personal liability. Don't distribute anything, sell anything, or sign anything until you know the proper sequence (here's what the probate timeline looks like). Start with a free screening call; we'll tell you exactly what the first steps are for your specific situation.

Possibly — but probate and trust disputes are deadline-driven, and some Michigan deadlines run in months from a notice you may not have recognized as a trigger. Common grounds include undue influence, lack of capacity, fraud, and improper execution (see our guide to contesting a will or trust). The same applies if a trustee or personal representative is mismanaging assets or refusing to communicate. If something feels wrong, call sooner rather than later — the clock may already be running.

It depends on what you own and what you want to happen. A will alone means your estate goes through probate — a public, court-supervised process that takes months. A revocable living trust generally keeps your estate out of probate, preserves privacy, and lets the people you trust act immediately if you become incapacitated. For most Michigan families with a home and meaningful assets, a trust-based plan is worth the modest additional cost (more on wills vs. trusts here). We'll tell you honestly if a simple will is all you need.

Most estate planning engagements at the firm are flat-fee, quoted up front after we understand your situation. You'll know the full cost before any work begins — no hourly surprises. The initial conversation is either a free 20-minute screening call or a $500 in-depth working session (credited toward your engagement if you retain us).

No. The firm is based in Southfield but represents clients throughout the State of Michigan, including Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, and Genesee counties and beyond. Much of the work — planning, administration, and many court matters — can be handled remotely.

They overlap, but they're governed by different Michigan statutes — the Estates and Protected Individuals Code for probate matters and the Michigan Trust Code for trusts — with different procedures, deadlines, and burdens of proof. The firm handles both. If you're not sure which category your situation falls into, that's exactly the kind of thing the screening call sorts out.