The will left behind after someone you love dies presumably represents their final wishes. Most families strive to preserve these wishes, but sometimes they feel something is wrong with the will in question. Under Michigan law, those with a stake in the decedent’s...
Probate Litigation
3 signs an executor isn’t fit for their role in an estate
Maybe your loved one who recently died named a specific family member to manage their estate. Perhaps the probate courts appointed one of your siblings to serve as the personal representative of the estate. Whether the decedent chose the representative or not, that...
What you need to know before contesting a will
If you believe there are glaring issues with the will left behind by a loved one, you can prevent its execution by contesting it in probate court. If you succeed, the judge or jury will revoke the will and distribute the estate according to state guidelines. However,...
Do you need to challenge and remove an estate’s executor?
The executor of an estate has to do a lot of work, and they also have to put the needs of other people above their own. Executives have a fiduciary duty to the estate that they manage. They should seek to preserve the value of the property in the estate and uphold the...
Left out of a will? Here’s what to consider
When a loved one passes away, there’s a period of grieving -- and that grief can be intensified once you learn that you were left out of their will for no reason you can identify. A person who learns they’ve been left out of a loved one's will might wonder why they...
What are the 4 most common reasons people challenge an estate plan?
One of the most common reasons for a Michigan estate to wind up in probate is either having assets worth more than the probate threshold of $22,000 or having no will. Probate courts are also where families turn when there is an issue with the estate. A family member...