Core Estate Plans TM

All-in-one estate planning solutions for Michigan residents.

What are

Core Estate Plans?

  • We offer three types of Core Estate Plans to achieve the most common estate planning objectives.


  • Each Core Estate Plan is designed to be a complete estate planning solution at an affordable flat fee.


  • Core Estate Plans are appropriate for all Michigan residents.




Basic Estate Plan


$1,450 for 1 person

$1,850 for 2 persons

  • What Is It?

    Simple and low cost estate plan for people who don't mind using probate to distribute their property upon death.

  • What's Included?

    ●  Consultation to customize your plan


    ●  Last will & testament


    ●  Power of attorney


    ●  Healthcare directive


    ●  Appointment of guardian


    ●  Appointment of funeral representative


    ●  Estate planning roadmap


    ●  Witness and notarize documents


    ●  Storage binder for original documents


    ●  Flash drive with copy of all documents

  • Who's It Designed For?

    Designed for anyone who:


    ●  Has relatively simple estate planning needs


    ●  Does not have assets that require management by a trustee for beneficiaries


    ●  Needs a complete estate plan at the lowest cost

  • Why You'll Love It

    ●  Lowest cost complete estate plan for simple planning situations


    ●  Completely customizable for most situations (except probate avoidance)


    ●  All essential estate planning documents and instructions are included

Probate

Avoidance Plan

$2,150 for 1 person

$2,550 for 2 persons

  • What Is It?

    A Probate Avoidance Plan transfers your assets directly to your designated beneficiaries upon death without probate proceedings or administrative hassle.

  • What's Included?

    ●  Consultation to customize your plan


    ●  "Guide to Avoid Probate in Michigan"


    ●  Deed to transfer property to beneficiaries upon death


    ●  Assignment of personal property


    ●  Assignment of state-titled property


    ●  Assignment of small business entity


    ●  Last will & testament


    ●  Power of attorney


    ●  Healthcare directive


    ●  Appointment of funeral representative


    ●  Estate planning roadmap


    ●  Storage binder for original documents


    ●  Flash drive for copy of documents 

  • Who's It Designed For?

    Designed for anyone who:


    ●  Desires to avoid probate


    ●  Has relatively simple estate planning needs


    ●  Has relatively few beneficiaries to receive their property


    ●  Has all adult persons as beneficiaries


    ●  Does not require a trustee to administer their estate

  • Why You'll Love It

    ●  Lowest cost complete estate plan to avoid probate for adult beneficiaries


    ●  Feel confident that your assets will be distributed to the right persons upon death without cost or administrative hassle


    ●  Easy to modify beneficiaries in the future


    ●  Includes a "Probate Avoidance Guide" to assist beneficiaries to acquire your property upon death



Living Trust Plan

$2,850 for 1 person

$3,250 for 2 persons

  • What Is It?

    A Living Trust Plan uses a revocable "living" trust, along with several other documents, to manage and distribute your assets without probate court administration.

  • What's Included?

    ●  Consultation to customize your plan


    ●  Revocable ("living") trust


    ●  Certificate of trust existence


    ●  Authorization to disclose medical information


    ●  Deed to transfer real estate to trust


    ●  Assignment of personal property to trust


    ●  Assignment of state-titled property to trust


    ●  Assignment of small business entity to trust


    ●  Trust funding instructions


    ●  All documents needed by the trustee to administer the trust (trustee instructions, acceptance of trust, certificate of trust, notice to beneficiaries, and notice to creditors)


    ●  Pour-over will


    ●  Power of attorney


    ●  Healthcare directive


    ●  Appointment of guardian


    ●  Appointment of funeral representative


    ●  Estate planning roadmap


    ●  Storage binder for original documents 


    ●  Flash drive for copy of documents

  • Who's It Designed For?

    Designed for anyone who:


    ●  Desires to avoid probate with maximum control over distribution of assets


    ●  Wants to appoint a person to manage and distribute their estate


    ●  Has minor children, or multiple adult beneficiaries, or relatively complex distribution plans for their property

  • Why You'll Love It

    ●  Comprehensive estate plan to manage and distribute trust assets to any number of beneficiaries without probate


    ●  Completely customized documents to your specifications


    ●  Provides maximum control over distribution and administration of trust assets


    ●  Designate a trustee to handle estate administration


    ●  Designate a guardian to care for young children


    ●  Feel confident that your assets will be distributed as you direct


    ●  Includes instructions and forms to guide trustees to handle trust property without an attorney

What are the Advantages of

Core Estate Plans?

Affordable

We have decades of experience with estate planning. Based on this experience, we know what most people want and need from their estate plan. We have created six Core Estate Plans to meet these demands. By combining everything you need in a comprehensive plan, we are able to keep costs low and give you a firm quote for our services before you proceed. We save time, and you save money. 

Effortless

Completing a Core Estate Plan is simple and convenient. You can even begin your estate plan from home. Office consultations are preferred, but we will gladly accommodate meetings by phone or video. Once your documents are ready, we will post them in a secure client portal for your review. You can request changes from there, and we will post updated documents. By the time you are ready to sign at our office, all changes should be complete. At your request, we will prepare your documents to be signed outside of our office by using our instructions. Nothing could be easier.  

Comprehensive

Core Esate Plans are comprehensive solutions to the most common estate planning problems. Every family is different, so we offer a wide variety of solutions for every situation and budget. With our guidance, you can rest assured that your estate plan will work when you need it.

Customizable

Core Estate Plans are infinitely customizable to meet your needs. These are just a few of the elements of Core Estate Plans that can be customized for you:


  • Distribution of assets
  • Children's trust
  • Pet trust
  • Cash gifts
  • Charitable gifts
  • Real estate gifts
  • Option to purchase real estate
  • Intangible property gifts
  • Personal property gifts
  • Fiduciary appointments and duties
  • Compensation of fiduciaries

Adaptable

Core Estate Plans can be adapted to work with other elements of your estate plan. We can easily include other trusts and documents to work with your Core Estate Plan (additional fees may apply). These are a few examples:


  • Life Estate Trust
  • Cottage Trust
  • Medicaid Trust
  • Asset Protection Trust
  • Special Needs Trust
  • Supplemental Trusts
  • Pre-Nuptial Agreements
  • Business Succession Planning

Uncomplicated

Core Estate Plans are easy to understand. We don't use complicated legalease. During our consultation, each client receives an "Estate Planning Guide" that explains how estate planning works and the elements of each Core Estate Plan. We won't conclude your consultation until you are able to make fully informed choices about your estate plan.

Functional

Core Estate Plans work when you need them to. There are two reasons for this:


1.  Each plan includes checklists and instructions to coordinate your assets with your estate planning documents. No client leaves our office without understanding how their estate plan works, how to implement it, and how to update their assets over time. 


2.  For Plans 4, 5, and 6, we provide instructions for your fiduciaries to administer your estate in the event of your death. These instructions will allow your family to carry out your estate plan without professional help.  

Durable

When you work with us, you are a client for life. We are glad to answer questions about your estate plan that arise long after you leave our office - at no additional cost. We don't charge annual subscription fees like many firms. We will only charge a fee to adjust your documents as the need arises. Finally, we make every effort to make sure your estate plan will stand the test of time. Redundancies are built in to every fiduciary appointment and asset distribution plan. 

Reliable

Core Estate Plans are backed by decades of experience. Our attorneys have met with thousands of clients, and drafted countless estate planning documents. We can recommend what you need based on real-life experience with other families in similar situations. We like a new challenge, but you probably cannot give us one.

What Else Can Core

Estate Plans Do for You?

  • Prepare Assets for Marriage

    Background

    Preparing assets for marriage should not be thought of as planning for divorce. Instead, the goal is to identify the assets that each spouse acquired before the marriage to keep them separate from assets accumulated by both spouses during the marriage. That way, each spouse is free to dispose of their own property as they see fit, with the added benefit of reducing acrimony between the parties in the event of divorce.


    Solutions

    These options to prepare assets for marriage may be included with any Core Estate Plan:


  • Protect Assets from Creditors

    Background

    Liability from judgment creditors can arise during your lifetime or post-death. Solutions to manage such liability can be dramatically different depending on the creditor, amount, and source of debt.  


    Solutions

    These options to protect assets from creditors can be added to any Core Estate Plan:


    • Trusts for beneficiaries to protect their inheritance
    • Domestic Asset Protection Trust to protect assets from creditors
    • Irrevocable trusts between married spouses to protect assets from creditors of both spouses
    • Shifting assets between married spouses based on liability risk

  • Reduce Long Term Care Costs

    Background

    Long term care expenses can be devastating for many families. Reducing these expenses is a priority for anyone without sufficient personal savings or long term care insurance to pay for their own care. Estate planning can provide some relief. 


    Solutions

    Anyone without sufficient funds to pay for nursing home care may turn to Medicaid for help. Medicaid is a needs-based program, so a clear understanding of eligibility rules is very important. We can help you accelerate eligibility for Medicaid and ensure that the State does not recover your cost of care from your estate. Medicaid planning can be added to any Core Estate Plan. 

  • Support Minor Children

    Background

    The pitfalls associated with failing to plan for post-death support of children cannot be overstated. Without an estate plan, your property may not be distributed and managed for the benefit of your children in the manner that you expect. 


    Solution

    Core Estate Plans can be customized to prepare for post-death family support. We have multiple options to protect minor children. 


    Estate Planning for Children >>>

  • Transfer Business Ownership

    Background

    Business succession planning involves transferring ownership of a business upon the occurrence of certain "triggering" events, including the death of an owner. Without a succession plan, the value and income of a business may be substantially impacted while ownership and estate matters are sorted out. 


    Solutions

    • Transferring a business entity to heirs upon death is included with Plans 4, 5, and 6. 
    • Transferring a business entity to other owners or non-heirs requires an agreement to prescribe the conditions under which a business interest will be transferred.

    Business Succession

    Planning >>>

  • Protect Domestic Partners

    Backgorund

    Many people are in commited relationships without being married. Michigan does not recognize "common law" marriages no matter how long a couple may have been together. Since domestic partners are not legally related, they do not have rights to inherit property from each other or to make decisions for the benefit of their partner. 


    For these reasons, estate planning is imperative for domestic partners. They can easily direct how their property will be distributed upon death, and appoint each other to make important financial and medical decisions. The need for planning is even greater if the partners have children from their current or prior relationship.


    Solution

    All of our Core Estate Plans are appropriate for domestic partners.

  • Protect Beneficiaries

    Background

    Some people want to provide financial support for beneficiaries who are more likely to waste the money that is given to them. There are many reasons a beneficiary may waste an inheritance:


    • Reckless spending habits
    • Poor financial management
    • Substance abuse
    • Gambling addiction
    • Unstable relationships or divorce
    • Unstable employment history
    • Lawsuits

    Solution

    We can help you to place restrictions on a beneficiary's inheritance for their own protection. Any of our Core Estate Plans that include a trust can be customized for this purpose. 

  • Prevent Disputes in Blended Families

    Background

    Second marriages are fraught with potential estate planning problems such as these:


    • Disputes between stepparents and stepchildren. 
    • Unintentionally disinheriting natural children.
    • Leaving assets for minor children under the control of a former spouse.  

    Solutions

    There are numerous methods to reduce conflict in blended families. Any of these options may be added to Core Estate Plans:


    • Separate trusts for each spouse
    • Separate trusts for children of each spouse
    • Specific gifts for children of each spouse
    • Life estate trust
    • Pre-marital agreement
    • Marital waiver of inheritance rights

  • Preserve Benefits for Disabled Persons

    Background

    Government benefits received by a disabled person may be reduced or eliminated upon receipt of an inheritance. Estate planning can preserve both the government benefits and the inheritance for a beneficiary. 


    Solution

    A "Special Needs Trust" is used to preserve government benefits for a disabled beneficiary. This type of trust can be added to any Core Estate Plan. Follow the link below for more information. 


    Estate Planning for

    Disabled Persons >>>

  • Reduce Estate Expenses

    Background

    Expenses for estate administration are likely to be higher without proper estate planning. There are a number of reasons that estate expenses may be higher:


    • Failure to locate unknown assets
    • Probate proceedings
    • Conservatorship or guardianship proceedings for minor children
    • Malfeasance by a fiduciary
    • Delayed distribution of assets
    • Disputes by beneficiaries
    • Distributions to unintended beneficiaries

    Solution

    Estate expenses can be substantially reduced with proper estate planning. Any of our Core Estate Plans is suitable for this purpose.

  • Manage Real Estate

    Background

    Some famiies own real estate that is particularly important to them - like a family home, farm, or cottage. In that case, they may want to preserve the property for a specific person or for generations of family members.


    Solutions

    A number of options may be included with Core Estate Plans to manage real estate:


    • Life estate trust
    • Cottage trust 
    • Farm trust
    • Option to purchase
    • Gift of real estate
    • Land contract

  • Provide Care for Pets

    Background

    Providing care for pets is important to many people. Fortunately, it is simple and inexpensive to do.  


    Solution

    Any Core Estate Plan may include a Pet Trust at no additional cost.  A Pet Trust is used to set aside money for care of pets and to appoint a caregiver for them. 


    Estate Planning for Pets >>>