Estate Planning

Every adult (18+) needs an estate plan. No matter your financial situation or capacity, having an estate plan is essential. Whether you're young or old, healthy or facing incapacity, it is crucial to plan ahead. Without a valid estate plan, your assets will be distributed according to Michigan's intestacy laws, which may not align with your wishes. Moreover, in cases of incapacity, having an estate plan can provide clear instructions for your medical and financial decisions.

Avoiding Probate and Minimizing Expenses

The probate process in Michigan can be both expensive and time-consuming. Without a proper estate plan, your assets may be subject to probate, which involves court supervision and can lead to significant costs. By utilizing estate planning tools such as trusts, you can potentially bypass probate and minimize expenses, allowing your loved ones to receive their inheritance more efficiently.

Planning for Incapacity

Planning for incapacity is especially important as it ensures that your healthcare and financial matters are handled by individuals you trust. Through documents like a durable power of attorney and an advance healthcare directive, you can appoint someone to make decisions on your behalf when you are unable to do so. In addition to the emotional burden on your loved ones, incapacity can lead to complications and disputes. By establishing an estate plan that includes provisions for incapacity, you can alleviate potential conflicts and provide guidance for your family during challenging times.

Proactive Step for Peace of Mind

Taking the proactive step of creating an estate plan is a wonderful way to ensure peace of mind and protect your legacy. Regardless of your financial situation or capacity, investing the time to develop a comprehensive estate plan brings numerous benefits. By partnering with GenWe Law, you can craft a personalized plan that aligns with your unique wishes, addresses potential incapacity concerns, and navigates the complexities of the legal landscape.

An estate plan serves as a powerful tool in ensuring that your wishes are honored, both during your lifetime and after. It allows you to dictate how your hard-earned assets will be distributed, providing a sense of control and reassurance. With the guidance of our experienced team, you can explore various strategies to structure your plan that reflect your values, priorities, and maximize the impact of your generosity to family members, friends, and charitable organizations. Additionally, your estate plan can provide essential protection for you in the face of potential incapacity and establish clear guidelines for your care.

Creating an estate plan minimizes the potential for disputes or confusion among family members during emotionally challenging times, ensuring that your preferences are respected. By taking this proactive measure, you can provide clarity and alleviate potential tensions, allowing your loved ones to focus on supporting each other rather than navigating legal uncertainties.

Investing in an estate plan allows you to take control of your legacy, protect your assets, and establish clear guidelines for your care. It provides peace of mind, minimizes potential disputes, and ensures that your wishes are respected and honored.

GenWe Law: Your Trusted Estate Planning Partner

At GenWe Law, we recognize that estate planning often takes a backseat on people's to-do lists. However, having a comprehensive estate plan is essential. We have witnessed firsthand the confusion and stress that can arise when individuals or families lack an estate plan. That's why we work with clients from diverse backgrounds to create customized estate plans tailored to their unique needs and goals. Whether you're just starting out or a successful business owner, we can assist you in safeguarding your assets and providing for your loved ones.

Our experienced team takes a personalized approach to estate planning, investing time to understand your specific circumstances and goals. We offer customized advice on effective estate planning strategies, tailoring our recommendations to your situation. Our comprehensive planning process begins by identifying your objectives and then carefully considering your personal, family, and economic factors. The end result is a well-rounded plan that addresses all your concerns. We work with couples in various marital situations, individuals with different family dynamics, such as those with no children, minor children, or adult children, as well as college students, young professionals, retirees, multi-generational families, business owners, and real property owners.

We understand that estate planning can be a complex and daunting undertaking. That's why we are dedicated to guiding our clients through every step of the process with compassion, expertise, and attention to detail. We believe that everyone deserves the peace of mind that comes with knowing their wishes will be carried out with a well-crafted estate plan. We take pride in developing long-lasting relationships with our clients and serving as their trusted partners in planning and advisors for life for all of their estate planning needs. Additionally, we offer a complimentary 3-Year Estate Planning Review with every estate plan to ensure that as our clients' lives change, their estate plans can be updated accordingly.

Comprehensive Estate Planning Services

At GenWe Law, we can assist you with a range of estate planning matters, from basic wills and powers of attorney to more complex trust arrangements. We believe in taking a goal-oriented approach to estate planning, starting with your objectives and working with you to create a plan that aligns with your needs. We take the time to answer your questions and address any concerns you may have, and we always keep your best interests in mind.

The foundational estate planning documents that we advise our clients to consider include:

Last Will and Testament: A will is a legal document that outlines how you want your assets to be distributed upon your death. Without a will, your assets will be distributed according to Michigan's intestacy laws.
Financial Durable Power of Attorney: A financial durable power of attorney allows you to designate a trusted individual to make financial decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated.
Health Care Power of Attorney (Patient Advocate Designation): A Health Care Power of Attorney allows you to designate a trusted individual the power to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.
Advance Healthcare Directives (Living Will): An Advance Healthcare Directive, also known as a Living Will, specifies your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment if you become terminally ill or permanently unconscious.
HIPAA Waiver: A HIPAA waiver gives your designated agent access to your medical records, ensuring that they can make informed decisions on your behalf.

In addition to the foundational estate planning documents, we can also assist with other planning needs, such as:

Revocable Living Trust: A Revocable Trust allows you to maintain control over your assets during your lifetime in the event of incapacity and determine how they are distributed after your death. A revocable living trust can help you avoid probate and provide greater privacy for your estate.
Special Needs Trust: A Special Needs Trust allows you to provide for the needs of a beneficiary with disabilities without jeopardizing their eligibility for government benefits.
Pet Trust: A Pet Trust allows you to set aside funds for your pet's care and designate a caregiver in the event of your incapacity or death.
Designation of Guardian: A Designation of Guardian allows you to appoint a trusted individual to make decisions regarding your child's care and custody in the event that you are unable to do so.
Do Not Resuscitate Orders: A Do Not Resuscitate Order allows you to specify your wishes regarding resuscitation in the event of a medical emergency.
Digital Asset Access Designation: A Digital Asset Access Designation allows you to designate a person to manage your online accounts (ie. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and digital assets after your death.
Funeral Representative Designation: A Funeral Representative Designation allows you to designate someone to make decisions regarding your funeral arrangements.

Schedule A Complimentary Discovery Session Today

Take control of your legacy. Don't wait until it's too late to protect your assets, plan for your future, and create a legacy of generational wealth. Schedule a complimentary discovery session with GenWe Law to discuss your estate planning needs. Our experienced team will work closely with you to create a personalized plan that reflects your values, fulfills your goals, and provides peace of mind.