Posted by Kimberly Crank Browning | May 17, 2022 |
A hundred years ago, an immigrant couple built a beachside cottage and raised a large family there. The kids grew up and built their own cottages nearby, and the beach became a kind of communal area where family reunions would happen spontaneously. As the family expanded into a third generation, ...
Posted by Kimberly Crank Browning | Apr 22, 2022 |
One of life's major transitions arrives when a parent's health declines to the point that they can no longer care for themselves, and one of their children becomes their guardian. It may happen suddenly–perhaps after a medical emergency requires a prolonged recovery period. Other times, the reali...
Posted by Kimberly Crank Browning | Apr 13, 2022 |
As you plan for your family's future, it's important to think about what will happen to your children if you become incapacitated or pass away. In Michigan, minors can't directly inherit property or assets. This means it is crucial that you create an estate plan that takes this into account. A re...
Posted by Kimberly Crank Browning | Mar 25, 2022 |
When we reach certain milestones in life like marriage, the birth of a child or grandchild, divorce, or second marriage, we all know that we should update our estate plans. It can be challenging to make time to take a comprehensive look at how a divorce or remarriage can affect our plans. But in ...
Posted by Christina M. Lejkowski | Mar 10, 2022 |
Allegations of child abuse are very serious. There are many laws which address child abuse and the repercussions when a parent who is found to have abused their child. In serious cases of child abuse with aggravated circumstances, the court can terminate parental rights. Recently, the issue of...
Posted by Kimberly Crank Browning | Mar 04, 2022 |
In the last few years, cryptocurrency has been all the rage in investing. More than 15% of Americans have traded in digital currency, looking for a reliable long-term way to maintain value. Because digital currencies are limited in number, governments can't manipulate them, and digital currency i...
Posted by Kimberly Crank Browning | Feb 07, 2022 |
A special needs trust can be a crucial tool to protect the financial well-being of a disabled person. However, when considering the creation of a special needs trust, recent changes in the law are significantly impacting special needs trusts. Worryingly, gaps in the relevant new law leave many questions unanswered. This means that families should be carefully crafting special needs trusts, reviewing existing special needs trusts, and preparing for any legal changes yet to come. Let’s discuss some issues families should be aware of.
Posted by Christina M. Lejkowski | Dec 17, 2021 |
Although the holiday season brings happy memories and cheerful thoughts to many people, for some it is a stressful time and fighting increases. Clients wonder how to initiate a divorce in Michigan and how that process will affect their children.
Contact Great Lakes Family Probate & Estates to discuss your options regarding divorce, custody, and parenting time. Call or click today for a free consultation with a GLFPE attorney at 1-888-554-5373, [email protected]
Posted by Kimberly Crank Browning | Dec 08, 2021 |
The Build Back Better Act is currently making its way through the legislative process, with the U.S. House of Representatives approving the legislation in November 2021. The legislation is now being considered in the U.S. Senate.
Among other provisions, including paid family leave and clea...
Posted by Kimberly Crank Browning | Dec 03, 2021 |
For peace of mind over what happens to your assets when you die, an experienced estate planning attorney is essential for navigating the inherently complex process. Given that even the smallest mistake can result in requiring a probate estate to be opened, holding up the entire process of distrib...
Posted by Kimberly Crank Browning | Nov 19, 2021 |
The costs of care for seniors are staggering. If you or a loved one experiences an illness or medical condition that requires long-term care—whether medical, personal, or financial—the costs can add up quickly. As with most things, it is far better to be prepared for these potential expenses than...
Posted by Kimberly Crank Browning | Nov 05, 2021 |
The markets for digital assets, such as cryptocurrencies continue to grow. More and more information is stored with cloud services, or on a computer system server. Have you thought about allowing someone else to either take control of or to own all of your photographs, emails, music and social media? Have you taken any steps to organize or protect your digital assets? There are some very simple steps that can be taken to protect your digital assets.
Posted by Kimberly Crank Browning | Oct 22, 2021 |
Discussing specifics about your parents' assets with them can be very uncomfortable and is usually avoided until life's circumstances force the issue to be raised. Often times it is discovered that had the conversation taken place sooner, assets could have been preserved and court procedures could have been avoided. Experienced elder law and estate planning attorneys provide suggestions on how to find a way to ease into this discussion with with your parents and lead the discussion to achieve results.
Posted by Kimberly Crank Browning | Oct 06, 2021 |
With any new presidential administration come new financial priorities, and the Biden administration has been no exception. In 2021, we have some major overhauls to tax and estate law, including the expiration of many pandemic-related credit and assistance programs. Here, we'll summarize some of the major tax and estate law changes for the year and what we might expect looking forward to 2022.
Posted by Great Lakes | Jun 25, 2021 |
We're excited to be featured in
PracticePanther‘s
Law Firm of the Week series!
Learn more about each of our practice specializations and how we lead with a client-focused approach at our firm:
https://www.practicepanther.com/…/great-lakes-family…/
Posted by Great Lakes | Jun 14, 2021 |
Family cottages hold happy memories for many Michiganders. Clients often inquire about succession planning strategies to keep the beloved getaway home in the family. A client's family dynamics and overall objectives determine the best strategy. Options available include: distribute the propert...
Posted by Great Lakes | Apr 19, 2021 |
Wedding season is officially here! With wedding season kicking off, lovebirds all over Michigan are discussing their future together. A great long-term planning strategy for couples contemplating marriage is to consult with an attorney to discuss a prenuptial agreement. A prenuptial agreement ...
Posted by Great Lakes | Mar 29, 2021 |
Registration to participate in the civil settlement In re Flint Water Cases with the state of Michigan, McLaren hospitals and Rowe Professional Services Co. closes on Monday, March 29th. The settlement's major focus is on the individuals that were most impacted by the lead poisoning – young child...
Posted by Great Lakes | Mar 28, 2021 |
Last month I was with an 81-year-old client at a nursing home. We stood knee deep in a snow drift outside a window looking in at her husband of 56 years. Peering in the window, shivering, my client held a cell phone to her ear while her other hand tapped on the glass. My client was determined to ...
Posted by Great Lakes | Mar 09, 2021 |
Communities across the #GreatLakes are grappling with crumbling, antiquated drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.
Join the Alliance for the Great Lakes this Thursday, March 11 at 11 ET/10 CT for a conversation with three experts who can help us understand the scale of this problem and opp...
Posted by Great Lakes | Mar 09, 2021 |
Christina M. Lejkowski has been selected to the prestigious position of Ambassador for the Alliance of the Great Lakes. As an Ambassador, Ms. Lejkowski will act as a representative of the Alliance of the Great Lakes to inform the community about various issues facing the Great Lakes. Particular...
Posted by Great Lakes | Mar 08, 2021 |
The sun is out and the snow is melting! Michigan is reopening and people are smiling, driving fun cars, and enjoying each other's company. Spring brings thoughts of new life and longevity. Many people agree that the best peace of mind comes with knowing our family and friends are happy and hea...
Posted by Great Lakes | Feb 26, 2021 |
I Care a Lot – the #1 movie on Netflix has many people wondering about guardianship and the real possibility of losing control of everything in life. The idea of a complete stranger in charge of your health care and living arrangements and everything you own is unsettling. Is it possible? Of co...
Posted by Great Lakes | Feb 20, 2021 |
Snowy days encourage many of us to be thankful for warmth and safety. Vulnerable populations, including elderly individuals, are particularly at risk of being unable to adequately care for themselves. Although children and friends help elderly people out as much as possible, life is busy.
Long ...
Posted by Great Lakes | Feb 14, 2021 |
Valentine's Day is typically marketed as a holiday which encourages people to express love and affection by giving gifts to others. The thought of flowers, chocolate and dinner with your spouse may have once brought you the excited feeling of butterflies in your stomach. Now, that feeling is re...