Wills

A will is a legal document that goes into effect when a person dies and states how that person’s assets and property are to be distributed. A will may also name a guardian to care for minor children, identify a person to manage property left to minor children and name a personal representative to carry out the terms of the will.

In Michigan, you do not need an attorney to make a will. However, the money spent on an experienced estate planning attorney is usually money well spent. Bill Ager is an experienced estate planning attorney who can help you decide whether a will, or other estate planning document such as a trust, will fit your estate planning needs.

Contact Bill Ager at (734) 649-0784 or at bill@agerlawoffice.com for more details on reasonable flat fees for these services.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What happens if I die without a will?

In Michigan, if you die without a will, your property will be distributed according to state "intestacy" laws. Michigan's intestacy law gives your property to your closest relatives, beginning with your spouse and children.

If you have neither a spouse nor children, your grandchildren or your parents will get your property. This list continues with increasingly distant relatives, including siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and your spouse's relatives.

If the court exhausts this list to find that you have no living relatives by blood or marriage, the state will take your property. Dying without a will can also make the administration of your estate take longer and cost more. It can also create divisions in the family because it is easy for disagreements to occur about the deceased person’s true intentions for their property.

What are the basic requirements of a will in Michigan?

The basic requirements of a will are that: it must be in writing;it must be made by a person 18 years or older; the person making the will must be of sound mind;the will must be signed by at least two competent persons, each of whom witnessed either the signing of the will or the acknowledgment of signature of the will by the person who made the will.

Although the basic requirements are relatively straightforward, it is wise to seek an experienced attorney’s advice to make sure your objectives are clear in the will and will be carried out as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.