Are Handwritten Wills Valid in Michigan?

When it comes to estate planning, many people assume a will must be typed, witnessed, and notarized to be valid. However, Michigan law recognizes certain handwritten documents, known as holographic wills, under specific circumstances.

As part of estate planning in Ann Arbor, understanding the requirements for a valid will can help you protect your wishes and avoid confusion for your loved ones. Holographic wills must be dated, signed by the person creating the will, and contain material provisions written in that person's handwriting.

While a handwritten will may be legally recognized, working with an experienced estate planning attorney can help ensure your wishes are clearly documented. Learn more about Michigan's requirements for holographic wills and why professional legal guidance matters.

Read the full article to learn more about handwritten wills in Michigan.

Estate Planning After Divorce: What Should You Review?

Your estate plan should reflect the life you’re living today—not the circumstances you had before your divorce.

After a divorce, it’s important to review more than just your will. Beneficiary designations on life insurance policies, retirement accounts, investment accounts, and other financial assets should also be evaluated. Depending on the circumstances, these designations may not automatically change simply because a marriage has ended.

Divorced parents should also think about how assets intended for their children will be managed. A trust may provide a way to establish guidelines for how and when assets are distributed, particularly when children are minors.

Remarriage and blended families can create additional estate-planning considerations. A new spouse, additional children, new property, or other financial changes may require revisions to an existing plan.

A comprehensive estate-plan review can help ensure that your will, trusts, beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, health care documents, and guardianship wishes all work together.

Read the full article to learn more about updating your estate plan after divorce.

If your family or financial circumstances have changed, our estate planning attorneys can help you determine whether your current plan still meets your needs.

Does Divorce Automatically Update Your Estate Plan?

Divorce can significantly change your family and financial circumstances, but it doesn’t necessarily update your estate plan.

Many divorced parents assume their divorce decree automatically removes a former spouse from their will, financial accounts, or other estate-planning documents. That may not be the case. Life insurance policies, retirement accounts, investment accounts, and other assets may have separate beneficiary designations that need to be reviewed individually.

Divorced parents should also consider what happens to their children and assets if both parents are no longer available. A comprehensive estate plan can address guardianship preferences, trusts for minor children, powers of attorney, health care documents, and other important decisions.

If you’ve been through a divorce, remarried, welcomed additional children, or experienced significant changes in your finances, it may be time to review your estate plan.

Read the full article to learn what divorced parents should consider when updating their estate plans.

Our estate planning attorneys can help you review your current documents and determine whether they still reflect your family's needs and your wishes.

Small Estate Planning Updates Can Make a Big Difference

Estate planning isn't just about creating a will—it's about keeping your entire plan up to date as your life changes.

Many people don't realize that beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and payable-on-death accounts often override what's written in a will. That's why reviewing these accounts regularly is one of the simplest yet most important estate planning tasks you can complete.

Experienced estate planning attorneys in Ann Arbor recommend reviewing your estate plan after major life changes, including:

• Marriage or divorce
• Retirement
• The birth of a child or grandchild
• The loss of a loved one
• Significant changes in your financial situation

Read more mid-year charitable planning tips here.

It's also a good time to revisit your charitable giving goals. If there are organizations or causes that have become important to you, your estate plan can help create a lasting legacy while potentially providing tax advantages.

Keeping your estate plan current provides peace of mind for both you and your loved ones. Even small updates today can help prevent confusion and unnecessary legal complications in the future.

Why Summer Is the Best Time to Review Your Estate Plan

Many people think about estate planning at the end of the year, but summer is one of the best times to review your financial and legal plans. With fewer year-end deadlines competing for your attention, you have the opportunity to make thoughtful decisions that can benefit both your family and the charitable organizations you support.

Working with experienced estate planning attorneys in Ann Arbor allows you to evaluate whether your current estate plan still reflects your goals. Even if your will or trust hasn't changed in years, your life likely has.

A mid-year review is an excellent time to ask questions like:

• Are my beneficiary designations still accurate?
• Have I experienced a major life event that requires updating my documents?
• Are there tax-saving charitable giving opportunities I should consider?
• Does my estate plan still reflect my family's needs?

Read more mid-year charitable planning tips here.

It's also an ideal time to coordinate with your CPA and financial advisor before year-end tax planning begins. By reviewing your estate plan now, you have time to make informed decisions instead of rushing through important updates during the busy holiday season.

Whether you've recently retired, welcomed a new grandchild, or simply haven't reviewed your documents in several years, a summer checkup can help ensure your wishes remain protected.

What Happens to Your Online Accounts After You Pass Away?

Many people have thousands of family photos, personal documents, and important records stored online. Unfortunately, these digital assets don’t automatically transfer to loved ones after death.

Social media accounts, cloud storage services, and email platforms often have strict terms of service that limit access, even for family members. Without proper estate planning, valuable information and cherished memories could become inaccessible forever. 

An experienced estate planning attorney in Ann Arbor can help you create a plan that addresses digital assets alongside your other property. By incorporating clear authorization into your estate planning documents and maintaining updated records of your accounts, you can make it easier for your family to access important information when needed. 

Read more on our website!

We work with clients throughout the Ann Arbor area to develop customized estate plans that protect assets, preserve family memories, and provide peace of mind for future generations. Schedule a consultation and discuss your estate planning needs today!

Why Digital Assets Should Be Part of Your Estate Plan

Most people think about their home, bank accounts, and investments when creating an estate plan. However, many overlook an increasingly important category of property: digital assets. From family photos stored in the cloud to email accounts, social media profiles, and cryptocurrency holdings, these assets can have significant financial and sentimental value.

Without proper planning, loved ones may have difficulty accessing digital accounts after a death due to privacy laws and platform restrictions. Michigan law allows fiduciaries to manage certain digital assets, but obtaining access to account content often requires specific authorization from the account owner.

Read more on our website!

Working with an experienced estate planning attorney in Ann Arbor can help ensure your wishes are clearly documented. Estate planning documents such as wills, trusts, and powers of attorney can include provisions that authorize trusted individuals to manage digital assets when necessary.

We help individuals and families create comprehensive estate plans that address both traditional and digital assets. Taking proactive steps today can help preserve important memories and simplify matters for your loved ones in the future. Schedule a consultation and discuss your estate planning needs today!