Did your Personal Representative Agree to Act?

It’s important that you get approval from the person you choose as your Personal Representative before naming them as it is vital that the individual understands their responsibility and can commit to the position. It’s also recommended that you consider and name a successor, or even more than one successor, in case your primary choice is unable to meet the demands or be available when it’s time to act.

It’s also important that your Personal Representative or other family members be told where to find your estate planning papers and that you try to keep an updated list of assets. This will allow the Personal Representative to not have to spend unnecessary time and energy locating basic documents and will allow them to administer your estate efficiently and cost effectively.

Learn more about the things you should consider when it comes to naming your Personal Representative here.

Get Started Today: Schedule Your Consultation!

If you’re interested in learning more about estate planning, please contact estate planning attorneys in Ann Arbor at 734-665-4441.

Factors to Consider When Naming an Individual Personal Representative

The Personal Representative plays a critical role in the management and the distribution of your assets and most likely will be your spouse or a close relative, but it can also be a friend or someone who you have had a business relationship with and who is well suited for the role.  

Some factors you should consider when naming this individual:

1. Trustworthiness
2. Responsibility and availability
3. Well-organized
4. Location
5. Age and wellbeing
6. Agree to act

Learn more about the things you should consider when it comes to naming your Personal Representative here.

Get Started Today: Schedule Your Consultation!

If you’re interested in learning more about estate planning, please contact estate planning attorneys in Ann Arbor at 734-665-4441.

Simple Per Capita Estate Planning Distributions

Per capita is a Latin phrase that translates to “by head.”  This equalizes the shares per designated class.  

In this method of distribution, each child receives a share, and the remaining shares are divided equally among the surviving descendants of the deceased child(ren), within each generation.  

Using the previous example, Child 2 would receive a one third share of the estate, then the remaining third share of Child 1 and Child 3, or two thirds of the  total estate, would be divided equally between the grandchildren, giving each grandchild an equal 2/15 share of the estate.  

Discuss how the different distribution methods can affect distribution of your estate with your estate planning attorney.  

Learn more about simple per capita estate planning distributions here.

Get Started Today: Schedule Your Consultation!

If you’re interested in learning more about estate planning, please contact estate planning attorneys in Ann Arbor at 734-665-4441.

Per Stirpes Estate Planning Distributions

Per stirpes is a Latin phrase that translates to “by roots” or “by branch.” Each member of a specific class receives equally, with the share of a deceased member divided proportionality among his or her children. 

Under the Estate and Protected Individuals code, there’s an allocation at each generation even if there’s no living member of that generation, as opposed to a distribution beginning at the first generation with a living member. 

Here’s an example:

If a Decedent has three children, Child 1 has  two children, and Child 3 has three children. Child 1 and Child 3 predecease the Decedent, and the Trust or Will requires a per stirpes distribution. The estate will be divided into 3 equal shares. The children of Child 1 would each get half of Child 1’s share, ultimately being a one-sixth share of the Decedent’s total estate. The children of Child 3 would each receive one third of Child 3’s share, being a one-ninth share of the Decedent’s estate, and Child 2 – who is still living, but has no children – would receive one third of the total estate.  

Discuss how the different distribution methods can affect distribution of your estate with your estate planning attorney.

Learn more about per stirpes estate planning distributions here.   

Get Started Today: Schedule Your Consultation!

If you’re interested in learning more about estate planning, please contact estate planning attorneys in Ann Arbor at 734-665-4441.

Can’t Repay the UIA Unemployment Benefits? PSED Can Help You!

UIA initiated the repayment demands early last year, claiming that benefits to approximately 700,000 qualified claimants during the previous 2 years, were disbursed in error, totaling  approximately $3.9 billion. It claimed that under new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) eligibility rules, the recipients of the funds lost their previously recognized eligibility. The UIA mailed notices to 700,000 people demanding repayment of benefits previously received, advising that the payments had been made in error due to a change in federal eligibility requirements.

Did you receive a request in the mail? Learn more about repaying the UIA unemployment benefits here.

Get Started Today: Schedule Your Consultation!

If you’re interested in learning more about the cancelation of UIA repayment demands, please contact employment and labor attorneys in Ann Arbor at 734-665-4441.

Do You Have To Honor A Request By UIA For Repayment Of Unemployment Benefits?

In recent months, over 38,000 Michigan residents have received demands from the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) for repayment of unemployment benefits. The UIA’s repayment requests are for substantial amounts of money, as high as $ 35,000. However, the repayment demands are of questionable legality. Many of the recipients have exhausted the benefits they previously received and cannot afford to repay the State.  How to respond to and contest a repayment request is an issue that is causing and will continue to cause serious concern to many Michiganders. 

Did you receive a request in the mail? Learn more about repaying the UIA unemployment benefits here.

Get Started Today: Schedule Your Consultation!

If you’re interested in learning more about the cancelation of UIA repayment demands, please contact employment and labor attorneys in Ann Arbor at 734-665-4441.

Why Marriage is a Good Idea for Unmarried Partners

End of life or estate planning is absolutely essential for unmarried partners. For example, if you’re married and don’t have will or trust and your spouse dies, the law provides that the surviving spouse will wind up with all or most of the decedent’s estate.  If you’re not married and have no estate plan, it will be a mess. The law will direct that your estate will pass to your children, if any, then your parents or your siblings. Your surviving partner will receive nothing unless you have made appropriate arrangements prior to your death. 

To learn more about the legal benefits of marriage, continue reading here.

Get Started Today: Schedule Your Consultation!

If you’re interested in learning more about estate planning, please contact estate planning attorneys in Ann Arbor at 734-665-4441.