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The majority of my clients tell me that they want an estate plan to make things easier for their children when they pass. Many also place high importance on eliminating disputes between children. A good estate plan will meet those goals, but I always tell my clients to consider rounding out their plan by setting […]

A number of business owners and individuals make annual gifts to their children and grandchildren. This is done for a number of reasons, but avoiding estate taxes and transitioning the family business are two very common motivations. Should you be thinking about annual gifts this early in the year? Even though there are four months

As a business attorney, I have helped many clients with setting up new companies, usually corporations or limited liability companies (“LLCs”). It can be a fast and furious process. After the “entity formation phase” is complete, however, some business owners overlook the importance of “routine maintenance” for the company. Obviously there are things that you

My colleague, Haans Mulder, and I had the recent pleasure of speaking to a group of people about the nuances of planning to keep a home while a loved one receives Medicaid benefits. While the focus is often on preservation of the home sometimes it doesn’t make sense to continue paying for taxes, insurance, maintenance,

I had lunch with a group of officers from a local trust department, two of whom were investment managers. The subject came up of what to do with a client who has a high concentration of a single stock in their portfolio. The discussion was enlightening. Throughout my career I’ve noticed a common theme, which

Avoiding estate recovery while attaining Medicaid eligibility was reviewed in Medicaid Series Part 5. But protecting the home so the Medicaid recipient will have some inheritance to pass along comes with a few burdens. Although each situation is different, here are some questions to consider when preserving a home until a Medicaid recipient passes away.

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Although people refer to their pets as “members of the family”, “like our children”, etc., they are often overlooked when putting together a will, trust, or general durable power of attorney. Now, rest assured – if you already have an estate plan then you don’t necessarily have to change it. Michigan law considers pets to

You may have heard the Latin phrase “caveat emptor” meaning “let the buyer beware.” This is generally spoken as a warning to buyers to not expect much more out of a product than they were able to discover on their own before they bought the product. If nothing was promised, then nothing should be expected.

Many employers are struggling with the new higher salary requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). The new law (going into effect December 1, 2016) effectively doubles the required minimum salary amount that must be paid. The old rule required a salary of $23,660 and the new rule requires a minimum salary of $47,476,