Detroit Estate Planning Lawyer

Secure Your Legacy with Comprehensive Planning

Plan for the Future with a Detroit Estate Planning Attorney

Estate planning is essential for protecting your assets and securing your family’s financial future when you’re no longer here—that’s where Thompson Legal can help. As a Detroit estate planning lawyer, Brittany Thompson can help draft wills, trusts, and financial directives to prevent legal complications down the road. Our firm provides comprehensive estate planning services tailored to individuals, families, and business owners in Detroit, Michigan, and the surrounding Detroit Metro areas.

Why Estate Planning Is Important

Without a legal estate plan, Michigan state laws would likely determine how your assets are distributed. That’s why it’s important to work with a Detroit estate planning attorney to protect your assets and ensure your loved ones are cared for. At Thompson Legal, we can work to ensure:

  • Your beneficiaries receives assets according to your wishes

  • Financial and health decisions are in the hands of someone you trust

  • There’s a clear succession plan for your business if you own one

Estate Planning Services in Detroit

Our firm provides a full range of estate planning services to individuals, families, and business owners in the Detroit Metro area. Here are some of the matters Thompson Legal can assist you with:

Wills & Testaments

A last will and testament serves many important purposes such as:

  • Detailing the distribution of any assets

  • Who should be appointed as Personal Representative

  • Who should serve as a guardian for any minor children

  • How funeral and burial proceedings should be handled

  • How debts and taxes should be accounted for.

Powers of Attorney & Healthcare Directives

  • Powers of Attorney and Healthcare Directives are legal documents that allow individuals to appoint someone to make decisions on their behalf, particularly in situations where they may be incapacitated or unable to make decisions for themselves

  • Establishing a healthcare directive (also know as a “living will”) can specify healthcare preferences, ensuring an individual’s wishes are respected

Trust Agreements

  • Establish revocable and irrevocable trusts to manage and distribute assets

  • Reduce or eliminate the need for probate court involvement

  • Protect beneficiaries and ensure your affairs are managed efficiently and privately at your passing, giving you more controlled disbursements

Asset Protection Planning

  • Safeguard assets from creditors, lawsuits, and financial risks, shielding your wealth from potential creditors and liabilities.

  • Use trusts, legal structures, and exemptions to preserve wealth

  • Strategic legal and financial measures to safeguard your assets, ensuring they are preserved and efficiently transferred to your intended beneficiaries

Estate & Gift Tax Planning

  • Organize your financial affairs to minimize estate and gift taxes and ensure the efficient transfer of wealth to beneficiaries

  • Preserve as much of your assets as possible for your heirs, all while ensuring a smooth and tax-efficient transfer of your estate

Business Succession Planning

  • Prepare for the transition of leadership, ownership, and management of a closely held business

  • Ensure the smooth transfer of control, minimize disruptions, and protect the business's continuity, especially when passing it on to the next generation

What Happens Without an Estate Plan?

If you pass away without a will, your assets will be distributed according to Michigan's intestacy laws, which may not align with your preferences. Information about the assets in your estate, their values, and estate beneficiaries will be published on public record. Additionally, the court will appoint an administrator to handle your estate, and decisions regarding guardianship for minor children may be left to the court's discretion.

How Estate Planning Helps You Avoid Probate

  • One of the primary benefits of estate planning is reducing or avoiding probate.

  • A well-structured trust and asset protection plan can ensure assets are passed smoothly.

  • If you need help with probate administration, visit our Detroit Probate Attorney page for more information.

Contact a Detroit Estate Planning Lawyer Today

Thompson Legal can help you create a customized plan that aligns with your financial and family goals. If you need assistance planning your estate in Detroit, Michigan or the surrounding areas, we’re ready to help. Submit a form here to Contact Us so we can schedule a consultation, or give us a call at (734) 743 - 1646.

The information on this page is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal advice. While we strive to assist with these legal matters, we cannot guarantee specific results. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on individual circumstances and applicable laws. In the event you would like to speak with a Probate and Estate Planning Attorney, please Contact Thompson Legal at (734) 743-1646 to schedule a consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Estate Planning

  • Everyone, regardless of age or financial status, can benefit from having a will. Whether you have significant assets or just a few possessions, a will allows you to specify how you want your property to be distributed and ensures your loved ones are taken care of according to your wishes.

  • Having an experienced estate planning attorney guide you through the process of creating or updating your will ensures that your will is legally sound and tailored to your unique circumstances. No family is the same, so a “one size fits all” estate plan can likely lead to costly and time-consuming errors. We provide personalized advice, address your specific concerns, and ensure that you leave feeling secure in your estate plan.

  • Your will should clearly identify your beneficiaries, specify how your assets are to be distributed, name an executor to manage your estate, and, if applicable, designate a guardian for your minor children. It's important to provide specific details to avoid confusion and ensure your intentions are carried out. If you have any specific requests related to your funeral or burial, you can include them in your will.

The information on this page is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal advice. While we strive to assist with these legal matters, we cannot guarantee specific results. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on individual circumstances and applicable laws. In the event you would like to speak with a Probate and Estate Planning Attorney, please Contact Thompson Legal at (734) 743-1646 to schedule a consultation.