Taylor, MI Estate Planning Firm - Marke Gilbert & Associates, PLLC

Estate Planning

For your protection and peace of mind

 

Estate planning is not just about your assets and possessions; it is about protecting the best interests of you and your loved ones. As an experienced Michigan estate planning attorney, my job is to provide you with expert guidance, and formulate a 360 degree plan that provides peace of mind.

 

Some of the specific estate planning legal services I provide are:

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• Simple wills, wills and codicils

• Revocable and irrevocable trusts

• Living trusts

• Special needs trusts

• Family-help foundations and trusts

• Durable powers of attorney

• Health care directives

• Asset protection and distribution plannin​g

• Gift tax avoidance, including income, inheritance and estate

• Guardianships and conservatorships

• Charitable giving strategies

• Probate and estate administration

• Probate litigation

 

Probate & Trust Planning​

Avoiding the headaches and pitfalls involved with inheritances

 

Probate & Trust Administration

Probate is the legal process by which the assets and liabilities of a deceased individual are organized, addressed and distributed. Probate is triggered when a person dies without a valid last will and testament and a Probate Judge is called upon to determine how the estate will be administered and to whom assets will be distributed. As such, things can become extremely messy and uncertain when a probate legal process is required, causing resentment and disarray within a family. As a Downriver, MI probate attorney, I am trained in the process of probate procedure and skilled in providing not only an expeditious administration of the estate of a decedent, but also the sensitive service that should be a part of the orderly winding up of affairs of a lost loved one.

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Probate & Trust Litigation

At times, matters involving the administration of a decedent’s estate or trust must be litigated in order to clarify the respective rights and duties of the parties therein, this is when having an experienced Michigan probate litigation attorney is important. Litigation is used when a last will and testament may contain ambiguities regarding who should inherit a certain item of property or how much a person should receive. It is also used in cases where a trustee may have misappropriated the property of the trust to his benefit or if an heir believes he or she was divested of their rightful inheritance due to unethical or illegal circumstances. In these situations, litigation is the avenue whereby the injured parties (divested heirs, beneficiaries of a trust, etc.) may receive redress for their grievances. As a seasoned probate litigation attorney, I have extensive experience helping heirs and beneficiaries recover their inheritances and bequests, as well as defending wrongfully accused trustees and personal representatives (sometimes referred to as ‘Personal Representatives’) from false accusations of failing to properly perform their duties.

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Guardianship (Elder Law)

Protecting the best interests of your indisposed loved ones

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Guardianship Administration

In cases when a person cannot completely care for themselves due to a developmental disability, Alzheimer’s disease or other extenuating circumstances, a guardian can be appointed by the Court to oversee that person’s care. Guardianship law specifies the responsibilities of the guardian and the rights of the individual – called the ward – who needs the care. Guardianship law can be complex and difficult to navigate.

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Guardianship Litigation

In certain guardianship matters, litigation is necessary to resolve simple disputes over whether a guardian is necessary or who should fulfill the role of guardian, or more complex disputes centering on whether a guardian should be removed because he or she is improperly executing his or her duties. Guardianship litigation also covers cases where the guardian is accused of misappropriating the property of their ward by misusing the power of attorney.

 

Wealth Preservation

Wealth Preservation ensures the necessary protection, preservation and allocation of a person’s estate under the circumstances they become sick or incapacitated, and they can't make the proper decisions themselves. A well drafted estate plan facilitates proper transfer of a person’s assets to his or her loved ones upon that person’s death.

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Contact Attorney Marke Gilbert for all your Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate legal needs in the Downriver or Metro Detroit area

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Protecting the well-being of your assets and loved ones begin with the proper planning and consulting. Attorney Marke Gilbert is an experienced estate planning, trust, and probate attorney in the Downriver area that will help you navigate the potential snags and uncertain details of your estate planning and trust issues. We will help you formulate a plan that will give you 360 degree protection, and peace of mind for you and your loved ones. Contact our office today for a free consultation (734) 676-2700 or complete the form below.