Estate Administration in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Find the right Estate Administration attorney in Ann Arbor, MI

"Estate administration" refers to the procedure which must be followed when the estate of a person who has recently died is being distributed, either according to his or her wishes as laid out in a will, or the laws regulating the distribution of the assets of a person who dies without a will.

If the decedent wrote a will before his or her death in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the process will be carried out according to the directives included in the will, assuming they are legitimate and enforceable.

Most commonly, a will names a person to serve as executor, whose job it is to guarantee that the estate is properly administered.

The executor is often the person who will get the most money or property out of the will if it is given effect, because this is the person who will have the greatest incentive to see that the probate process goes as rapidly as possible.

What if The Will Does Not Name an Executor?

If a will in Ann Arbor, Michigan is silent as to who should be the executor, it is up to the court to determine who should serve in that capacity.

Usually, the person chosen to be executor is the one who would benefit most under the will, or under Michigan's intestacy laws. "Intestacy" refers to a situation in which a person dies without a will, or "dies intestate." Every state has laws to address this situation, and there isn't a lot of variation from state to state. Usually, the decedent's property will go to his or her closest relative, and if absolutely no living relatives can be found, it will go to the state.

If no executor is named in the will, anyone with a share in the will can apply to the court in Ann Arbor, Michigan to be the executor of the estate, if they wish.

Once an executor is finally named, he or she becomes responsible for serving as the living embodiment of the estate, utilizing all legal means to protect the estate's interests (such as mounting plausible legal defenses against creditors).

Can a Ann Arbor, Michigan Estate Administration Attorney Help?

If you find yourself named in a will as executor of an estate, and aren't sure how to meet your responsibilities, or where to begin, it would be a good idea to consult with an experienced Ann Arbor, Michigan lawyer who can help you navigate this sometimes-convoluted process.

Talk to a Wills, Trusts & Estates Law Attorney now!

Life in Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan is a city in Washtenaw County, of which it is also the county seat. Its current population is approximately 114,000 people, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan.

Ann Arbor was founded in 1824, and is perhaps best known for being the site of the University of Michigan. The University of Michigan is one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the United States, and is generally considered one of the "public ivies" - public universities which are considered to be on par with the universities in the Ivy League. The University of Michigan is particularly well known for its law school, which is one of the top 14 law schools in the country. This school has produced thousands of extremely accomplished Ann Arbor, Michigan lawyers.

And thanks to the presence of a large university, Ann Arbor, Michigan has largely been spared the economic woes that have affected the rest of the state. The university employs a large number of people, and provides local businesses with a large customer base.

If you live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and are in need of legal services, there's a very good chance that there's an Ann Arbor, Michigan attorney who can help you.

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