Dearborn Estate Planning

Find the right Wills & Trusts attorney in Dearborn, MI

In Dearborn, "estate planning" refers to all of the decisions affecting how a person's property is going to be disposed of after their death, as well as the procedure of implementing those decisions when the time comes.

The problems that estate planning raises are sometimes very perplexing. Without competent legal and financial advice, many problems can pop up, which can quickly throw your entire plan into disarray, and cost your survivors a great deal of time, energy, and money.

Estate planning can have numerous positive effects on the planner during life, as well. These benefits are typically somewhat intangible, revolving around the peace of mind that comes with knowing that, after your death, you family will be taken care of and that they'll know what your last wishes are. Nonetheless, most people find this very valuable. To that end, you should come up with a power-of-attorney agreement. When you grant someone power of attorney, you have given them the power to make specific decisions on your behalf. You can grant them as much or as little authority as you want. Most individuals, however, give family members or life partners power of attorney with respect to medical care, so if they become incapacitated, their wishes will still be carried out.

If you want to maximize the odds that your wishes will be followed after your death, you should do everything you can to make them legally binding. While this is not always possible, a Dearborn attorney will be able to make sure that, where it is feasible, it is done.

Common Features of Dearborn Estates

Will: This is the centerpiece of most estate plans. A will is a document written by a person (the "testator"), typically with the help of a lawyer, which says what is to be done with their property after they die. Most provisions in a will are legally binding, to the extent that ownership of the property legally passes to the named beneficiary. Nonetheless, a will cannot compel a person to do anything against their wishes (though it can certainly state your preferences on the matter, phrasing them as requests).

Living Will: This is a document which lays out instructions for your medical care, should you become so sick or badly hurt that you are unable to express your wishes. It should state under what cases you want to remain on life support. A well-drafted living will can prevent you from being kept alive in a permanent vegetative state (if that is not what you want), while guaranteeing that you receive medical care as long as you have a chance at recovery.

Power of Attorney: Power of attorney allows you to grant someone else (typically a trusted family member or friend) the power to make certain decisions in your place, with the same legal effect as if you had made them yourself, in the event that you become unable to do so (typically due to mental or physical incapacity). If you decide to give someone power of attorney, you should make your wishes known to them in advance, so they are more likely to make the same decisions that you would make, if you were able to. And, of course, you should exclusively give this authority to someone with whom you would trust your life because that is, in some cases, just what you're doing.

Funeral Arrangements: If you have any strong preferences concerning the disposition of your physical remains, you should make them known to your family early, and should not include funeral instructions in your will. Wills are frequently read weeks after the testator dies, so in most cases, it will be too late by then.

Do I Need a Dearborn Estates Lawyer?

A reliable estates lawyer in Dearborn can make the estate planning process much easier. He or she can maximize the chances of your wishes being given effect. Moreover, a good and clear estate plan is far less likely to result in litigation in the future, since disputes of this nature are almost always the result of ambiguity.

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

Life in Dearborn

Dearborn is in Wayne County, Michigan. It is the eighth largest city in the state. Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn, and the city is the home of Henry Ford. In fact, there is a community college (Henry Ford Community College) named after Mr. Ford. Another interesting fact about Dearborn is that it has an attraction called The Henry Ford, which is America's largest indoor-outdoor museum complex.

Along with Mr. Ford, some other notable residents include Johnny Pacar, Stavros Paskaris, George Peppard, Rima Fakih, David Burtka, Derek Lowe, Bob Seger, and Nancy Milford.

Some of the largest employers in Dearborn include Ford, the Oakwood Health System, Visteon, Dearborn Board of Education, Lear, United Technologies Auto, and Dearborn Stamping Plant.

Dearborn is also home to many attorneys who work in law offices and firms, and practice in various areas of law. Thus, the legal needs of residents and businesses is in good hands.

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