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Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Estate Planning Attorney

No one likes to think about a future without them in it.

But if you’re reading this, you already know you need to take a step forward to protect your family’s legacy.

At the Law Office of Julie A. Paquette, we believe creating an estate plan shouldn’t feel like a burden.

That’s why our team is here to help you take that burden off your shoulders. We’ll walk you through all your options and help you feel comfortable making the decisions for all the “what if”s your family may face.

Schedule your free and confidential consultation
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Estate Planning Attorney

No one likes to think about a future without them in it.

But if you’re reading this, you already know you need to take a step forward to protect your family’s legacy.

At the Law Office of Julie A. Paquette, we believe creating an estate plan shouldn’t feel like a burden.

That’s why our team is here to help you take that burden off your shoulders. We’ll walk you through all your options and help you feel comfortable making the decisions for all the “what if”s your family may face.

Schedule your free and confidential consultation

”“Julie Paquette and her office are AMAZING. So helpful and knowledgeable. They were kind, patient, and knew their stuff – from the initial consultation through signing and final document preparation.”

~ Kim Y.

What is an estate plan?

We know it can be overwhelming to think about all the decisions to be made about the future – about your own possible incapacity, what will happen to your family if you are not around, and how will your property be transferred after your death.

But after you pass away, you don’t want any confusion about your wishes for your assets and your family – and you also don’t want to leave behind a mess for your loved ones to deal with through the probate process.

Putting an estate plan in place ensures all of your assets go where you want them to go at the time you designate.

Some common assets you may want in your plan include:

  • Property and real estate
  • Personal items (i.e., furniture, jewelry, cars)
  • Money in checking and savings accounts
  • Stocks, bonds, and investments
  • Intangible assets (patents, trademarks, etc.)

Estate planning concerns not only your possessions, but also the people you love and care most about. That’s why our team works with you to create a customized plan tailored to your family’s specific needs.

What documents should be included in a Michigan estate plan?

There are many different ways to create an estate plan and a variety of different documents that can be included, depending on your specific situation.

When you work with our team, we’ll sit down and discuss which documents work best for your vision for your assets and your loved ones.

The most common documents for a Michigan estate plan include:
1

Will:

The will is the best-known tool in the estate planning process. It is an important document that outlines your wishes for inheritance, distribution of property, and guardianship of children. However, it’s important to note that a will does not provide you with probate-avoidance at your death. A will also cannot help keep you out of probate if you have an incapacity or an injury.

2

Deed:

In Michigan, we have a special type that operates like a beneficiary designation on your bank account, where you can have your home or other real estate transferred immediately upon your death to your intended recipient or your trust – without having to go through probate.

3

Power of Attorney:

This is a document that allows you to nominate someone to make decisions for you – either healthcare decisions or financial decisions – in the event that you lose capacity or you’re injured or contract a sudden illness. In this situation, you’ve nominated who you want to make decisions for you, rather than leaving that up to a probate judge.
4

Trust:

A trust is an important document that allows you to nominate who you want in charge of distributing your assets and how you want your assets disposed of. A trust gives you more protection and flexibility than a will does. It also allows for the protection of property for the benefit of minors or young adults in the event that you have children or grandchildren who will be benefiting from your estate who are not yet old enough to manage that money wisely for themselves.

Why do you need an estate planning attorney?

An estate planning attorney can help you set up the necessary documents to facilitate the transfer and management of your assets after your death – or in case of an emergency.

Unfortunately, Attorney Julie A. Paquette knows all too well the complications that arise in these instances.

When Julie was in law school, she received a call in the middle of the night that a family member had died in a car accident, and that her aunt was in critical condition.

Her family was tossed into chaos. Who would make decisions for her aunt? What would she want if she could fully communicate? Would she want to sue the person who caused the accident? Who should find the right attorney to represent her?

Having a document that answers those questions can ease the friction for an already-grieving family.

We also encourage young families to look into the estate planning process. Even though you may not be particularly concerned about health issues at this point in your life, it’s vital to get a plan in order to keep your family protected – no matter what the future may hold.

Contact the Law Office of Julie A. Paquette today

None of us knows exactly when our families will be faced with these types of decisions. But without the appropriate planning in place, we could be leaving some of the most personal and important decisions of our lives to be made by a judge.

Luckily, there are steps you can take to help make sure your family is prepared for whatever life throws your way. Let our experienced team of Michigan estate planning attorneys help you navigate this process. Start by contacting our office today.

Schedule your free and confidential consultation

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    avvo julie paquette - law office of julie paquette - Bloomfield hills michigan
    avvo top attorney julie paquette - law office of julie paquette - Bloomfield hills michigan
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