Law Office of Matthew D. Anderton, lawyers in Clarkston, MI, Michigan

Executors

The executor must state the name and domicile of the decedent, as well as the year that domicile was established. Also the executor must state the decedent's date of death and Social Security number and the name, address, and Social Security number of the estate's executor. Similar information must be given for the estate's attorney. Further general information is requested such as the decedent's business or occupation and marital status. It requires a breakdown of the estate to show how much of it was (or is to be) received by the spouse or other heirs. This is to ascertain the estate-tax marital deduction.More...

Kinds of Powers of Attorney for Finances

There are two kinds of durable powers of attorney for finances: those that take effect immediately and those that take effect only upon your incapacitation where one or two doctors declare that you can no longer manage your financial affairs.More...

Protection of the Immediate Family

One of the main purposes for making and leaving a will is to guide the administration of the estate of the testator--the person who made the will. A will should be written in language that is clear and indisputable. Alas, the language in a will may be unclear or vague. This article discusses will interpretation doctrines designed to protect the testator's immediate family from mistakes, or apparent mistakes, by the testator.More...

Revocable Living Trust

In many jurisdictions, trusts cannot be revoked unless the trustor expressly retains the right to revoke. Revocable living trusts allow a trustor to manage his assets, to plan for his incapacity, and to avoid probate. More...

Inheritance Issues -- Spouses

When the deceased leaves a will disinheriting a spouse, most states allow the surviving spouse to ignore (or waive) the will and take what is called a forced share. The laws of those states that allow a surviving spouse to take a forced share are very specific in the amount that the spouse may take, but this does not mean that questions do not arise.More...