My Legal Strategy

Complimentary Estate Planning Seminar!

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:26:06 +0000

Attend a complimentary seminar on November 11 from 6-7:30 p.m. and let experts Terri Giampetroni and Janet Wescott take the mystery out of estate planning for you.

Terri Giampetroni, Attorney at Law, will address important legal concerns such as:

What problems do I create when I add a child to my bank accounts?
What are the risks of a “secret” deed for my home?
Does my Will help my family avoid probate court?
Will my family be protected from estate taxes after the tax code change in 2011?

Janet Wescott of Integrity Estate Sales, LLC will cover every step of estate sale planning:

How to begin the estate sale process
Appraisals
Managing a family estate sale yourself

Click here for more information.

Providing Financial Assistance for Elderly Loved Ones

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:36:14 +0000

Terri Giampetroni understands that it is not always easy to speak to our older loved ones about money matters. She was recently featured in Michigan Senior Living and offered some advice on the subject.

Check out the article starting on page 14 or click here to go directly to the article.

Is a handwritten Will considered valid in Michigan?

admin — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:43:24 +0000

A handwritten Will is called a “holographic Will” and is valid in Michigan as long as it is entirely handwritten. The courts are very strict in determining whether a handwritten Will is valid and whether it will be enforced. Because most handwritten Wills do not cover all the areas that you wish to discuss, and because they are often not
properly written, it is recommended that you use a written, (as opposed to handwritten) Will.

How to Dispose of Your Financial Assets

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:07:03 +0000

If you wish to leave a specific sum of money to someone, you should think about the fact that your estate may increase or decrease in size between the time that you sign your Will and the time of your death. You might want to consider a percentage instead of a dollar amount. For example: Assume your estate is worth $50,000.00 and you wish to leave someone $500.00, or 1% of your estate. If your estate shrinks to $25,000.00 by the time of your death, this bequest of money may be more than you would have intended under the circumstances. However, if you gave the person 1% of your estate, rather than $500, then the gift would shrink to $250, proportionate with the total estate.

Who Should Have a Will?

admin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:27:18 +0000

· A parent with minor children – so he or she can appoint a guardian, appoint a conservator (to manage the minor’s money) and decide at what age(s) the money is released to the child(ren).
· Blended families – to make sure that neither family is disinherited.
· Anyone who is treating his/her children unequally.
· Persons without a spouse or any children.
· Persons who want a particular item to go to a certain person.
· Persons who want to leave some money to a charity.

A Will Does Not Protect You from Probate Court!

admin — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:44:58 +0000

Many people mistakenly believe that creating a Will ensures that their assets avoid probate court upon their death. However this is not the case. Probate is the legal process for making sure your assets are passed to the correct people. The probate court looks at your Will and enforces its provisions. If you wish to avoid probate altogether, you should consider other methods, such as the use of a Living Trust. Read more about Living Trusts.