on behalf of Galloway and Collens

Owning commercial property in a digital age

The digital age has affected most aspects of life, not only in Michigan but globally. People can now find quick bits of information online, but they can also perform many serious and life-changing actions, such as finding a mate, filing for divorce and even earning a college degree. For about

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When Can a House Be Sold in a Probate Estate?

People often ask if they need to wait until after a decedent’s estate closes in order to sell the deceased loved one’s house. This is a common misconception and nothing could be further from the truth. The sale process may be completed while the estate is open. When a loved

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Do you have reason to contest a loved one’s will?

Legal issues could arise from a variety of circumstances. Even after a person has passed away, his or her estate could still face litigation if an issue with a will or other aspects comes about. As a surviving family member, you certainly want to ensure that everyone honors your loved

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Estate planning tips for new and expecting parents

Expecting parents and new parents frequently have many discussions about the futures of their children. It can be exciting to choose the name of a baby. Dreaming about high school graduation, college and the opportunities for the future are exciting times. There are other topics expecting parents and new parents

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Sorry, Nobody Wants Your Parents’ Stuff

Advice for boomers desperate to unload family heirlooms By Richard Eisenberg After my father died at 94 in September, leaving my sister and me to empty his one-bedroom, independent living New Jersey apartment, we learned the hard truth that others in their 50s and 60s need to know: Nobody wants

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Do You Have A Social Media Will?

Published in the Ferndale Patch By Mera McKenna (Patch Staff) – January 24, 2017 4:00 pm ET OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — What would happen to your Facebook page if you were to pass away tomorrow? It’s a grim question – yet one we should all be asking ourselves according to

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Avoiding mistakes when buying a residential property

Buying a home can be a wonderful step for your family, but purchasing real estate can be an arduous and complicated process. From inspections to transferring the title, there are many steps before you can take ownership and move into your new Michigan home. Due to the complicated and expensive

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What if estate planning benefited you now and later?

Many people delay writing a will. Perhaps it’s due to fear of the unknown, or anxiety at the thought of the end of life. It’s understandable. You may have thought about what you’d like to happen when you die, but you’re afraid to put it in writing because it feels

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What will happen to your digital afterlife?

In past generations, family members, fiduciaries and other individuals often had to scour through safe-deposit boxes, desks and boxes to gather documents and photos left behind by a loved one. As our culture continues to move further away from paper toward a paperless society, more and more assets and memories

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Should your estate make room for frozen embryos?

When most people hear the phrase “estate plan,” they usually associate the task of allocating assets, assigning executors and beneficiaries, and establishing trusts to elderly folks with money. What is actually the case is that most individuals who have assets benefit from developing an estate plan. In the past, drawing

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Understanding tax deeds and quiet title actions in Michigan

The residential and commercial real estate markets in Detroit, and throughout Michigan, have been taken on a proverbial roller-coaster ride in recent years. Despite past turmoil, investing in real estate remains a vital interest for homeowners, investors and businesses alike. Protecting financial interests in any real estate investment is critical.

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Unmarried cohabitating couples face unique estate issues

Unmarried couples who live together in Michigan face a unique set of legal matters related to estate and probate planning. Couples who live together but aren’t married may be doing so for a variety of reasons. Usually, these types of couples are younger and do not believe in the institution

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Understanding Powers of Attorney in Michigan

No matter how much we try, we cannot predict the future. The best we can do is to prepare for it. If you are at any point unable to manage your assets and affairs, you will want someone in charge of all of these things whom you have chosen and

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Contesting a Will in Michigan

Many pop culture references made it seem that will contests are aggravated in nature and have effects on the family of those involved. In reality, it’s a legal interest, not personal. If you suspect the will your loved one left is not what they intended it to be, you may

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Information first-time Michigan landlords should know

Buying and renting property represents a significant investment for landlords. If you are unfamiliar with the process it can be intimidating, especially if you are renting out property for the first time, but when done correctly it can go smoothly while also providing a consistent source of income. Each state

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It is not always a tenant complaint that starts legal trouble

Landlords who own apartment complexes or other forms of residential rental properties provide necessary housing for people from all walks of life. In many ways, complying with the complex regulations that apply to residential property management in the Detroit area is complex. Anti-discrimination laws and rules that seem to limit

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What happens if estate assets are missing?

During the probate process, the personal representative (which is sometimes referred to as the executor) will inventory the estate of the deceased. Occasionally, documents or assets that the personal representative knows about may be difficult to find. A missing asset may have been misplaced over time, but problems can arise

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Smoke-Free Provisions in Apartment Leases

Throughout Michigan, more and more owners of market-rate apartment buildings are choosing to make their properties smoke-free. This makes good business sense because: There is a preference by tenants for smoke-free facilities. The rehab cost for a unit occupied by a non-smoker is much lower than the cost for a

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Stress-free real estate transactions are feasible with our help

Real estate properties are some of the most valuable assets owned by Michigan residents, making any action related to them especially significant. Real estate transactions can be some of the most precarious transactions if mishandled. With a great deal of money and emotional investment on the line, securing the best

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Landlord/tenant dispute: Carbon monoxide in home a risk

In any relationship between a landlord and a tenant, there are standards that must be met to ensure the health and welfare of the occupants of a rental property. Some Michigan landlords do not honor these protocols, putting the lives of tenants at risk. A recent landlord/tenant dispute involves allegations that

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Include ‘digital assets’ in estate planning

In this digital age, our values have shifted to incorporate digital assets on a level similar to our personal belongings and assets. Accordingly, estate planning and its practices have changed to include these assets. Your digital footprint and memories are not only valuable to you but also your loved ones.

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Construction issues can plague residential real estate deals

Any real estate transaction can get instantly complicated, especially when new construction is involved. When new construction is under contract, residential real estate deals may hit snags that require legal support or intervention. Those in Michigan who are embarking on any kind of new construction project can be better prepared

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Inheritances can get complicated for Michigan families

Creating an estate plan that works for every family is impossible because families vary greatly, and the needs of one will not fit the needs of all others. Because of family differences and varying dynamics, plans for inheritances can get infinitely complicated. Michigan families can explore their options for creating

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Trust administration can ensure funds are handled correctly

The transfer of wealth from one person to another, or one generation to another, can be a complicated and highly personal venture. If someone chooses to pass wealth through the use of a trust, the responsibility of trust administration is a challenging responsibility. Michigan beneficiaries and residents embarking on the

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