No one likes to think about needing an estate plan. An estate plan essentially forces a person or family to think about their mortality or the mortality of a loved one. However, not planning accordingly or not being prepared can be costly to loved ones and can also leave more
When people think about estate planning, they may automatically assume it is a concern for those who are of a certain age and lot in life. However, there is never an age that is too young to think about an estate plan and ensure that the process is handled correctly.
Michigan residents who are looking to begin the estate-planning process may be a bit overwhelmed by the different documents that they may be able to set up. Many individuals are aware of how a will works and may believe that this document is the most important one. While individuals should
Parents and grandparents are always looking to make preparations for providing for the next generation. One of the most pertinent concerns families in Michigan have is saving for college for their children and grandchildren. A parent or grandparent may want to consider incorporating a 529 college savings account in his
Whenever a Michigan resident plans to engage in purchases and sales of real estate property it is wise to go over a few important questions with one’s real estate agent. Not all real estate agents will cross all their t’s and dot all their i’s, and not all real estate
An ordinance specifying the number of adults who can live in one rental unit was finally approved by the City Council of Holland, Michigan, after much debate. The ordinance was passed on Oct. 1 in a 7-2 vote and reduces the number of adults who can live in a rental
Dealing with a noncompliant tenant can be challenging for any landlord, but the stakes are often higher in commercial rentals. Commercial rentals can be harder to find tenants for, and moving one tenant out and another in is a much bigger process than with residential rentals. Because of the larger
A lot of Michigan landlords are afraid of letting their tenants have pets in the residential real estate properties they rent. However, some individuals argue that letting pets in a residence may not actually be a bad thing. In fact, one landlord recently made some poignant comments about a strange
When it comes time to think about how to handle the estate-planning process, there may be more than meets the eye. Each person’s estate plan can be vastly different than another person’s. Anyone in Michigan who is in the beginning stages of the estate plan process may want to be
The decision to begin the estate planning process may seem overwhelming and confusing. However, regardless of age or life circumstances, anyone involved in an estate plan should consider the benefits of having a power of attorney as part of the process. In Michigan, there are many reasons a person should
The best landlords have a knack for picking the best tenants. By taking the time necessary to select a good tenant, Michigan landlords can avoid many landlord-tenant disagreements. They can save a lot of time, money and potential headache as well. Fortunately, there are some great steps that every landlord
Many people might not give too much of their time and energy to thinking about the estate planning process. However, having a comprehensive estate plan long before it is needed is the best way to ensure that a Michigan family is properly cared for. However, if an estate plan isn’t
Having rental properties can be a good source of income, but when tenants become more of a liability than an asset, handling the situation can become complex. Because you are probably busy with other endeavors, having to handle tenants who don’t want to pay rent on time or who are
If you are thinking of buying a new home in Michigan, the condition of the home is vastly important for numerous reasons. Of course, you want the home to be in good condition just so that you can be comfortable living there without having to do much work, but it
The process of creating an estate plan may seem like a cut and dried kind of endeavor. However, there are aspects of an estate plan that people commonly get wrong or disregard altogether. It is important for Michigan residents to understand the mistakes of others to ensure they are on
If you are thinking about buying a new vacation property in Michigan, you want everything to go smoothly. The last thing you need is to add extra stress to your life when you are trying to find a place where you can go to escape the stress of day-to-day life.
Michigan tenants may sometimes find themselves involved in a legal squabble with a property owner they are renting from. Indeed — be it a rented house, apartment or a long-term office space lease — a renter could find him- or herself in all manner of landlord-tenant disagreements. Often, in these
Families can be complicated, and the individual needs of family members or other beneficiaries may be just as complicated. This means that each family may have specific and very different needs as they move forward with the estate planning process. For some Michigan families, the creation of a trust, specifically
When signing a lease in Michigan, the landlord is probably going to provide you with an inventory checklist. This could be important later, as these checklists are often cited in landlord-tenant disagreements. Understanding how the process works under local laws is crucial when it comes to protecting your rights. The
When it comes to leaving assets to beneficiaries, the process can be difficult for families if there are estranged children or strained family relations to be considered. For Michigan families, there are creative solutions for dealing with how to leave an inheritance to estranged children. While leaving that person out
City and county governments in Michigan create land use and zoning regulations in order to preserve the safety and health of a community. They also use zoning to control an area’s growth. Land use regulations and zoning ordinances govern the way property is used. For example, certain types of businesses
Real estate customers in Michigan must be able to trust their real estate brokers. Moving land and property between parties is a large undertaking that sometimes requires a great deal of money, complex contracts and any number of fees. According to a federal lawsuit, one real estate team outside of
In most cases, Michigan landlords are required to provide some basic assurances of safety to tenants. Renting apartments in a building that is falling down is unethical and could be illegal. Gray areas exist with regard to landlord responsibility for tenant safety, often resulting in landlord-tenant disagreements over repairs or
Oftentimes, when people think about beneficiaries of assets and funds, they may automatically think about parents leaving an estate to be split between children. However, for Michigan couples and individuals without children, the process of crafting an estate plan may be slightly different. It may require some more thought regarding
The representation of any Michigan client in a commercial real estate law matter requires an in-depth understanding of common problems and concerns faced by landlords, commercial property owners, real estate management firms and commercial tenants. The more a law firm focuses solely on matters pertaining to real estate, the more
There are many options for estate planning and no one plan will work for everyone. However, regardless of the size of the estate, a trust may be a good idea to consider. For anyone in Michigan who is venturing into estate planning, learning about the different types of trusts can
Both individuals and businesses in Michigan know that liens can be placed against property for a variety of reasons. Common reasons that come to mind might include tax issues or failure to make mortgage payments. When it comes to commercial property, the real estate broker has the power to place
An interesting lighthouse property is up for auction near Mackinac Island, Michigan. Historically, the lighthouse, which opened in 1948, marked the maritime passage between Round Island and Mackinac Island in Lake Huron. The lighthouse is still in operation, and the U.S. Coastguard will continue to maintain its solar panel powered
Many businesses opt to lease the space in which they work for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they cannot afford the financial outlay required to purchase a space, or they plan to buy a space when the business grows. Whatever the rationale, there are pros and cons to renting office
Developers are eying East Lansing, Michigan, for the construction of apartment complexes and numerous projects are already underway. The target market they are seeking to profit from in their purchases and sales and development projects are students. Developers are adding fitness centers, basketball courts, study lounges and tanning beds to
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