Oakland County Probate | Loss of Privacy

Our clients ask us to develop Michigan estate plans that avoid the Oakland County probate system (Wayne and Macomb, as well) to keep their affairs private.  Typically, as estate planning lawyers we draft living trusts to avoid probate.

When your estate plan goes through the probate system, you lose all privacy.  As your will, and other matters go through the probate system, they become part of the public record.  Individuals have been known to submit false claims against Michigan probate estates and use the probate record to target heirs and beneficiaries.

Michigan Living Trusts on the other hand, if properly prepared by a Michigan estate planning lawyer, can be totally private.  Noon can find out your assets, or who will inherit what with a living trust.

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