Estate Planning & Trust Counsel for Blended Families
in Michigan
Transparent Flat Fees. Personal Guidance.
Peace of Mind.
Michigan Attorneys | Offices in Grand Rapids and Northville | Google 5-Star Rated | Transparent Fees | Virtual and In-Person Meetings
Your Estate Planning Professionals.
We have a great team of experienced people you will enjoy working with.
The 3 Pillars of Protection for Blended Families.
Eliminating the "Remarriage Trap"
A standard last will & testament runs the risk of leaving everything to a surviving spouse. If that spouse remarries, your assets—and your children’s inheritance—could accidentally end up with a stranger’s family. We implement strategic trusts and other legal protections to ensure your hard-earned assets will go exactly where you want them to.
Balancing Spouse & Children
The primary challenge of a blended family is the "tug-of-war" between providing for a current spouse and protecting children from a previous marriage. We design trusts that allow your spouse to live in the family home and utilize assets for their lifetime, while legally guaranteeing that the remainder passes to your children.
Preventing Conflict & Litigation
Blended families are statistically more likely to face estate litigation between step-parents and adult children. Our strategy focuses on "Conflict-Free Transitions." We create robust, unambiguous trust structures that remove the legal "gray areas" that lead to family disputes and expensive courtroom battles.
Clear Pricing. Complete Protection.
No hidden costs. No hourly bills.
Explore our most popular complete estate plans for blended families...
Basic Estate Plan
for Blended Families
Investment: $2,450
What Is It?
This plan includes two trusts to manage property separately for the children of each parent in a blended family. However, some property must be distributed through probate proceedings. This limitation keeps upfront costs to a minimum, while shifting administrative cost to your estate.
What's Included?
● Consultation to customize your plan
● Last will & testament
● A separate revocable trust for the children of each spouse
● All instructions and forms needed by the trustee to administer each trust
● Power of attorney
● Healthcare directive
● Appointment of guardian
● Appointment of funeral representative
● Estate planning roadmap
● Heavy duty binder for original documents and flash drive for copies
Who's It Designed For?
Parents of blended families who:
● Have children from previous relationships
● Are comfortable with probate later
● Desire to set aside assets (e.g. life insurance or retirement accounts) solely for their children
● Need a complete estate plan for children at a lower cost than our Living Trust Plan for Blended Families
Why You'll Love It
● Lowest cost complete estate plan to manage assets for young children of each parent in a blended family
● Ensures that children will be financially stable without meddling by a former spouse or partner
● Completely customized documents to your specifications
● Designate separate trustees to manage property for children of each parent until a specified age
● Designate separate guardians to care for children of each parent until adulthood
● Feel confident that your assets will be handled for children as you direct
● Includes instructions and forms to guide trustees to handle trust property
Essential Living Trust Plan for Blended Families
Investment: $2,750
What Is It?
A Living Trust Plan uses a revocable "living" trust, along with several other documents, to manage and distribute your assets without probate court administration. A Living Trust Plan is a popular choice for parents of blended families who do not want separate trusts for their own children.
What's Included?
● Consultation to customize your plan
● Revocable ("living") trust
● Certificate of trust existence
● Authorization to disclose medical information
● Warranty deed to transfer real estate to trust
● Assignment of personal property to trust
● Agreement to transfer business assets to trust
● Trust funding instructions
● All documents needed by the trustee to administer the trust (trustee instructions, acceptance of trust, certificate of trust, notice to beneficiaries, and notice to creditors)
● Pour-over will
● Power of attorney
● Healthcare directive
● Appointment of guardian
● Appointment of funeral representative
● Estate planning roadmap
● Heavy duty binder for original documents and flash drive for copies
Who's It Designed For?
Designed for anyone who:
● Desires to avoid probate with maximum control over distribution of assets
● Wants to appoint a person to manage and distribute their estate
● Has minor children, or multiple adult beneficiaries, or relatively complex distribution plans for their property
Why You'll Love It
● Comprehensive estate plan to manage and distribute trust assets to any number of beneficiaries without probate
● Completely customized documents to your specifications
● Provides maximum control over distribution and administration of trust assets
● Designate a trustee to handle estate administration
● Designate a guardian to care for young children
● Feel confident that your assets will be distributed as you direct
● Includes instructions and forms to guide trustees to handle trust property without an attorney
Enhanced Living Trust Plan for Blended Families
Investment: $3,750
What Is It?
Includes everything in the Living Trust Plan, plus two (2) additional trusts to manage property separately for the children of each parent in a blended family.
What's Included?
● Consultation to customize your plan
● Joint revocable trust for both parents
● Separate revocable trusts for each parent's children
● Certificate of trust for each trust
● Authorization to disclose medical information
● Warranty deed to fund trust
● Assignment of personal property to trust
● Agreement to transfer business assets to trust
● Trust funding instructions
● All documents needed by the trustee to administer each trust (trustee instructions, acceptance of trust, certificate of trust, notice to beneficiaries, and notice to creditors)
● Pour-over will
● Power of attorney
● Healthcare directive
● Appointment of guardian
● Appointment of funeral representative
● Estate planning roadmap
● Heavy duty binder for original documents and flash drive for copies
Who's It Designed For?
Designed for parents of blended families who:
● Desire to avoid probate
● Have children from previous relationships
● Desire to set aside and manage assets solely for their own children
● Need a complete estate plan to manage property for children
Why You'll Love It
● Comprehensive estate plan to manage and distribute separate trust assets to any number of beneficiaries without probate
● Ensures that children will be financially stable without meddling by a former spouse or partner
● Completely customized documents to your specifications
● Provides maximum control over distribution and administration of trust assets for blended families
● Designate separate trustees to handle estate administration for children of each parent
● Designate separate guardians to care for children of each parent
● Feel confident that your assets will be distributed as you direct
● Includes instructions and forms to guide trustees to handle trust property without an attorney
What Your Neighbors Are Saying...
We make estate planning simple and stress free.
Very professional and knowledgeable! They made the detailed process very easy for me to understand and make the best decisions.
Vickie B.
Grand Rapids client
This was such a nice experience working with this firm for our estate planning. They are extremely knowledgeable and guided us to the perfect plan for us.
Carol Z.
Grand Rapids client
From the very first consultation, the team took the time to explain every detail, answer all my questions, and ensure that my wishes were clearly documented and legally sound.
Derrick D.
Northville client
Extremely knowledgeable and helped us with all our questions regarding laws and procedures pertaining to a detailed trust. We highly recommend this law firm.
Anjali B.
Northville client
Your Path to Peace of Mind.
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