Attorney for Wills and Trusts
If you’re looking for an attorney for wills and trusts, The TGQ Law Firm is here to help. Read on to learn how our team can help protect your future and family.
When determining which of your friends and family members should receive part of your estate at the time of your death, creating a will or trust with a skilled attorney is essential. At The TGQ Law Firm, our attorney for wills and trusts has years of experience helping residents of Ann Arbor, MI, and the surrounding communities create their estate plans.
What should you know about wills and trusts before creating your estate plan? While wills go through probate, trusts can bypass probate and stay out of the public record. You can also create a living trust or a testamentary trust that arises upon your passing. Read on to learn more.
While you can create a simple will easily using an online form, you may forget certain assets or need to update your will over time. Trusts are more complex, and you should always seek assistance from an experienced attorney to create a trust.
Turn to us at The TGQ Law Firm for help from an attorney for wills and trusts. We can help you determine the value of your estate so you know whether a will or a trust is a better option. Estates valued over $12.92 million for single decedents must pay appropriate estate taxes, regardless of whether they have a will or trust. However, trusts do not go through public probate courts or enter the public record.
At The TGQ Law Firm, we have over 20 years of experience helping clients in Ann Arbor and throughout Michigan and Georgia with estate planning. Our team knows Michigan and Georgia estate planning laws and how to help you plan for your family’s future after you pass away. We can help you:
When you need a Michigan & Georgia estate planning Attorney to create a will or trust, turn to our experienced team at The TGQ Law Firm. Since 2008, we’ve helped clients in Ann Arbor and throughout Michigan ensure their estate plans are ready while adhering to our core values:
When you need an attorney for trusts and wills in Michigan and Georgia, trust us at The TGQ Law Firm to anticipate your needs for your estate.
Is it better to have a trust or a will?
It depends on your goals. A will is simpler but must go through probate court, making it public and potentially time-consuming. A trust is more comprehensive, avoids probate, provides immediate access to assets, and offers greater control over when and how beneficiaries receive their inheritance.
What are the disadvantages of putting your house in a trust?
The primary disadvantages involve the initial setup cost and the administrative effort of legally retitling your property deed into the trust’s name. Additionally, certain irrevocable trusts require you to give up direct control of the asset to achieve specific tax or Medicaid protection benefits.
What is the biggest mistake with wills?
The most critical mistake is failing to align your will with your beneficiary designations. Accounts like life insurance or retirement funds pass directly to the named beneficiary, regardless of what your will says. Outdated designations can lead to assets bypassing your intended heirs entirely.
What assets cannot be placed in a trust?
You cannot transfer active retirement accounts (like 401(k)s or IRAs) directly into a trust while you are alive without triggering major tax penalties. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and vehicles are also typically kept outside of a trust, depending on state laws.
Estate planning is a complex legal area. Passing away without a will or trust (called “dying intestate”) can leave your family without legal recourse for dividing your assets the way you would prefer. We can review each type of trust and the tradeoffs between choosing a will or trust for your estate plan to guide your decision.
Contact us at (734) 707-3232 or schedule a free 15-minute consultation with an attorney for wills and trusts in Ann Arbor, MI.