Lawyers, Answer Questions  & Get Points Log In
Questions Answered by Kenneth V Zichi
2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law for Michigan on
Q: I closed on a home on the 19th and the sellers are requesting we sign a sellers disclosure after sale on the 27th.

Should we sign this or are we required to?

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Dec 28, 2023

You should have received this as part of the ACCEPTANCE of the offer -- even before closing.

You absolutely positively certainly most assuredly need to get to a local real estate lawyer ASAP (as in yesterday) to review your closing paperwork. I assume based on your question you didn't...
View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Michigan on
Q: If i didn't sign as a guarantor on any court document, am i liable for attorney fees and burial expenses?

My cousin and brother brought this inheritance to probate court and signed all paperwork before the attorney located myself and another brother. I believe that if i did not sign any form of guarantee that all legal fees and burial expenses should be the responsibility of the individuals who did... View More

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Dec 27, 2023

They are generally the responsibility of the ESTATE to pay which means it becomes a 'proportional' expense that all heirs/devisees share in paying through the mechanism of 'lowering the distribution'.

Look at it this way, if the $100,000 house in a probate estate has a...
View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Probate for Michigan on
Q: How can I find out who the lawyer is that is overseeing my fathers will
Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Dec 20, 2023

Lawyers do not ‘oversee’ wills.

Is your father still alive? You have no rights your father doesn’t provide you — ask him and if he chooses to answer — there you are. If he chooses NOT to answer — there is no recourse.

Is your father now deceased? The Personal...
View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Business Formation for Michigan on
Q: Register of Deeds office denied recording my Power of Authority without reason in Lapeer county.

The power of Authority was a Grantor/Grantee notarized by a state notary and three (3) witness.

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Dec 15, 2023

What exactly is a 'power of authority'? (Did you mean Power of Attorney?) What was the ostensible purpose of this document? Did this relate to real estate in Lapeer County? Was the real estate identified or was this attached to other documents?

As you can see, there are many...
View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Michigan on
Q: Is Michigan's probate Notice of Intent form (PC 557) needed if a Personal Representative is named in a Will?

We lost your stepmother last month. She had both a Will and Addendum to her Will Notarized and Witnessed. She has no natural children, both her spouse (my father) and parents are deceased. She has a sister living. She appointed me as Personal Representative in her Will. When I file the... View More

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Dec 15, 2023

My condolences on your loss.

The BRIEF answer to your question is: no that form is not needed.

This and SO many other questions will be resolved quickly and easily and with relatively little cost if you hire a local licensed attorney to help you. None of the forms and procedures...
View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Contracts for Michigan on
Q: have a signed Real estate purchase & agreement closing date has passed, seller doesn't want to sell can I cloud title?

have a signed Real estate purchase & agreement contract signed by the seller since Oct.6th, it was supposed to close by Nov.14th, but the buyer wanted to wait until after Thanksgiving, and now the seller doesn't want to honor agreement, because he says contract has expired, so I wanted to... View More

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Dec 9, 2023

You don't want to cloud the title. You want to buy the property!

Seek local legal representation on how to enforce the terms of your agreement, or sue to get damages.

But this gets even more complicated. Just because they wanted to DELAY the closing doesn't mean they...
View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Michigan on
Q: hi I have a partially paid land contract that my cousin left to me upon his death, can his son his beneficiary take it ?

I'm in possession of the original deed and the contract and his will for this signed and notarized.

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Dec 5, 2023

You've used two different terms that make me think you're not understanding how this works.

If you are the DEVISEE (named in a will) and the asset passes through probate, then a 'beneficiary' doesn't exist and you're good.

If there is a BENEFICIARY...
View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Michigan on
Q: If my parent died, did not specifically disinherit me from the will, but named the others, do I have grounds to contest?

My parent died last year, I was not informed about will or trust, I am not specifically disinherited from the will, but the other children are specifically mentioned. Do I have grounds to contest the will and/or entitled to any assets, or will I be turned down?

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Dec 4, 2023

There is a QUESTION, but nothing is guaranteed. I always advise people to SPECIFICALLY name someone they intend to disinherit just to avoid the ‘dad was getting old and just forgot’ argument to challenge the Will.

That’s exactly what You have here but that doesn’t necessarily mean...
View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Probate for Michigan on
Q: Unmarried parents. Only deceased father’s name on deed.His other children took his 2 other houses. Need my name on deed

How to get my name on this deed, my home since birth. My mother lives there too but with dimentia.

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Dec 4, 2023

If I understand the question properly, your father has passed, and only his name was on the deed to the house you're interested in. Your mother, who was not married to your father, is still alive but not competent, and you want to put the house into your name alone despite the fact you have... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury and Landlord - Tenant for Michigan on
Q: I was renting an apartment for nearly 10 years, it had toxic mold they refused to fix. I moved, they took SD, can they?

I didn’t pay the rent the month we were moving. My son had been displaced from our home due to the flooding of his room and mold since July. We moved in Oct bc they refused to do the proper remediation, or any at all, just patch work to cover the water damaged areas. I’ve spent the last 3 years... View More

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Dec 1, 2023

If I understand your facts correctly, you left

Without paying the final month of rent and they took your security deposit to pay that rent.

There is no law that prevents that.

Indeed they are even permitted to take past due rent without having to file a court case....
View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Divorce, Real Estate Law and Family Law for Michigan on
Q: How can I ensure my husband can not sell our property without my knowledge as I’m not in our title or mortgage.

Sometimes I fear he sells it without me knowing before he plans to leave me, leaving me with nothing….this is anxiety but better safe than sorry

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Nov 30, 2023

If you have no interest in the property your 'consent' is not needed to remortgage, sell or otherwise dispose of it. In the recent past when Michigan provided Dower rights to wives, that would not have been the case, but that archaic law has been repealed so, now, you're just a... View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Land Use & Zoning for Michigan on
Q: Is there a Michigan law that states property owners are responsible for costs to maintain a private road?

2 long existing, private roads, servicing approximately 50+ properties. (large acreage parcels) These roads are in Menominee County, Holmes Township, in the woods. Ownership of the roads fall on about 10 owners, owning different stretches of the roads. There was never a maintenance agreement... View More

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Nov 27, 2023

Without actually examining the title it is impossible to say what to do. If there were some sort of road maintenance agreement, either created before the splits, or agreed to by ALL the property owners afterward, this is going to be difficult. You 'complicate' things by saying there is a... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Landlord - Tenant and Real Estate Law for Michigan on
Q: At what point can I consider property abandoned?

I am located in Michigan and have been going through the eviction process with my daughter and her husband. I filed a summons for both possession and damages. The last court appearance was via Zoom, and we have been informed we will have to appear in person on a date to be determined by the clerk... View More

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Nov 21, 2023

Unless there is a provision in a written lease that specifically defines when property is 'abandoned' there is no one answer to that unless the Court has made a ruling based on a supplemental complaint.

Get yourself a local landlord tenant attorney to review all the facts and...
View More

View More Answers

3 Answers | Asked in Contracts, Real Estate Law and Sexual Harassment for Michigan on
Q: Hi, I need a real estate lawyer for Detroit, MI? I have a house under contract and I was going to JV wholesale but he

became abusive and sexist. Only my name is on the purchase & agreement contract. I never signed anything with him,now he's threatening me saying he's going to file a lawsuit on me, can he do that? But, I live in California, so I'm virtual wholesaling .If, that makes a difference?... View More

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Nov 13, 2023

Indeed Mr Arrasmith is correct, but in addition, Michigan recognizes the 'statute of frauds' which requires that contracts for ownership in real estate must be in writing to be enforceable so any 'verbal agreement' would be invalid for that reason too.

You will likely...
View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Tax Law and Public Benefits for Michigan on
Q: Would owning a farm (not a primary residence) be considered a sellable asset to medicaid in Michigan?

Prior to developing brain cancer a friend had been nursing his dying father. When his dad died the family home became his and so did the father's farm. Both properties are in the state of Michigan. Would medicaid require the sale of the farm to help with my friend's medical expenses?... View More

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Nov 6, 2023

Business (and ANY non-homestead) property such as a farm that is rented out is not considered an 'exempt' property and needs to be liquidated in order to qualify for medicaid.

The PROCESS of doing that can be technical and complicated, so it is best to get local legal...
View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Michigan on
Q: I owe 29,000 on a land contract Home can I sell the property even though I still owe one contract
Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Oct 10, 2023

Most likely, yes. But there will also likely be 'conditions'. Is there a 'due on sale' clause or prohibition on further transfer during the contract term? If so, you may STILL be able to sell so long as you at the same time pay off the remaining balance of the land contract.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Estate Planning for Michigan on
Q: My name is not on the deed of our home. I am the wife. We have been married since 1987. In 2017 no more dower rights.

Does that affect my situation or only the deeds that came after the new 2017 ruling?

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Oct 3, 2023

No -- dower was abolished in April 2017 so with the limited exception of widows whose spouse died before then, there is no dower.

BUT there are other 'rights' surviving spouses (of both genders) retain such as electing against a will or inheriting something through intestate...
View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Landlord - Tenant for Michigan on
Q: Hello I have a question

I used to work with my uncle and his friend and they decided to open a smoke shop and they Told me that if I let them use my name to open the store and put the lease under my name and my uncles son name ( my cousin ) too at the same time they would let me get 35% of the store I trusted them bc they... View More

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Oct 3, 2023

You MAY be asked to pay something 'up front' to be removed from a lease, but if you ARE removed from the lease, you won't be liable for anything further. The only way you would continue to be liable is if you are NOT removed from the lease.

Get local legal advice before you...
View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Michigan on
Q: Michigan is a pension payout part of a trust? My brother past away and my mom was excluded Trust is she entitled pen

According to my brother executor she doesn’t but according to the pension people at his company she does. Causing lot of family drama! Being called trying to pull one!!

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Sep 23, 2023

IF (and only if) the 'pension' has a death benefit -- maybe.

Is the mother a named beneficiary of the pension 'death benefit'? Then she's entitled to directly receive a portion per the rules of the pension.

If the TRUST is the named beneficiary, then the...
View More

2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law for Michigan on
Q: Can i request relief for a prescribed easement against a municipality?

There has been an unauthorized easement to my property for over 85 yrs. Ive only owned the property for 6 yrs. The path is the only way to get to my driveway or i have to park on the road. However, parking my vehicles on the road will block my neighbors driveways. The city road is only wide enough... View More

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Sep 13, 2023

There are lots of unanswered questions raised by your statement of facts here. "Unauthorized" in what way? Who owns the property -- you or the city? Is this easement on YOUR property or are you trying to use the property AS an easement to get access to your property? It is all pretty... View More

View More Answers

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.