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Michigan Probate Questions & Answers
2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Probate for Michigan on
Q: My dad died , he lived with his girlfriend she got a ppo against me I can't get to any paper work , how do I get that
Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Apr 22, 2022

What paperwork do you need? You'll likely need to open a probate estate, which would give you legal authority to gather paperwork and other things.

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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Michigan on
Q: My grandmother recently passed away. She did not have a will. The bills are up to date. How do we transfer the deed?

Taxes are up to date and so are utilities. Do we have to go through probate to acquire the home or can we handle the paperwork filings ourselves?

Trent Harris
Trent Harris
answered on Mar 29, 2022

It sounds like you will need to open an informal estate so a personal representative can be appointed. The personal representative can then sign a deed transferring real estate to the heir(s) of the estate or to a buyer.

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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Michigan on
Q: Hello. My mother was a drug addict in the 90's. The state of Michigan took us in and made us foster kids. My grandmother

& I filed missing persons reports and took dental records to the morgue. No one has seen or heard from my mother since. How do I go about filing a claim for unclaimed property If we have no death certificate?

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Mar 3, 2022

Have you checked the state treasury office for unclaimed property? Without a death certificate, you will need to prove she died, which is not easy. Have you thought about hiring a private investigator?

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Elder Law and Probate for Michigan on
Q: guardianship says I need permission to move aunt out of Michigan how do I petition court?

Aunt is in nursing home in Michigan, I need to move her to Ohio. I am next of kin and have guardianship. I told the judge I wanted guardianship specifically to move her to Ohio. He said I have 4 months to do so, but paperwork states I can not move her out of state. No one is giving me the... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Feb 28, 2022

You will likely need to file a petition and order in the court that granted you guardianship.

2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Michigan on
Q: My mom died last April. In her will she named me personal representative. I recently received a check from Bank of

America for a refund of some kind. I know she'll have a small tax refund when I file her last return. What form(s) do I need to file with the courts to be able to cash these? I do not have any bank accounts with her name on them. Thanks.

Brooke Lauren Archie
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Brooke Lauren Archie
answered on Feb 10, 2022

You will need to file an Application for Probate along with the Will nominating you as Personal Representative. The Will must first be admitted and you must be appointed and receive Letters of Authority before you are authorized to transact any business on behalf of your mother's estate.

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2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Michigan on
Q: What does Michigan LLC act 450.4504 Membership interest as personal property mean if the husband dies.

Who inherits the business property? The wife or his will.

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Feb 9, 2022

Membership interest in an LLC is considered a person's personal property, which upon someone's death, would go according to the terms of any will or intestacy. Unless the will says otherwise, the wife would likely receive.

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1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Michigan on
Q: What is the purpose of being an interested person in an incapacitated adult probate case?

The guardian refuse to communicate with me as well as all other parties. I then left my contact information as an interested person. I was never contacted. The guardian was to be investigated nothing indicates the guardian was investigated. The ward was abused and passed away. The guardian and the... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Feb 8, 2022

If the ward has passed away, the guardianship is set to end. Who was to do the investigation? If nothing was found, or even if it was, there may not be an obligation to have informed you of the results.

With the ward now deceased, an estate may need to be opened. The term "interested...
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2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Michigan on
Q: May a guardian use an assumed name on court documents?

I came across a document where the guardians last name had changed to the same as the ward and the case number was different. I searched for a name change for the guardian and couldn't find any name change. Is this legal? The guardian also had the ward to obtain a copy of his birth certificate... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Feb 8, 2022

Independently, each thing you mentioned probably doesn't amount to much; collectively, perhaps there's more. But if you are questioning the guardian's capacity to act for the ward's best interest, there's a high standard to meet with more specific factors.

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1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Michigan on
Q: Which probate petition form is required, to get court approval to convey real property?

There's no sale of property or interest from one heir to the other needed. Even if we decide to convey to only one heir, there's still not sale or request for payment from the other heir. So, we only see the petiton for approval to sell available for Michigan, which seems like the wrong... View More

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Feb 7, 2022

‘Convey’ and ‘sell’ are synonymous.

You ARE selling if the estate is conveying the property but the implications go WAY beyond that.

Trying to do this without legal representation is asking for problems down the road. Gave you considered tax issues? What about capital...
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1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Michigan on
Q: Do the PR need to Petition the court for approval to Transfer the Property to self before Recording the PR Deed to self?

Only 2 heirs, one is the Personal Representative, with an agreement between heirs that the PR Heir will take over the Property, the other heir simply do not want any interest in it. The other Heir is not requesting any payment for relinquishing interest. The property has no Mortgage & a SEV... View More

Brooke Lauren Archie
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Brooke Lauren Archie
answered on Feb 7, 2022

It depends on the restrictions included on the Personal Representative's Letter of Authority. If it contains a restriction against conveying, selling, transferring property which is standard in Wayne County Probate Court, then prior court approval is required before the PR can execute a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Michigan on
Q: Which type of Deed(s), affidavit/waivers will be needed to convey & allow 1 heir to sign over their interest?

Only 2 heirs , no mortgage. One heir is also Personal Representative. There’s no additional unpaid debts or reason to sell house & 1 heir wants to sign over their interest/portion of the property

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Jan 22, 2022

There should be a written agreement between the heirs that one takes the house. Then the PR executes a deed of personal representative to that person. Because you are dealing with real property, you should do this under direction of an attorney.

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Michigan on
Q: Which type of Deed(s), affidavit(s) /waiver(s) is needed to convey & allow 1 heir to transfer/relinquish their interest?

Only 2 heirs , no mortgage. One heir is also Personal Representative. There’s no additional unpaid debts or reason to sell house & 1 heir wants to sign over their portion of the property.

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Jan 21, 2022

We really cannot give specific legal advice in a forum like this. There are too many possible variables to provide a 'definitive' answer.

You need to consult with a local real estate / probate attorney to insure things are handled properly. Don't be 'penny wise and...
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1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Michigan on
Q: How do the heir that’s the Personal Representative convey in this situation?

Mother died Intestate

Only 2 heirs , no mortgage. One heir is also Personal Representative. There’s no additional unpaid debts or reason to sell house & 1 heir wants to sign over their portion of the property. Which type of Deed(s), affidavit or waivers will be needed to convey &... View More

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Jan 20, 2022

You transfer it in the same way the personal representative would transfer any other property. With a proper deed and property transfer affidavit(s). But if the transfer is different than what the will/laws of intestacy calls for by agreement of the parties, there also needs to be appropriate... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Michigan on
Q: My husband recently passed away and our manufactured home is in both our names will I have to sell it?

My husband only really owned (other than personal effects) a non running car and his half of the manufactured home. He owed 2 loans when he passed one for 1000 and one for 4000. He lived in St. Clair County Michigan with no will. Will I have to sell the home or his half to settle his debts? The... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Jan 18, 2022

Not necessarily. Are the loans liens on the home? Did you also sign for those loans?

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Michigan on
Q: What paperwork in wayne county, m do I need to file to be an interested party in a probate case of someone still living
Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Jan 9, 2022

Is this a guardianship or conservatorship? A probate estate would not be opened until someone dies. In all cases, there is no "paperwork" you can file to become an interested person. You either are an interested person or not, and that is determined by statute and court rule. Generally,... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Elder Law and Probate for Michigan on
Q: What do I need to file in order to be added as an interested person? Person is still living. More details included.

A man who was like a father to me growing up is now under probate court. His cousins have guardianship and conservator. They said now is not a good time. I've gone to his old residence a few times and they're refusing to tell me where he is now living. What I've gathered is an... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Dec 31, 2021

You're in a tough spot. If his family is unwilling to tell you where he is, you could try going to the probate court to look at the record. But even with that, his family could legally tell the facility not to let you see him. Whether they would do that or not, we can't tell.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Michigan on
Q: Am I correct that assets that name beneficiaries" DO NOT" pass through probate?

If I am correct how does a beneficiary uncover what happened to the assets that they were named as beneficiary on? For example abuse of process, forgery, elder abuse, etc. Also, the entity holding the assets what duty did they have to notify each beneficiary?

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Dec 22, 2021

The short answer to your direct question is 'yes'. Property with named beneficiaries does not pass through probate and is instead transferred directly to the beneficiary with the provisions in place by the asset holder (usually a request and a certified copy of the death certificate) to... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Legal Malpractice, Criminal Law, Civil Rights and Probate for Michigan on
Q: Is there a way to find out if a guardian of a deceased legally incapacitated adult took out a life insurance policy?

I already asked the funeral home for documentation. I was not notified of my child's death and do not know what actually happened.

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Dec 22, 2021

Best thing to do would be to go to the probate court. There should be an accounting filed, which would list everything.

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Michigan on
Q: What can be done to remain on Medicaid if you received a check for $7000 from the death of a parent.

Special needs person living on SS, is low income & on Medicaid. He received a $7000 check after his mother died. We are trying to find out what we can do so he doesn't get kicked off Medicaid. This money is everything he has in the world. He can't afford medical insurance and... View More

Nina Whitehurst
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Nina Whitehurst pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Dec 15, 2021

Whatever he does, he shouldn’t transfer the money to your sister. That would be considered in uncompensated transfer and would generate a penalty period And he will not have the funds to pay through that period of ineligibility. The easiest solution is to spend the money quickly on services such... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Michigan on
Q: Best friend of 34 years passed away on 11/09/2021 I am beneficiary. How do I start to collect.??? Family blocked me
Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Dec 10, 2021

Beneficiary of what? If you are named as beneficiary you should be able directly with the financial institutions or probate court.

HOWEVER — without seeing the paperwork it is impossible to provide any really cogent advice and that really would be beyond the scope of a forum like this....
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