Ager Law Office

Estate Planning & Probate Attorney in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Planning for the future often begins with simple questions. Do you need a will or would a trust better protect your family? How can you make it easier for loved ones to manage your affairs if you become incapacitated? If your estate includes a home, family cottage, or other real estate, what is the best way to pass it to the next generation? And when a loved one dies, how do you know whether probate is even necessary?

Ager Law Office helps individuals and families answer those questions through practical estate planning and probate guidance tailored to their circumstances. Led by attorney William "Bill" Ager, the Ann Arbor firm combines more than four decades of legal experience with a background in probate, civil litigation, and real estate to help clients create clear plans for the future and navigate estate administration after a loss. Rather than relying on standardized documents, the firm works directly with each client to develop an estate plan that reflects their family, assets, and long-term goals.

Creating an Estate Plan That Fits Your Life

Estate planning is not reserved for people with large estates or complicated financial portfolios. Whether you are single, married, raising children, planning for retirement, or simply want to ensure your wishes are followed, having the proper legal documents in place can provide clarity and peace of mind.

Ager Law Office prepares customized estate planning documents that may include wills, revocable living trusts, durable financial powers of attorney, patient advocate designations, beneficiary planning, and other tools designed to help clients protect their families and manage the transfer of property. The firm also assists unmarried couples and individuals whose planning goals extend beyond traditional family structures, recognizing that every client's situation is unique.

Rather than recommending the same solution for every client, Bill Ager takes time to understand each family's objectives before developing a plan designed to address both lifetime planning and the orderly transfer of assets after death.

Planning for Your Home, Cottage, or Other Michigan Real Estate

For many Michigan families, a home or family cottage represents both a significant financial asset and a place filled with memories. Passing that property to future generations often requires more than simply naming an heir in a will.

One of Ager Law Office's distinctive strengths is the intersection of estate planning and real estate. In addition to practicing law, Bill Ager is a licensed real estate associate broker, giving him practical insight into property ownership and transfers. The firm advises clients on planning strategies involving homes, vacation properties, rental real estate, and other Michigan property interests.

Depending on a family's circumstances, planning may involve trusts, beneficiary designations, enhanced life estate deeds (commonly known as Lady Bird deeds), or other methods intended to simplify future transfers while helping families preserve valuable real estate for the next generation.

Choosing Between a Will and a Trust

Many people are uncertain whether they need a simple will or a revocable living trust. The answer depends on factors such as the size of the estate, the types of property owned, family dynamics, and the client's long-term goals.

Ager Law Office helps clients understand the advantages and limitations of each option rather than assuming that one approach fits every situation. The firm's educational approach explains how wills and trusts function, when probate may still be required, and how various planning tools work together to create a comprehensive estate plan. This allows clients to make informed decisions based on their own needs instead of common misconceptions.

Preparing for Incapacity Before a Crisis Occurs

Estate planning is about more than distributing property after death. A sudden illness, accident, or cognitive decline can leave individuals unable to make financial or medical decisions for themselves.

Ager Law Office helps clients prepare for those possibilities through durable financial powers of attorney, patient advocate designations, and other incapacity planning documents. By putting these documents in place before they are needed, families may avoid unnecessary legal complications and ensure that trusted individuals have authority to act when important decisions must be made.

When You're Suddenly Responsible for Settling an Estate

Losing a family member is difficult enough without having to immediately understand Michigan probate procedures. Many personal representatives and family members are unsure whether a probate estate must be opened, what documents are required, or what responsibilities accompany administering an estate.

Ager Law Office helps families evaluate whether probate is necessary, identify assets that may transfer outside probate, locate and interpret estate planning documents, and determine the appropriate next steps. By explaining the process in plain language, the firm helps clients move forward with greater confidence during an already stressful time.

Probate & Estate Administration in Washtenaw County

Serving as a personal representative carries significant legal responsibilities. From filing court documents and notifying creditors to preparing inventories, transferring property, and distributing estate assets, Michigan probate administration involves numerous procedural requirements.

Ager Law Office represents clients throughout the probate process in Washtenaw County and surrounding communities. The firm assists with supervised and unsupervised probate administration, small and large estates, summary proceedings, creditor issues, accountings, real estate transfers, and other matters involved in settling an estate efficiently and in accordance with Michigan law.

Because every estate presents different circumstances, the level of legal assistance is tailored to the complexity of the administration and the needs of the family.

Experience When Estate Disputes Arise

While many estates are administered without conflict, disagreements sometimes develop regarding property, administration, or the interpretation of estate planning documents.

Bill Ager's extensive background in civil litigation, appellate practice, and mediation provides valuable experience when probate matters become contested. Whether helping resolve disputes through negotiation or representing clients in court proceedings, the firm seeks practical solutions while protecting its clients' legal interests throughout the administration process.

An Experienced Ann Arbor Estate Planning Practice

Every estate planning practice develops its own areas of experience over time. At Ager Law Office, those areas include estate planning, probate administration, and real estate. Because Bill Ager has practiced law in Michigan for more than four decades and has experience in civil litigation and real estate as well as probate matters, clients often seek guidance on planning that involves homes, cottages, other real property, or the legal responsibilities that arise after a family member dies.

The firm's website also reflects a practical, educational approach. Rather than assuming every client needs the same estate plan, it explains the differences between wills and trusts, discusses planning for incapacity, and answers common probate questions that families often face after a loved one's death. That emphasis on helping clients understand the process is a consistent theme throughout the firm's estate planning resources.

Practice Areas

• Estate Planning

• Wills

• Revocable Living Trusts

• Probate & Estate Administration

• Probate Avoidance Planning

• Durable Financial Powers of Attorney

• Patient Advocate Designations

• Lady Bird Deeds (Enhanced Life Estate Deeds)

• Real Estate Planning

• Beneficiary Planning

• Charitable Giving Planning

• Probate Mediation

• Estate Litigation Support