Blume Law

Estate Planning and Probate Attorneys in Sterling Heights, Michigan

Estate planning often becomes more urgent after a major change in family circumstances. A divorce, remarriage, new child, serious illness, or loss of a loved one can affect who should make decisions, who should inherit property, and whether existing documents still reflect the family’s needs.

Blume Law Group assists clients with wills, revocable living trusts, financial powers of attorney, patient advocate designations, guardianships, conservatorships, probate administration, and probate litigation. The firm also represents personal representatives, heirs, beneficiaries, guardians, conservators, and other interested parties in probate-related matters.

Estate Planning After Major Life Changes

An estate plan prepared years ago may no longer fit after a marriage, divorce, birth of a child, or other significant change.

Blume Law Group helps clients prepare and update wills, revocable living trusts, and related documents. For a single parent, this may include deciding who should care for minor children if the other parent is unavailable. For parents with young beneficiaries, a trust may be used to control when and how inherited property is distributed rather than leaving a full inheritance at age eighteen.

Reviewing an estate plan after major life events can help prevent outdated instructions from controlling important family and financial decisions.

Financial and Medical Decisions During Incapacity

Estate planning also addresses what happens if someone is alive but unable to manage personal affairs.

A durable financial power of attorney allows a trusted person to handle financial matters when necessary. A patient advocate designation identifies who may make healthcare decisions if the individual cannot communicate those choices independently.

These documents can be especially important after an accident, sudden illness, or diagnosis that may affect future decision-making capacity.

Guardianships and Conservatorships

Families may need court involvement when a child or adult cannot manage personal or financial affairs without assistance.

Blume Law Group handles guardianship and conservatorship proceedings involving minors, adults with developmental disabilities, and adults affected by dementia, illness, injury, or other incapacity. One common situation arises when parents need legal authority to continue assisting a child with developmental disabilities after the child turns eighteen.

The firm also assists relatives seeking authority to care for a minor when the child’s parents have died or are otherwise unavailable. Guardians generally address personal and care-related decisions, while conservators are appointed to manage finances and property.

Probate Administration

Being named as executor in a will does not automatically give someone authority to act for the estate. The probate court generally must appoint that person as personal representative before estate property can be managed or distributed.

Blume Law Group guides personal representatives through supervised and unsupervised probate administration. Responsibilities may include identifying and valuing assets, notifying creditors, paying valid debts and taxes, preparing required reports, distributing property, and closing the estate.

The firm also handles small-estate procedures when an estate qualifies for a more limited form of administration.

Probate Disputes

Disagreements may arise over whether a will is valid, whether someone influenced the person signing it, or whether the personal representative is carrying out required duties.

Blume Law Group represents clients in probate litigation involving competing wills, allegations of fraud or undue influence, and disputes concerning the conduct of fiduciaries. The firm represents personal representatives as well as heirs, beneficiaries, and other individuals whose rights may be affected by the estate proceeding.

From Sterling Heights to Probate Courts Across Metro Detroit

Blume Law Group is located on Hall Road in Sterling Heights and handles estate planning, guardianship, and probate matters in Macomb, Oakland, Wayne, and St. Clair counties. This regional practice allows the firm to assist families preparing documents in advance as well as those facing court proceedings after incapacity or death.

Practice Areas

• Estate Planning

• Wills

• Revocable Living Trusts

• Durable Financial Powers of Attorney

• Patient Advocate Designations

• Guardianships

• Conservatorships

• Probate Administration

• Supervised Probate

• Unsupervised Probate

• Small-Estate Procedures

• Probate Litigation

• Personal Representative Representation

• Heir and Beneficiary Representation