Creighton, McLean, & Shea, Attorneys at Law

Estate Planning & Probate Attorneys in Livonia, Michigan

Creighton, McLean & Shea, PLC is a long-established Livonia law firm with an estate practice that spans planning before death, probate and trust administration afterward, and disputes that can arise when families disagree over an estate. The firm traces its history to 1945 and maintains a broader practice that also includes family law, criminal defense, business law, and civil litigation.

For individuals and families, the estate-related work begins with wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. The firm's attorneys also assist when a loved one has died and someone must take responsibility for administering an estate or trust, as well as with guardianship, conservatorship, and contested probate matters.

Building an Estate Plan Around the Family

An estate plan can involve considerably more than deciding who receives property after death. Parents may need to choose guardians for minor children. A homeowner may want to determine whether a trust would be useful for transferring property. Someone approaching retirement may be concerned about who could manage financial affairs if illness or incapacity prevents them from doing so.

Creighton, McLean & Shea helps clients evaluate wills and trusts in light of their individual circumstances rather than treating the documents as interchangeable solutions. The firm's estate planning work includes wills, revocable trusts, powers of attorney, and advance healthcare directives, allowing a plan to address both the eventual transfer of property and decisions that may need to be made during the client's lifetime.

Planning for a Time When You Cannot Make Decisions Yourself

Incapacity can create immediate problems when no one has clear legal authority to act. Bills and financial accounts may need attention while medical decisions must sometimes be made quickly.

Powers of attorney and healthcare directives allow people to designate others to handle specified financial or healthcare matters if they cannot make those decisions themselves. Incorporating these documents into an estate plan can therefore address a different question from a will or trust: not simply what happens after death, but who can step in when help is needed during life.

When advance planning has not adequately addressed incapacity, guardianship or conservatorship proceedings may become necessary. Creighton, McLean & Shea includes guardianship and conservatorship among its probate-related services.

When a Loved One Leaves an Estate to Settle

Being named in a will does not necessarily mean the practical work is finished. After a death, family members may need to determine whether probate is required, identify estate property, address outstanding obligations, deal with creditors and tax matters, and eventually distribute assets to the appropriate beneficiaries.

Creighton, McLean & Shea represents clients through probate and estate administration in Michigan. The firm assists with the procedural and financial responsibilities involved in settling an estate, including court filings and the responsibilities placed on the person administering the estate.

This can be particularly useful for someone serving as a personal representative for the first time. The role carries responsibilities to the estate and its beneficiaries at the same time the individual may be dealing with the loss of a parent, spouse, or other family member.

Taking Over as Trustee After a Death

A trust may avoid some of the procedures associated with a probate estate, but it does not administer itself. When the person who created a trust dies, a successor trustee may suddenly become responsible for locating and managing trust property, handling debts and expenses, communicating with beneficiaries, addressing tax matters, and making distributions according to the trust.

The firm's trust administration practice helps trustees work through these responsibilities and understand the duties that accompany the position. This gives Creighton, McLean & Shea the ability to work on both sides of the planning process: creating trusts for clients during their lifetimes and helping administer those trusts when the time comes.

When Beneficiaries, Heirs, or Fiduciaries Disagree

Some estates become contentious. Family members may question whether a will reflects the deceased person's actual wishes, disagree over the administration of a trust, or challenge decisions made by the person responsible for handling estate property.

Creighton, McLean & Shea handles probate litigation in addition to routine administration. Its work includes disputes involving wills and trusts and contested guardianship matters. The firm's broader civil litigation experience also distinguishes this part of its estate practice from planning that is limited to preparing documents.

For families facing a disagreement after a death, the legal problem may therefore involve two overlapping concerns: completing the administration of the estate while resolving a dispute over how property or fiduciary responsibilities should be handled.

Estate Planning for Business Owners and Family Succession

Estate planning can become more complicated when a family owns a business. Questions about who will own or operate the company after a death may have consequences not only for heirs, but also for business partners and employees.

Creighton, McLean & Shea identifies family succession planning as part of its probate and trust practice and separately maintains a business-law practice involving business formation, transactions, contracts, and the purchase and sale of businesses. That combination can be relevant when an estate includes ownership interests that cannot be treated in the same way as an ordinary bank account or household property.

Serving Livonia and Surrounding Southeast Michigan Communities

Creighton, McLean & Shea's office is located on Farmington Road in Livonia, where the firm has longstanding ties to the community. Several of its attorneys have substantial personal and professional connections to Livonia, including attorneys who have lived, worked, or participated in civic organizations in the city for many years.

The firm also represents clients from Canton, Plymouth, Northville, Westland, and surrounding Southeast Michigan communities. 

Practice Areas

• Estate Planning

• Wills

• Trusts

• Powers of Attorney

• Advance Healthcare Directives

• Probate Administration

• Trust Administration

• Probate Litigation

• Will and Trust Disputes

• Family Succession Planning

• Guardianship

• Conservatorship

• Business Law

• Civil Litigation