DeBates Law

Estate Planning Attorneys in St. Clair Shores, Michigan

DeBates Law assists individuals and families with estate planning from its St. Clair Shores office. The firm's estate-planning work focuses on helping clients decide how property should pass to loved ones and preparing for circumstances in which illness or serious injury leaves someone unable to communicate their wishes.

Estate planning is part of a broader practice that also includes real estate and business law. That combination can be useful when an estate includes a home, other real property, or business interests that need to be considered alongside the family's other assets.

Deciding Who Should Receive Your Property

Without a valid estate plan, property may not necessarily pass in the way someone would have chosen. DeBates Law works with clients who want to identify the people who should receive their property and put legally appropriate instructions in place.

The firm prepares wills and trusts as part of this work. Which approach is appropriate can depend on the client's property, family circumstances, and goals for transferring assets after death.

Using a Trust to Keep Property Outside Probate

DeBates Law identifies trusts as one tool that may allow property to pass to beneficiaries without going through probate. A trust can also provide instructions governing how property is transferred to the people selected by the person creating it.

Whether a trust is appropriate depends on the circumstances. The firm's estate-planning work therefore considers trusts as part of the larger plan rather than assuming every family requires the same planning documents.

Looking Beyond the Will or Trust

A will or trust is not necessarily the only arrangement that determines what happens to someone's property. DeBates Law also counsels clients about the use of insurance policies, bank accounts, and accounts that are payable on death.

The firm emphasizes that these different planning tools need to be understood before they are used. How an account or other property is arranged can affect how it passes after death, making it important to consider those decisions as part of the overall estate plan.

Deeds, Life Estates and Real Property

Real estate can require additional planning because ownership and deed arrangements may affect what happens to the property in the future. DeBates Law advises clients about deeds and life estates as estate-planning tools and cautions that improperly using or misunderstanding them can interfere with the intended estate plan.

Real estate is also a significant part of the firm's broader practice. DeBates Law handles matters involving purchases and sales, title issues, closings, leases, foreclosures, and other real-estate concerns in addition to its estate-planning work.

Preparing for Illness or Incapacity

Estate planning can also address what should happen while someone is still living. DeBates Law encourages clients to consider whether their medical wishes are documented in case illness or injury leaves them unable to communicate those wishes themselves.

Planning for that possibility can give family members clearer guidance at a time when important medical decisions may otherwise have to be made without knowing what the person wanted.

Probate After a Death

DeBates Law also identifies probate cases among the matters handled by the firm. Probate may become relevant after a death depending on the property the person owned and how it was arranged to pass.

Estate planning can sometimes reduce the property that must pass through probate. DeBates specifically identifies trusts and other transfer arrangements among the tools that may be considered when creating an estate plan.

A Father-and-Son Law Firm in St. Clair Shores

DeBates Law was founded in 2016 by Stephen DeBates, who partnered with his father, Raymond DeBates. Stephen's background includes extensive work involving Metro Detroit real estate transactions and disputes.

Raymond DeBates has practiced law since 1984. His career has included general legal practice as well as extensive work involving real estate and title matters before returning his focus to representing individuals, families, and businesses.

The firm serves clients from its office in St. Clair Shores and combines estate-planning services with its real-estate and business-law practice.

Practice Areas

• Estate Planning

• Wills

• Trusts

• Probate

• Payable-on-Death Planning

• Insurance and Bank Account Planning

• Deeds

• Life Estates