Dodson, Fowler, Williams & Nesi

Estate Planning, Probate & Estate Disputes in Grosse Pointe, Michigan

Estate planning can address much more than who receives property after death. Parents may need to choose someone to care for their children, homeowners may want to determine how real estate should pass, and business owners may need to consider what happens to an ownership interest. Families can also face legal issues later when an estate enters probate or disagreements develop over a will, trust, guardian, or conservator.

Dodson, Fowler, Williams & Nesi provides estate planning and probate representation from its Grosse Pointe office. The firm's services include wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, financial powers of attorney, patient advocate designations, Lady Bird deeds, probate administration, contested estates, guardianships, conservatorships, will contests, and trust disputes.

Attorney Christopher Nesi handles estate planning and probate matters as part of his practice, including contested proceedings in Wayne County Probate Court.

Building an Estate Plan Around Your Family and Property

DFWN prepares wills and trusts for clients who want to establish what should happen to their property and who should have responsibility for carrying out their wishes.

A will can direct the distribution of probate property after death. Trusts provide another structure for holding and ultimately transferring assets to beneficiaries. The firm prepares both revocable and irrevocable trusts depending on the planning involved.

The firm's estate planning work can also include reviewing and modifying documents that are already in place. This can matter when an older estate plan no longer reflects current property, relationships, or intentions.

Rather than viewing the estate plan as a single document, DFWN's services can incorporate wills or trusts with lifetime decision-making documents and arrangements for particular assets such as real estate.

Making Plans for Minor Children

For parents, an estate plan can address one of the most difficult possibilities to contemplate: who should care for their children if the parents are no longer there.

DFWN specifically addresses planning for the care of children as part of its estate work. A will can be used to express the parents' choice of guardian rather than leaving that preference unstated.

The firm also prepares limited-guardianship powers of attorney among its planning documents.

Financial property presents a separate question. Parents need to consider not only who should care for a child but also how assets intended for that child should be handled.

Trust planning can provide a structure for property to remain managed for beneficiaries rather than requiring everything to pass outright. This allows the care of children and management of their inheritance to be considered together as part of the family's broader plan.

Choosing Someone to Act During Incapacity

Estate planning also provides an opportunity to decide who should have authority if illness or injury leaves someone unable to act personally.

DFWN prepares financial powers of attorney and patient advocate designations. These documents address different responsibilities during a person's lifetime.

A financial power of attorney can give another person authority over financial matters covered by the document. A patient advocate designation allows someone to select a trusted individual to make healthcare decisions under the circumstances provided by Michigan law and the designation.

Establishing these arrangements in advance gives the individual the opportunity to choose the people who should act rather than addressing the question for the first time after incapacity has occurred.

Planning for a Home or Other Real Estate

Real estate can be one of the most significant assets in an estate and may require its own planning.

DFWN includes Lady Bird deeds among its estate-planning services. These deeds can be used in appropriate circumstances to arrange for Michigan real estate to transfer at the owner's death while allowing the owner to retain specified rights during life.

The firm also prepares trusts, providing another potential structure for ownership and transfer of real property.

For homeowners, the important issue is how the treatment of the property fits with the rest of the estate plan. A house may represent a large portion of the estate, so the method chosen for transferring it can affect how much property ultimately requires probate administration.

Administering an Estate After a Death

DFWN represents clients in probate proceedings involving the administration of a deceased person's estate.

Probate can require determining what property belongs to the estate, accounting for assets, addressing debts, and ultimately transferring the remaining property to the appropriate heirs or beneficiaries.

Someone taking responsibility for an estate may therefore have duties beyond simply reading the will and distributing possessions.

The firm assists clients through the probate process and handles both routine administration and contested decedent estates. That distinction becomes important when family members or other interested parties disagree about the estate rather than allowing administration to proceed without a dispute.

Will Contests and Trust Disputes

Christopher Nesi's probate practice includes will contests and trust disputes.

These cases can arise when interested parties disagree about an estate-planning document or how property should be handled. Once a matter becomes contested, resolving the dispute may require Probate Court proceedings rather than ordinary estate or trust administration.

Nesi's experience includes litigation involving the estate of civil-rights figure Rosa Parks and disputes concerning her will in Wayne County Probate Court.

That experience supports DFWN's role in contested probate matters without changing the nature of the firm's broader practice: it handles both advance estate planning and disputes that can arise after estate documents are put into effect.

Guardianships and Conservatorships

DFWN also represents clients in guardianship and conservatorship matters.

These proceedings can become necessary when someone needs another person to assume legal authority over important aspects of personal or financial affairs.

A guardian generally has responsibility for personal decisions within the authority established by the court. A conservator is appointed to manage financial affairs and property.

Christopher Nesi includes both guardianships and conservatorships in his probate practice. These matters can become contested when family members or other interested parties disagree about whether court intervention is necessary or who should receive authority.

This work complements the firm's advance planning services because powers of attorney and other documents can establish authority voluntarily, while guardianship and conservatorship proceedings address situations requiring Probate Court involvement.

Considering a Business Interest as Part of the Estate

Business owners have an additional asset to consider when creating an estate plan.

DFWN's estate-planning materials specifically address the question of what should happen to a person's ownership interest in a business. That interest may need to be considered alongside real estate, financial accounts, and other property.

For an owner, the question may involve who should ultimately receive the interest and how that transfer fits into the rest of the estate plan.

DFWN also handles business law matters, allowing business ownership to be considered alongside the owner's other property and estate-planning goals.

Estate Planning and Probate Experience in Grosse Pointe

Dodson, Fowler, Williams & Nesi is a broader law firm whose work includes estate planning and probate alongside family law, personal injury, business matters, and other civil representation.

Christopher Nesi's practice includes preparation of estate plans as well as guardianships, conservatorships, will contests, and trust disputes.

For estate clients, the firm's services therefore extend from planning through wills, trusts, powers of attorney, patient advocate designations, and Lady Bird deeds to probate administration and contested proceedings after a death.

Serving Grosse Pointe and Metro Detroit

Dodson, Fowler, Williams & Nesi is located at 18050 Mack Avenue in Grosse Pointe. The firm handles matters throughout Michigan, with much of its work concentrated in Wayne, Macomb, and Oakland counties.

Practice Areas

• Estate Planning

• Wills

• Revocable Trusts

• Irrevocable Trusts

• Financial Powers of Attorney

• Patient Advocate Designations

• Limited-Guardianship Powers of Attorney

• Lady Bird Deeds

• Probate

• Estate Administration

• Contested Estates

• Will Contests

• Trust Disputes

• Guardianships

• Conservatorships