Ferguson, Widmayer & Clark

Estate Planning, Tax & Business Succession Attorneys in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Estate planning is about more than deciding who will inherit your property. A well-designed plan should also address tax consequences, retirement accounts, business interests, long-term care planning, and the people who will be responsible for carrying out your wishes. Thoughtful planning today can help preserve assets and reduce uncertainty for future generations.

Ferguson, Widmayer & Clark focuses its practice on estate planning, probate, trust administration, taxation, and related legal services. The firm's attorneys work with individuals, families, business owners, fiduciaries, and financial professionals to develop estate plans tailored to each client's personal and financial circumstances.

Is Your Estate Plan Tax Efficient?

Taxes can significantly affect the value of an estate passed to future generations. Estate planning often involves considering gift taxes, estate taxes, trust income taxes, capital gains issues, and the tax treatment of inherited assets.

Ferguson, Widmayer & Clark incorporates tax planning into its estate planning practice, helping clients evaluate strategies designed to preserve wealth while addressing changing tax laws and long-term financial objectives.

Planning for Retirement Accounts and Other Financial Assets

For many families, retirement accounts represent one of the largest portions of an estate. IRAs, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and other investment assets may require careful planning to coordinate beneficiary designations and minimize unnecessary tax consequences.

The firm's attorneys advise clients on estate planning involving retirement benefits and inherited retirement accounts as part of a comprehensive approach to wealth preservation and estate administration.

Does Your Business Need a Succession Plan?

Business owners face planning decisions that extend beyond personal estate planning. Questions about future ownership, leadership transitions, family involvement, and tax considerations can all influence the long-term success of a closely held business.

Ferguson, Widmayer & Clark assists business owners with succession planning, helping clients evaluate strategies for transferring ownership while considering both family goals and business continuity.

Planning for a Family Member with Special Needs

Families caring for a loved one with disabilities often have planning concerns beyond a traditional estate plan. They may wish to provide financial support while preserving eligibility for government assistance programs and ensuring long-term care after parents or caregivers are no longer able to provide support.

The firm assists families with special needs planning, including the preparation of special needs trusts and other planning strategies designed to protect both financial resources and public benefits.

Elder Law and Long-Term Care Planning

As people live longer, many families begin planning for the possibility of long-term care and the financial impact that extended healthcare needs can create.

Ferguson, Widmayer & Clark advises clients on elder law matters and Medicaid planning, helping individuals and families prepare for future care needs while considering available planning options and asset-protection strategies permitted under Michigan law.

Probate, Trust Administration, and Fiduciary Responsibilities

After someone dies, personal representatives and trustees are responsible for carrying out the terms of an estate plan while complying with Michigan probate law. These responsibilities may include gathering assets, paying debts, communicating with beneficiaries, filing required documents, and distributing property.

The firm represents personal representatives, trustees, beneficiaries, and families in probate administration, estate settlement, and trust administration. Its attorneys also assist clients with guardianships, conservatorships, and probate litigation when disputes arise.

Estate Planning for Today's Families

Every family has unique planning needs. Marriage, remarriage, adoption, blended families, special needs planning, and assisted reproduction can all affect how an estate plan should be structured.

The attorneys at Ferguson, Widmayer & Clark work with clients to develop estate plans that reflect their family circumstances, financial objectives, and long-term wishes while coordinating legal, tax, and personal considerations.

An Ann Arbor Firm Focused on Estate Planning and Wealth Preservation

Since its founding in 1991, Ferguson, Widmayer & Clark has concentrated its practice on estate planning, taxation, probate, trust administration, and related areas of law. The firm's attorneys regularly work with individuals, families, business owners, fiduciaries, accountants, and financial advisors on matters ranging from straightforward estate plans to complex planning involving business interests, retirement assets, and tax considerations.

Based in Ann Arbor, the firm serves clients throughout Michigan seeking comprehensive estate planning, probate, elder law, trust administration, and business succession guidance.

Practice Areas

• Estate Planning

• Wills

• Revocable Living Trusts

• Irrevocable Trusts

• Special Needs Trusts

• Probate

• Estate Administration

• Trust Administration

• Probate Litigation

• Business Succession Planning

• Tax Planning

• Retirement Account Planning

• Elder Law

• Medicaid Planning

• Guardianships

• Conservatorships

• Advance Directives

• Financial Powers of Attorney

• Healthcare Powers of Attorney

• Estate Plan Reviews