Garmo & Kiste

Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Attorneys in Troy, Michigan

An estate matter may involve planning before death, administering property afterward or resolving a disagreement among beneficiaries. Real estate and closely held businesses can add further questions about ownership, expenses, management and future transfers.

Garmo & Kiste assists individuals, families, fiduciaries and business owners with estate planning, probate administration, probate and trust litigation, guardianships, business succession and related real-estate matters. The firm also handles business law, family law, debt resolution, mediation and civil litigation.

Planning Before a Crisis Occurs

Estate planning is about more than deciding who inherits property. A well-prepared plan can allow trusted individuals to manage financial affairs during incapacity, provide healthcare decision-making authority, and reduce delays for surviving family members.

Garmo & Kiste prepares wills, revocable living trusts, living wills, medical directives, durable powers of attorney, and other estate planning documents tailored to a client's circumstances.

When an Estate Includes a Home With Ongoing Expenses

A death does not suspend mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance obligations or maintenance expenses. If no one has immediate authority to manage the deceased person’s accounts or property, those continuing obligations can create additional problems for the estate.

Advance planning may establish how real estate should pass and who can manage financial matters during incapacity. After a death, probate administration may be necessary to give a personal representative legal authority to protect, manage or transfer property held in the deceased person’s name.

Guiding Executors Through Probate

Serving as a personal representative often involves gathering assets, paying creditors, preparing inventories, filing court documents, and distributing property according to Michigan law.

Garmo & Kiste assists executors and families throughout the probate administration process, helping them meet legal requirements while working toward the orderly settlement of an estate.

Resolving Estate and Trust Disputes

Not every estate administration proceeds without conflict. Questions may arise regarding the validity of a will, disagreements among beneficiaries, or the administration of a trust.

The firm represents clients in probate litigation, contested wills, and trust litigation when disputes require negotiation, mediation, or court proceedings.

Planning for Michigan Real Estate

For many Michigan families, the home is the largest asset in an estate. Decisions about how property is titled can significantly affect whether probate will be necessary.

The firm advises clients regarding Lady Bird deeds and other real estate planning strategies that may allow property to transfer outside probate while allowing the owner to retain control during life. The firm also handles deeds, ownership questions and other real-estate matters that may need to be coordinated with an estate plan or addressed during probate administration.

Business Succession Planning

Business owners often need an estate plan that addresses more than personal assets. Ownership transitions, retirement, disability, or death can affect employees, family members, and the future of the business.

Garmo & Kiste assists business owners with succession planning, coordinating business interests with broader estate planning objectives.

Estate and Property Matters From a Troy Office

Garmo & Kiste’s Troy office assists individuals, families, fiduciaries and business owners with estate planning, probate administration, contested estates and trusts, business succession and related real-estate matters. Its mediation and litigation practices may also become relevant when beneficiaries, fiduciaries, creditors or property owners disagree about an estate or trust.

Practice Areas

• Estate Planning

• Wills

• Revocable Living Trusts

• Living Wills

• Medical Directives

• Durable Powers of Attorney

• Probate Administration

• Probate Litigation

• Trust Litigation

• Contested Wills

• Guardianships

• Business Succession Planning

• Lady Bird Deeds

• Real Estate Planning