Gwinn Legal

Estate Planning & Probate Attorneys in Troy, Michigan

Estate planning can establish who will manage financial and personal decisions during incapacity, how property should pass after death and who should care for minor children. After a death, legal help may also be necessary to administer an estate or address a disagreement among beneficiaries.

Gwinn Legal is a general-practice firm with offices in Troy and Grosse Pointe Park. Attorney Daniel A. Gwinn has more than three decades of legal experience, and his work includes estate planning, probate administration and contested probate matters. 

The firm assists clients with wills, trusts, powers of attorney, guardianship planning and probate. Its other practice areas include family law, criminal defense, employment matters and civil litigation.

Deciding Who Will Make Decisions if You Cannot

An estate plan is not only about what happens after death. An unexpected illness or injury can leave someone unable to manage finances or communicate healthcare decisions, making it important to have trusted individuals legally authorized to act.

Gwinn Legal helps clients prepare powers of attorney and other estate planning documents that identify who should handle financial and personal matters if incapacity occurs. These documents can give the selected decision-maker legal authority to manage designated matters without first seeking a court appointment.

Putting Your Wishes in Writing

Every family has different priorities when planning for the future. Some clients want to make sure specific property passes to loved ones, while others are focused on providing for children or avoiding uncertainty about their intentions.

The firm assists clients with wills, trusts, and other estate planning tools designed to document those decisions clearly. By creating a personalized plan, clients can provide guidance for the people who will eventually be responsible for carrying out their wishes.

Naming Someone to Care for Minor Children

Parents of minor children often have concerns that extend beyond the distribution of property. Choosing who would care for a child if both parents are no longer able to do so is one of the most important decisions an estate plan can address.

Gwinn Legal helps parents incorporate guardianship planning into their estate plans so these decisions are made thoughtfully rather than being left entirely to the court if the unexpected occurs.

When Family Members Disagree About an Estate

Not every probate matter proceeds without conflict. Questions about the validity of a will, disagreements among beneficiaries, or disputes over the administration of an estate can lead to litigation in the probate court.

Gwinn Legal represents clients in contested probate matters involving the validity of a will, disagreements among beneficiaries and questions about the administration of an estate. Depending on the dispute, interested parties may need to examine the controlling documents, the ownership of disputed property and the actions taken by the personal representative.

Helping Families Navigate Probate

Following the death of a loved one, family members are often faced with unfamiliar legal responsibilities while also coping with personal loss.

Gwinn Legal assists with probate administration, including the court process and the responsibilities involved in collecting property, addressing estate obligations and distributing the remaining assets to the appropriate beneficiaries.

Serving Families in Troy and Grosse Pointe Park

Gwinn Legal has offices in Troy and Grosse Pointe Park. The firm represents clients in Oakland County, Wayne County and surrounding Southeast Michigan communities in estate planning, probate administration and contested probate matters.

Practice Areas

• Estate Planning

• Wills

• Trusts

• Powers of Attorney

• Guardianship Planning

• Probate

• Probate Litigation