Holowicki Law

Estate Planning, Probate & Guardianship Attorney in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Estate planning is not only about deciding who receives your property after you die. It can also determine who will manage your finances during an illness, who will make medical decisions when you cannot speak for yourself, and who should care for your children or other dependents.

Holowicki Law, PLLC helps individuals and families in Ann Arbor prepare wills, revocable trusts, durable powers of attorney, and patient advocate designations. The practice also handles probate, guardianship, and conservatorship matters in Washtenaw County.

For families dealing with incapacity or probate-court involvement, attorney Nuala Holowicki’s regular work as a guardian ad litem provides experience that extends beyond preparing estate-planning documents.

I Do Not Have a Will

Without a will, Michigan law determines how property in your probate estate will be distributed. Those default rules may not match what you would have chosen for your family.

A will allows you to identify the people or organizations that should receive property, name the person who will oversee the estate, and provide instructions about when beneficiaries should receive their inheritance.

For parents, a will has another important role. It can state who should care for minor children and who should manage property left for them. It can also delay a child’s access to inherited property until an age when the parent believes the child will be better prepared to manage it.

Holowicki Law helps clients prepare wills that reflect their wishes instead of leaving these decisions entirely to Michigan’s default rules.

Would a Revocable Trust Help My Family?

Some families want property to pass outside the ordinary probate process or need a plan that can continue operating if the person who created it becomes unable to manage financial affairs.

A revocable trust is created during life and can hold some or all of a person’s property. The person creating the trust will commonly manage it while capable and name someone else to take over after incapacity or death.

The firm explains that a revocable trust may help reduce or avoid probate proceedings, make assets available to beneficiaries sooner, limit public disclosure, and provide continuity in the management of property.

A trust is not automatically the right choice for everyone. Its usefulness depends on the property involved, the family’s needs, and whether assets are properly coordinated with the trust.

Who Will Handle My Finances If I Become Incapacitated?

An accident, illness, or cognitive decline can leave someone unable to pay bills, manage accounts, sign documents, or handle other financial responsibilities.

A durable power of attorney allows a person to name an agent who can manage some or all of those affairs. Because the authority is durable, it can continue after the person signing the document loses the ability to act independently.

Without advance planning, relatives may need to ask the probate court for authority to manage the person’s finances. Preparing a durable power of attorney can reduce the likelihood that a family will need court involvement simply to handle routine financial matters during a crisis.

Holowicki Law assists clients in selecting decision-makers and documenting the authority those individuals should receive.

Who Will Make Medical Decisions for Me?

Financial authority and medical authority are not the same.

A patient advocate designation allows someone to appoint a trusted person to make decisions about medical treatment, care, and custody during a period when the patient cannot make those decisions because of a physical or mental condition.

This document works alongside a durable financial power of attorney. One addresses healthcare and personal-care decisions; the other addresses money and property.

Preparing both documents gives family members clearer guidance and identifies who has authority before an emergency occurs.

My Accounts and Property Pass in Different Ways

Not every asset is controlled by a will or trust.

Retirement accounts and insurance policies may pass through beneficiary designations. Jointly owned real estate or financial accounts may pass through survivorship rights. Other assets may pass through probate or under the terms of a trust.

These different arrangements need to be coordinated. Otherwise, a beneficiary designation or ownership arrangement may produce a result that conflicts with the rest of the estate plan.

Holowicki Law helps clients consider how wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, jointly owned property, and incapacity documents fit together.

My Parent or Relative Can No Longer Make Decisions

A serious illness, disability, or cognitive impairment may leave an adult unable to make informed decisions about personal care or finances.

In those circumstances, a family may need guidance about guardianship or conservatorship. A guardianship generally concerns personal welfare and care, while a conservatorship concerns money and property.

These proceedings can significantly affect a person’s independence, so they should not be treated as routine paperwork. Families may need to determine what authority is actually necessary, whether less restrictive planning documents are already available, and who is appropriate to serve.

Nuala Holowicki has a particular interest in guardianship and conservatorship matters and regularly accepts guardian ad litem appointments from the Washtenaw County Probate Court. That court experience may be valuable to families trying to understand the needs and rights of a vulnerable adult.

A Family Member or Friend Has Died

After a death, relatives may need to determine which assets require probate, whether a valid will exists, who has authority to act, and how property should be handled.

The process can vary depending on how assets were owned, whether beneficiary designations were completed, whether the deceased person left a will, and the value of property held in the individual’s name.

Holowicki Law handles probate matters and assists with legal issues that arise after a family member or friend dies.

Our Family Is Disputing the Estate

Probate disagreements can continue for months when relatives dispute property, legal authority, or the way an estate is being handled.

Holowicki Law’s website describes a prolonged probate dispute that had involved several hearings and attorneys. Robert Magill, who serves as of counsel to the firm, reviewed the court record, developed a proposed resolution, and helped the parties reach an agreement that was placed on the court record.

No attorney can promise that every family dispute will be resolved that way. The example does show, however, that the firm has experience addressing probate conflict as well as preparing estate plans before disputes arise.

Estate Planning and Probate Guidance in Ann Arbor

Holowicki Law is a small Ann Arbor practice led by Nuala Holowicki. In addition to estate planning and probate, she has extensive experience advising nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations.

For estate-planning clients, the firm’s clearest strengths are foundational planning, preparing for incapacity, and handling probate-court matters involving guardianships, conservatorships, or family disputes.

The office is located on East Eisenhower Parkway in Ann Arbor and serves clients in Washtenaw County and surrounding Michigan communities.

Practice Areas

• Estate Planning

• Wills

• Revocable Trusts

• Durable Powers of Attorney

• Patient Advocate Designations

• Planning for Minor Children and Dependents

• Probate

• Probate Disputes

• Guardianships

• Conservatorships