Kern Law

Estate Planning & Probate Attorney in Port Huron, Michigan

Estate planning can help families decide what should happen to their property, who should make important decisions if they become unable to act for themselves, and who should care for minor children if a parent dies. After a death, surviving family members may also need help navigating probate, addressing debts and claims, and distributing property to the appropriate beneficiaries or heirs.

Kern Law assists Port Huron-area families with estate planning and probate matters. Attorney Erika Kern's practice includes wills, trusts, powers of attorney, probate administration, and related legal issues that can arise as families plan for the future or settle an estate after a loved one's death.

Creating a Will or Trust

A will or trust can provide instructions for how property should be handled after death rather than leaving important decisions unresolved.

Kern Law helps clients prepare wills and trusts based on their individual and family circumstances. Estate planning can include determining who should receive property, selecting people to carry out important responsibilities, and considering how assets should eventually pass to children or other beneficiaries.

An estate plan may also need to change as life changes. Marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of children, changes in finances, or acquiring a business can provide reasons to review documents prepared years earlier.

Protecting Minor Children

Estate planning takes on additional importance for parents with young children.

Kern Law helps parents address who they would want to care for their children if both parents were no longer able to do so. Parents can also consider how property left for children should be managed rather than simply focusing on who will inherit it.

These decisions can be particularly important for parents who have put off estate planning because they believe they do not yet own enough property to need a plan. For a young family, deciding who should care for children and how their inheritance should be handled may be among the most important reasons to create an estate plan.

Planning for Incapacity

Estate planning is not limited to deciding what happens after death. A serious illness, injury, or other incapacity can leave someone unable to manage personal or financial affairs.

Kern Law assists with powers of attorney and planning for the possibility of incapacity. Establishing decision-making authority in advance can help families prepare for circumstances in which someone can no longer handle important matters independently.

Planning ahead also gives individuals an opportunity to make their own choices about who should have authority to act for them rather than leaving those questions unresolved until a crisis occurs.

Settling an Estate After a Death

The death of a family member can leave someone responsible for legal and financial matters they have never handled before.

Kern Law represents clients in probate matters involving the administration of a deceased person's estate. The process can involve determining whether a valid will exists, identifying heirs and beneficiaries, addressing debts and taxes, and ultimately distributing estate property.

For a family member serving in a responsible role during probate, understanding what needs to be done and in what order can be difficult, particularly while dealing with the personal effects of a recent death. Legal guidance can help families work through the probate process and the responsibilities involved in settling the estate.

Addressing Disagreements During Probate

Probate does not always proceed without conflict. Questions may arise about the validity of a will, who is entitled to property, or claims made against an estate.

Kern Law handles probate matters involving disputes among heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, and others claiming an interest in estate property. These disagreements can make an already difficult estate administration more complicated and may require the parties to resolve issues through the probate court.

Planning for a Family Business

Business ownership can add another dimension to estate planning.

Kern Law's estate-planning services include planning for the transfer of business ownership. A business owner may need to consider what should happen to the company after death and how ownership fits into the family's broader estate plan.

Planning can be especially important when a business represents a substantial portion of the family's assets or when another family member may eventually assume ownership.

Estate Planning After Family Changes

Kern Law also maintains a substantial family-law practice involving divorce, custody, adoption, and prenuptial agreements. Major changes within a family can also be an appropriate time to review an existing estate plan.

Marriage, divorce, remarriage, new children, or adoption can change the people someone wants to protect and the responsibilities they want others to assume. Reviewing older estate-planning documents after significant family changes can help determine whether they still reflect current circumstances and intentions.

Attorney Erika Kern

Erika Kern earned her law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2011, graduating magna cum laude.

Her professional background includes work with Lakeshore Legal Aid and helping establish a federally funded legal program serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse. Her practice at Kern Law includes estate planning and probate as part of a broader practice serving individuals and families.

Serving Port Huron and Surrounding Communities

Kern Law is located at 403 Fort Street, Suite A, Port Huron, Michigan 48060.

In addition to Port Huron and the surrounding St. Clair County area, the firm serves clients in areas that include Sanilac, Lapeer, Tuscola, Genesee, Saginaw, Bay, and Midland.

Practice Areas

• Estate Planning

• Wills

• Trusts

• Powers of Attorney

• Probate

• Probate Administration

• Probate Disputes

• Business Succession Planning