Mahlberg, Brandt, Gilbert & Thompson

Estate Planning & Probate Attorneys in Saginaw, Michigan

Mahlberg, Brandt, Gilbert & Thompson provides estate planning, probate, trust, guardianship, and conservatorship services from its Saginaw office. Families can seek help documenting inheritance wishes, arranging for the management of property, settling an estate after a death, or obtaining court authority to assist an incapacitated adult.

The firm also practices in litigation, mediation, municipal law, land use, personal injury, and employment law. Its attorneys have more than 100 years of combined legal experience and participate in continuing education involving probate and estate planning.

Using Wills to Leave Clear Instructions

A will establishes instructions for property that becomes part of a probate estate. It can name beneficiaries and designate the person responsible for administering the estate after death.

Without a valid will, Michigan’s intestacy laws determine who receives probate property. The statutory distribution may differ from what the deceased person would have chosen, particularly when family relationships or intended gifts do not follow the assumptions built into state law.

Written instructions can also reduce uncertainty for surviving relatives. Family members may sincerely remember informal conversations differently, while a properly prepared will gives the personal representative and beneficiaries a document to follow.

A will does not control every asset. Jointly owned property and accounts governed by beneficiary designations may pass outside the probate estate. Coordinating those arrangements with the will helps prevent conflicting or unintended results.

Managing Property Through a Trust

A trust can establish how property will be held, managed, and distributed for selected beneficiaries. It may continue beyond the creator’s death and provide instructions that apply over an extended period.

Trust planning can be useful when an inheritance should be managed rather than distributed immediately. The trust can name a trustee, identify the beneficiaries, and specify the circumstances under which property may be used or distributed.

The trustee assumes responsibility for following the document’s terms and managing trust property for the beneficiaries. Selecting someone capable of handling records, property, and competing family expectations is an important part of the planning process.

The effectiveness of a trust also depends on how ownership of the property is arranged. Assets intended to be governed by the trust must be properly connected to it.

Handling Probate After a Death

Probate is the court process used to administer certain property after someone dies. An estate may need to be opened when assets remain in the deceased person’s individual name without another legally effective transfer method.

The personal representative may need to locate and protect property, address valid debts and expenses, communicate with beneficiaries, and distribute the remaining assets. Court documents and deadlines must also be handled before the estate can be completed.

These responsibilities can be difficult for someone who has never administered an estate, particularly while grieving. Legal guidance can help the personal representative understand the required procedures and distinguish estate property from assets that transfer outside probate.

Questions may arise even when family members generally agree. Ownership records may be unclear, property may be difficult to value, or beneficiaries may have different expectations about when distributions should occur. Addressing those issues through the proper probate process can help move the estate toward completion.

Guardianships and Conservatorships

Illness, injury, or cognitive decline can leave an adult unable to make or communicate important decisions. If no existing document provides another person with sufficient authority, a court proceeding may be necessary.

A guardianship generally concerns decisions involving personal welfare and care. A conservatorship concerns the management of money and property. The appropriate proceeding depends on the person’s condition and the type of authority required.

Families may seek an appointment when they need to arrange care, manage bills, protect property, or respond to other immediate needs. Because these proceedings affect another person’s independence, probate-court oversight is involved.

A guardian or conservator also assumes continuing responsibilities after appointment. Legal assistance can help the family understand the court process and the fiduciary’s ongoing duties.

Located in Saginaw’s Lawyers Building

Mahlberg, Brandt, Gilbert & Thompson is located at 715 Court Street in Saginaw. Its attorneys have appeared before Michigan state and federal courts as well as administrative agencies.

The Court Street location places the practice near Saginaw’s county and municipal legal institutions.

Practice Areas

• Wills

• Trusts

• Estate planning

• Probate

• Guardianships

• Conservatorships