McCann Law

Probate, Trust & Estate Attorneys in Livonia, Michigan

McCann Law is a Livonia law firm with a substantial focus on Michigan probate, trust administration, estate litigation, guardianships and conservatorships, and estate planning. Attorney James C. McCann has practiced probate law for more than 35 years and serves as the Wayne County Public Administrator.

The firm's work is particularly relevant after a death, when a family member discovers that being named personal representative or successor trustee comes with legal and administrative responsibilities. McCann Law handles routine estate and trust administration as well as matters that develop into probate litigation.

You've Been Named Personal Representative—Now What?

A will may name someone to serve as personal representative, but that designation is only the beginning of the person's responsibilities after a death.

The probate process can involve establishing the validity of a will, identifying and inventorying estate property, addressing debts and taxes, and eventually distributing the remaining assets to the appropriate beneficiaries. The personal representative is responsible for overseeing that process rather than simply dividing the deceased person's property among family members.

McCann Law represents personal representatives and families through probate administration. For someone who has never settled an estate before, legal guidance can help clarify what needs to happen, in what order, and what responsibilities accompany the role.

When You're Not Sure Whether Probate Is Necessary

One of the first questions after a death may be whether an estate needs to go through probate at all.

The answer can depend on the property the deceased person owned and how it was titled or arranged to transfer. A family may discover a will but still need to determine which assets are actually subject to probate and what court proceedings are required.

McCann Law's probate-focused practice helps families work through the administration process when a probate estate is necessary. This can be especially important when relatives are dealing with financial accounts, personal property, debts, and other unfinished affairs while also trying to understand the legal significance of the deceased person's estate documents.

When Being Named Successor Trustee Becomes a Real Responsibility

A trust may keep appropriately arranged property outside probate, but it does not eliminate the work that follows a death. Someone still has to take responsibility for administering the trust.

A successor trustee may need to identify trust property, understand the instructions left by the person who created the trust, address administrative obligations, and ultimately make distributions to beneficiaries.

McCann Law handles trust administration in addition to probate. For an adult child or other family member suddenly assuming the trustee role, the challenge can be moving from simply possessing the trust documents to actually carrying out their terms.

When Family Disagreements Complicate an Estate

Not every estate proceeds with all interested parties in agreement. A disagreement can turn an otherwise administrative probate matter into a court dispute that must be resolved before the estate can move forward.

McCann Law handles estate and probate litigation in addition to routine administration. This allows the firm to represent clients when an estate requires contested court proceedings rather than limiting its probate work to matters in which everyone agrees.

The firm's available information does not identify every particular type of estate claim it litigates. Its practice is therefore best characterized broadly as estate and probate litigation rather than attributing specific types of will or trust challenges that are not clearly documented.

When a Family Member Can No Longer Manage Their Own Affairs

Probate courts also become involved in family problems that arise during a person's lifetime.

An older adult or another vulnerable person may reach a point where they can no longer adequately handle important personal or financial decisions. When sufficient arrangements are not already available, relatives may need to seek legal authority to assist.

McCann Law handles guardianship and conservatorship proceedings. These cases can address the need for someone to assume responsibility for personal decisions or financial affairs when another individual can no longer manage independently.

For a family dealing with declining capacity, the immediate problem is often practical: important decisions still have to be made, bills and property still need attention, and someone needs legal authority to act.

Estate Planning Before Probate Becomes Necessary

Although McCann Law has a particularly strong probate and administration focus, the firm also handles estate planning.

Planning ahead gives individuals an opportunity to establish their intentions for property and determine who should take responsibility when the plan eventually needs to be carried out. It can also help families consider how their arrangements may affect the administration required after death.

The firm's available estate-planning information is relatively general, so its practice is best described without attributing specialized tax, Medicaid, special-needs, or business-succession strategies that McCann Law does not specifically identify.

Decades of Experience in Wayne County Probate Matters

James C. McCann has practiced probate law for more than 35 years. His experience includes service as Wayne County Public Administrator, a role connected directly with the administration of estates in Wayne County.

McCann is also a former president of the Wayne County Probate Bar Association and a former Livonia City Council President.

Tyler W. McCann's practice also includes probate matters, along with mental-health and criminal-law work. He has served as Vice President of the Livonia Bar Association. Wade D. McCann is another attorney with the firm, although his documented practice is primarily focused on criminal defense rather than estates.

This distinction is important because McCann Law is a broader firm, while its estate-related work is particularly associated with attorneys whose practices include probate and related proceedings.

A Livonia Practice With Deep Wayne County Ties

McCann Law is located on Five Mile Road in Livonia. The firm's probate practice is rooted particularly strongly in Wayne County through James McCann's decades of probate work, service as Wayne County Public Administrator, and involvement with the Wayne County Probate Bar Association.

For families, the firm's estate practice spans several different circumstances: planning before death, administering a probate estate afterward, carrying out a trust, addressing guardianship or conservatorship needs, and representing clients when an estate develops into litigation.

Practice Areas

• Probate

• Probate Administration

• Estate Litigation

• Probate Litigation

• Trust Administration

• Estate Planning

• Guardianships

• Conservatorships