Serafini, Michalowski, Derkacz & Associates

Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorneys in Sterling Heights, Michigan

Estate planning often becomes more important when a family begins thinking about long-term care, helping an aging parent, or preparing for the possibility that someone may no longer be able to manage financial or medical decisions independently. A thoughtful plan can help protect a person's wishes while giving family members clear legal authority to act when needed.

Serafini, Michalowski, Derkacz & Associates assists clients with estate planning, elder law, probate, trust administration, Medicaid planning, guardianships, veterans benefits, and business succession planning. The firm's estate practice focuses on helping clients prepare for future healthcare and financial decisions while guiding families through estate administration after the loss of a loved one.

Estate Plans Designed for Changing Family Needs

A complete estate plan addresses more than the distribution of property after death. It also establishes who can manage financial matters, make healthcare decisions, and carry out a person's wishes if illness or incapacity prevents them from acting independently.

Serafini, Michalowski, Derkacz & Associates prepares wills, trusts, Lady Bird deeds, and other estate planning documents tailored to each client's circumstances. The firm also advises clients on beneficiary designations and asset ownership so that estate plans work together as intended.

Planning for Long-Term Care and Medicaid

Many families first seek legal guidance after a spouse or parent begins needing assistance at home or faces the possibility of moving into assisted living or a nursing facility. Questions about paying for care often become just as important as medical decisions.

The firm assists clients with elder law and Medicaid planning, helping families evaluate available options before long-term care becomes immediately necessary. It also advises clients regarding veterans benefits that may help eligible individuals pay for future care expenses.

Trust Administration and Probate Guidance

After a death, personal representatives and successor trustees are often responsible for carrying out legal duties they have never handled before. They may need to locate assets, pay outstanding debts, administer trusts, and distribute property according to a will, trust, or Michigan law.

Serafini, Michalowski, Derkacz & Associates represents clients throughout probate and trust administration, including estates where no will exists. The firm also assists trustees with administering trusts and reminds clients that creating a trust is only one step—the trust must also be properly funded to function as intended.

Business Succession and Protecting Family Assets

For business owners, estate planning frequently includes deciding how ownership and management will transfer to the next generation or other successors.

Serafini, Michalowski, Derkacz & Associates advises business owners on succession planning as part of a broader estate plan, helping clients coordinate personal estate planning with the future of their business and other significant assets.

A Sterling Heights Practice Rooted in Macomb County

Located in Sterling Heights, Serafini, Michalowski, Derkacz & Associates works with individuals, families, business owners, and fiduciaries throughout Macomb County. Whether preparing for retirement, planning for the cost of future care, administering a loved one's estate, or organizing the transfer of a family business, the firm's estate planning and elder law practice addresses a wide range of long-term legal needs.

Practice Areas

• Estate Planning

• Elder Law

• Wills

• Trusts

• Lady Bird Deeds

• Beneficiary Planning

• Asset Titling

• Probate Administration

• Trust Administration

• Medicaid Planning

• Guardianships

• Veterans Benefits Planning

• Business Succession Planning