Shimek Law Firm

Estate Planning, Probate & Estate Disputes in Taylor, Michigan

Estate matters do not always end with the preparation of a will or trust. After a death, someone may need to take responsibility for settling the estate, locating assets, addressing debts, and distributing property. In other families, the problem may be a disagreement over whether a will is valid, whether a trustee is acting properly, or who should have authority to manage the affairs of a vulnerable family member.

Shimek Law Firm, PLLC assists clients with estate planning, probate administration, estate and trust disputes, guardianships, and conservatorships from its Taylor office. Attorney Kory K. Shimek's practice includes probate and estate litigation as part of a broader practice encompassing several areas of civil law.

The firm's estate services include advance planning through wills and trusts as well as representation when a family is already dealing with probate or a contested estate.

Putting a Plan in Place for Property and Family

Shimek Law Firm prepares wills and trusts for clients who want to establish how their property should be handled after death.

A will provides instructions for the distribution of probate property and allows the person creating it to make decisions rather than leaving the disposition of the estate entirely to Michigan's intestacy laws. Trusts provide another option for holding and managing property for beneficiaries.

The appropriate plan depends on the individual's assets, family circumstances, and objectives. Creating the documents is also an opportunity to consider who should be entrusted with carrying out the plan after death.

Shimek's estate work is not limited to creating plans. The firm also represents families through the probate process when court administration is necessary and handles disputes when family members or other interested parties disagree about an estate or trust.

When You Have Minor Children

For parents of young children, estate planning involves decisions that extend beyond who receives financial property.

Kory Shimek has specifically addressed the importance of parents naming guardians for minor children. This allows parents to state whom they would want caring for their children if the parents are no longer able to do so.

Trust planning can address a separate question: what should happen to the children's inheritance while they are still young? Rather than focusing only on who ultimately receives property, parents can consider how assets should be managed for children who are not yet ready to handle them independently.

Shimek also discusses beneficiary designations as part of the broader planning process and the importance of reviewing an estate plan when family circumstances change.

For parents, this allows the plan to address both care of the children and the property intended to support them.

When You're Responsible for Settling an Estate

A family member appointed as personal representative can face a range of responsibilities after a death.

Shimek Law Firm represents clients through probate and estate administration. Its probate work includes matters involving the deceased person's debts and accounts, identifying heirs, addressing tax issues, and ultimately distributing the remaining estate.

The firm also handles estates in which the deceased person did not leave a will. In those circumstances, Michigan law determines who is entitled to inherit probate property.

For someone serving as personal representative, the job involves more than simply dividing possessions among family members. Property and obligations must be addressed before the estate can be completed, and the personal representative is responsible for carrying out the administration.

Shimek assists clients with those responsibilities throughout the probate process.

When Someone Challenges a Will or Trust

Sometimes the central issue is not administering an estate but determining whether the documents governing it should be accepted or enforced.

Shimek Law Firm handles will and trust contests. The firm's probate litigation work includes disputes concerning the validity or authenticity of estate-planning documents as well as questions involving the deceased person's capacity or intent.

These disputes can arise when beneficiaries or other interested parties believe a will or trust does not accurately represent the deceased person's wishes or should not control the disposition of property.

A challenge can substantially change an estate proceeding because the parties may first need to resolve which document is valid, or how its terms should be applied, before property can be distributed.

Shimek represents clients in these contested matters and seeks negotiated or mediated resolutions when possible, while also handling litigation when an agreement cannot be reached.

When Beneficiaries Question a Personal Representative or Trustee

Estate and trust disputes can also develop even when no one is challenging the underlying will or trust.

A personal representative or trustee has authority over property in which beneficiaries have an interest. Disagreements may arise concerning how that authority is being exercised, how assets are being handled, or whether the fiduciary is properly carrying out required responsibilities.

Shimek Law Firm handles disputes concerning the conduct and authority of personal representatives and trustees as part of its probate and estate litigation practice.

These conflicts can put family members or other beneficiaries at odds with the person responsible for administering property. Depending on the circumstances, resolving the disagreement may involve negotiation, mediation, or litigation.

The firm's experience in both probate administration and contested estate matters allows it to address the underlying administration as well as the dispute that has developed around it.

When an Adult Can No Longer Manage Personal Affairs

Shimek Law Firm also represents clients in guardianship proceedings involving incapacitated adults.

A guardianship can become necessary when an adult is no longer able to make important personal decisions independently and another person needs legal authority to act on the individual's behalf.

These situations can arise unexpectedly after a serious change in someone's condition or develop gradually as the person's ability to manage personal affairs declines.

Because guardianship involves court-established authority over another person's affairs, the proceeding involves more than an informal family arrangement. Shimek assists clients with the legal process involved in establishing and addressing guardianships.

The firm's guardianship practice also extends to matters involving minor children.

When Someone Needs Help Managing Property and Finances

A conservatorship addresses financial responsibilities rather than the personal decision-making associated with guardianship.

Shimek Law Firm handles conservatorship proceedings involving individuals who cannot adequately manage their own financial affairs. A conservator may be given authority to manage property and finances on the protected person's behalf.

The firm's work also includes conservatorships involving minors who own property or have financial or business interests requiring management.

This can create a different issue from simply providing day-to-day care for a child. When significant property belongs to a minor, legal arrangements may be needed for someone to manage that property until the child can do so independently.

Shimek's practice encompasses both guardianship and conservatorship matters, allowing the firm to address personal and financial authority when court involvement is required.

Estate and Probate Work Within a Broader Legal Practice

Kory K. Shimek handles probate and estate litigation, including will contests, trust disputes, guardianships, and conservatorships. Shimek Law Firm also provides estate planning and probate administration services.

The firm is not limited exclusively to trusts and estates. Its broader practice includes family law, real estate disputes, civil and business litigation, bankruptcy, and personal injury.

For estate clients, the practice therefore ranges from creating wills and trusts before a problem occurs to administering an estate after death and representing parties when probate or trust matters become contested.

Serving Taylor and Southeast Michigan

Shimek Law Firm is located at 20300 Superior Road, Suite 123 in Taylor. The firm serves clients in Wayne, Washtenaw, Oakland, and Monroe counties.

Practice Areas

• Estate Planning

• Wills

• Trusts

• Probate

• Estate Administration

• Probate Litigation

• Will Contests

• Trust Contests and Disputes

• Personal Representative Disputes

• Trustee Disputes

• Guardianships

• Conservatorships