The Law Office of Kimberly J. Webb

Estate Planning & Probate Attorney in Livonia, Michigan

The Law Office of Kimberly J. Webb, PLLC is a Livonia practice handling estate planning, probate administration, incapacity planning, and family law. Attorney Kimberly J. Webb has more than 26 years of legal experience, including an extensive career with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel before entering private practice.

Webb prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and patient advocate designations and assists families with the administration of estates after death. Her prior federal tax experience can also provide useful context when an estate involves tax concerns, creditors, or more complicated financial assets.

You've Been Named Personal Representative—What Happens Next?

Being selected as personal representative may seem like an honor when a will is prepared. After the person dies, however, that designation becomes a legal responsibility.

The person administering an estate may need to identify property, address financial obligations, work through probate requirements, and ultimately distribute assets to the appropriate beneficiaries. For an adult child handling a parent's estate for the first time, it may not be obvious where to begin or which responsibilities require attention first.

Webb represents personal representatives and families through probate administration, helping them move from the estate documents left behind to the actual process of settling the deceased person's affairs.

When an Estate Includes Tax or Creditor Issues

Not every estate consists of a house, a few accounts, and straightforward distributions to family members. Tax questions, outstanding obligations, creditor concerns, or complicated assets can make administration more difficult.

Webb brings an unusual professional background to these situations. Before private practice, she spent a substantial portion of her legal career with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, where her work included civil fraud litigation, bankruptcy proceedings, and financial and investigative matters.

That background does not mean every estate requires sophisticated tax planning. It can, however, provide relevant experience when tax or creditor issues become part of the problems a family encounters while dealing with an estate.

Who Can Handle Your Affairs If You Cannot?

An estate plan should address more than what happens after death. A serious illness, accident, or loss of capacity can leave someone unable to handle financial matters or make healthcare decisions independently.

Webb prepares powers of attorney and patient advocate designations that allow clients to choose trusted individuals for these responsibilities.

For families, this planning can become especially important during a medical crisis. Instead of waiting until someone is unable to act and then trying to determine who has authority, the client can make those choices while capable of expressing their own preferences.

Putting Basic Estate Planning in Place

Families do not necessarily need unusual assets or substantial wealth before estate planning becomes useful. A basic plan can establish who should receive property, who should carry out the client's instructions, and who should act if the client becomes incapacitated.

Webb's estate-planning practice includes wills and trusts along with incapacity documents. The appropriate combination depends on the client's property, family circumstances, and objectives rather than assuming that every household requires the same planning structure.

The important issue is establishing instructions while the individual is able to make those decisions rather than leaving relatives to resolve as much as possible after a death or incapacity has already occurred.

When Family Circumstances Have Changed

An estate plan reflects a person's circumstances at a particular point in time. Those circumstances may later change because of marriage, divorce, changes in family relationships, or other major life events.

Webb practices family law in addition to estate planning, giving her experience with legal issues that can alter family relationships and financial arrangements.

When a significant change occurs, existing estate documents may deserve another look to determine whether they continue to reflect the client's intentions. This is particularly important when documents were prepared under family circumstances that no longer exist.

Estate Planning Education in the Community

Webb's estate work also includes community education. She provides presentations to churches, senior centers, civic organizations, and other groups on probate, estate planning, and legal preparation for important life transitions.

This educational work complements a practice that addresses both sides of the estate-planning process: helping people establish arrangements in advance and assisting families when those arrangements must be carried out after a death.

A Livonia Practice Serving Metro Detroit Families

The Law Office of Kimberly J. Webb is located on Six Mile Road in Livonia. From her Livonia office, Webb handles estate planning and probate matters along with family-law services.

Her background with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel is a distinctive component of the practice, particularly when probate or estate matters intersect with financial, tax, or creditor concerns. At the same time, her estate practice includes the fundamental planning families may need before those complications ever arise.

Practice Areas

• Estate Planning

• Wills

• Trusts

• Powers of Attorney

• Patient Advocate Designations

• Probate Administration

• Family Law