Woods Law Office

Elder Law, Estate Planning & Probate Attorneys in Shelby Township, Michigan

Planning for the future often means preparing for more than the distribution of property after death. Families may also need to address long-term care, protect assets, prepare for the possibility of incapacity, and help aging loved ones maintain financial stability while navigating changing healthcare needs.

Woods Law Office focuses its practice on elder law, estate planning, Medicaid planning, probate, guardianships, conservatorships, and probate litigation. The firm's attorneys help clients create comprehensive estate plans while also assisting families facing legal issues that arise later in life.

Building an Estate Plan That Prepares for the Future

A well-designed estate plan can provide clear instructions for the management and distribution of assets while also preparing for unexpected illness or incapacity.

Woods Law Office prepares wills, trusts, financial powers of attorney, healthcare powers of attorney, patient advocate designations, and related estate-planning documents. The firm also assists clients with trust funding and other steps needed to help ensure an estate plan functions as intended after it is signed.

Medicaid Planning Before and During Long-Term Care

Long-term care decisions often involve difficult financial and legal questions. Some families seek guidance years before nursing home care becomes necessary, while others require immediate assistance after a loved one has already entered a care facility.

The firm's elder law practice includes advance Medicaid planning, Medicaid crisis planning, Medicaid applications, and representation when benefit applications are denied or require administrative review. Woods Law Office also advises families on planning options intended to help preserve assets while complying with Michigan Medicaid requirements.

Helping Veterans and Their Families

Qualifying veterans and surviving spouses may be eligible for benefits that assist with the cost of long-term care or in-home assistance.

Woods Law Office incorporates veterans benefits planning into its elder law practice, helping eligible families explore available benefits alongside broader estate and long-term care planning.

Guardianships and Conservatorships

When advance planning has not been completed or an individual can no longer manage personal or financial affairs, probate court proceedings may become necessary.

The firm represents families seeking guardianships and conservatorships, assists with required court filings and ongoing reporting obligations, and helps clients address modifications or other issues that may arise after appointments have been made.

Probate and Estate Administration

Administering an estate requires careful attention to legal deadlines, court procedures, and fiduciary responsibilities. Personal representatives and trustees often need guidance while carrying out their duties and distributing estate assets.

Woods Law Office assists clients with probate administration and estate administration while helping families navigate the legal process following the death of a loved one.

Representing Clients in Probate and Trust Disputes

Not every estate administration proceeds without disagreement. Questions regarding the validity of a will, the administration of a trust, or the actions of a fiduciary may require court involvement.

The firm's attorneys represent clients in probate litigation involving will contests, trust disputes, breach of fiduciary duty claims, trustee issues, contested guardianships and conservatorships, creditor claims, and other disputes arising during estate and trust 

administration.

A Practice Focused on Elder Law and Probate Matters

Woods Law Office concentrates its practice on the legal issues that frequently affect older adults and their families, including estate planning, Medicaid planning, probate administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and probate litigation. The firm's attorneys work with clients who are planning for the future as well as families responding to immediate legal challenges involving long-term care or the administration of an estate.

Based in Shelby Township, Woods Law Office serves individuals and families throughout southeastern Michigan seeking guidance with elder law, estate planning, Medicaid planning, probate, veterans benefits, guardianships, conservatorships, and related legal matters.

Practice Areas

• Elder Law

• Estate Planning

• Wills

• Trusts

• Trust Funding

• Financial Powers of Attorney

• Healthcare Powers of Attorney

• Patient Advocate Designations

• Medicaid Planning

• Medicaid Crisis Planning

• Medicaid Appeals

• Long-Term Care Planning

• Probate Administration

• Estate Administration

• Probate Litigation

• Will Contests

• Trust Litigation

• Guardianships

• Conservatorships

• Veterans Benefits