Our Practice Areas
We specialize in family law, estate planning, and probate issues in Southeast Michigan.
Family Law
At Michigan Estate Planning Group, we handle all Michigan family law issues, including divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support/alimony, division of property, and post-decree modifications and enforcement. Listed below is a short overview of our family law services.
Divorce
Michigan Estate Planning Group provides sound legal advice and effective representation to individuals involved in family law and divorce matters. We understand that divorce can be very stressful for you and your family, especially your children. Our experienced attorney will guide you every step of the way through the divorce process, helping you through this difficult time.
Because we are a smaller law firm, you will have direct access to Attorney Maggie Terrasi. All conversations remain confidential, and we will not bill you without your consent.
Our Metro Detroit divorce attorney will work with you to resolve your family law issues, such as child custody and visitation, spousal support, asset, debt division, and other matters related to your settlement.
Attorney Maggie Terrasi is an experienced litigator having spent significant time litigating a wide array of legal matters over the last 20 years. She knows what it takes to win and what it takes to avoid a trial.
Consult our Metro Detroit divorce lawyer today.
Custody
Child Custody and Parenting Time
Child custody is often the most contentious issue associated with divorce. We work closely with our clients to protect their own legal rights and the legal rights of their children. Our experienced metro-Detroit divorce attorney takes the time to explain the legal process so that you make informed decisions.
Child Support
Child support is the amount of money ordered by the court for a non-custodial parent or the parent with whom the child does not live to pay the other parent every month for their children’s support, health, education, and care.
We provide representation to married and unmarried individuals with requests to set up or establish child support, prepare for the child support hearing, challenge child support actions, and raise and lower the due amount of child support.
Property Division
Keep in mind that this does not necessarily mean property and debts will be divided in half between each partner. Instead, “fair and equitable” is determined by considering several factors such as marriage duration, the contribution of the parties to the marital estate, the age of the parties, and general equity principles.
Our Michigan divorce attorney will help you reach a favorable outcome in a property negotiation.
Spousal Support / Alimony
The factors considered when determining spousal support include the ability of either party to pay, length of the marriage, character, and situation of the parties, the ability of the parties to work, ages, needs, the health of the parties, etc.
We help our clients negotiate or settle on a fair amount of spousal support.
Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
Paternity
Estate Planning
Estate planning is an essential tool that secures your family’s stability and financial well-being for generations and ensures your wishes are carried out after your passing.
Every adult should have an estate plan, regardless of age, health status, or wealth. If you die without a last will and testament, the laws of intestacy will determine how your assets are distributed at your death, which may not be in accordance with your wishes. Taking the time to prepare and execute a last will and testament will guarantee that your assets pass only to the individuals of your choice.
Attorney Maggie Terrasi has extensive knowledge in the field of estate planning. We use compassion and experience to put our clients at ease and help them make their wishes a reality.
Estate planning documents may include a last will and testament, trusts, and advance directives.
Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
By having this document in place, you are ensuring control over who makes your medical decisions, and it gives you the ability to communicate your wishes to them before they ever need to act on your behalf.
Contact us today to discuss your estate planning goals.
Last Will and Testament
It allows you to designate a fiduciary called an “executor” who will manage your estate after you die, as well as a guardian for your minor children. Your will can also help you with your estate tax planning, allow you to leave a minor’s inheritance in trust for them, as well as protect those with special needs and loved ones in blended families.
Trusts
Every trust serves a different purpose, and it can be tailored to the goals of each individual or family. Sometimes they are used to accomplish estate tax planning goals, protect assets for government eligibility purposes, or safeguard funds from individuals who shouldn’t have access to their money but for whom you would like to provide.
Financial Power of Attorney
Probate Law
When a person dies in Michigan with or without a last will and testament, their estate must go through the probate process. Probate is the procedure by which the decedent’s last will and testament are admitted to the court. The named executor in the will is empowered to pay debts and taxes and, finally, to distribute assets to the decedent’s beneficiaries. Only assets that are individually owned by the decedent and that do not have a beneficiary designation must go through probate.
Probate falls to the executor to both initiate and manage. Unfortunately, it can be a confusing and overwhelming process, especially when combined with grief and distress over the recent death of a loved one.
A qualified probate lawyer will help you avoid time-consuming and potentially costly mistakes and make sure you are not held personally liable for any debts of the decedent. Getting assistance from the right experts can help speed up the process so that you may distribute your loved one’s assets in the way they want.
At Michigan Estate Planning Group, we will guide you through all probate court proceedings, the collection, protection, and sale of estate assets, preparing an inventory of assets, negotiating any claims against the estate, making distributions to beneficiaries, estate tax planning, preparation of tax returns, and accounting.
If you find yourself in a position where you need to initiate a probate proceeding, contact us today. We are here to guide you with compassion and expertise to make your job as executor as simple and painless as possible.