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I need to know if a successor patient advocate can access the same information as a primary patient advocate. In my case, the patient, who has two daughters, has designated one as the primary patient advocate and the other as the successor. The successor wants access to the same level of... View More 
answered on Jun 11, 2025
Mr Gudeman is correct but I would add this is why it is CRITICALLY IMPORTANT that you consult with your attorney when drafting such powers of attorney to insure your wishes are carried out and that the agents are also fully informed about their roles and what the principal wants them to do.... View More
My lease ended on May 4th, and I moved out on that date after notifying my landlord of my intent to vacate two weeks prior. There is no month-to-month clause in the lease agreement, and I returned the keys on May 4th. Despite giving written notice, my landlord did not respond and is still charging... View More
answered on May 29, 2025
If your lease expired, you moved out and returned the keys and gave them WRITTEN NOTICE (not a phone call or text message!) of your forwarding address to get your security deposit within 4 days of move out, then you have no obligation to do anything more (including paying rent!) but the LANDLORD... View More
I purchased a house, and the neighbor's dock is encroaching 2.5 feet onto my property, as shown on the survey. Despite verbal assurances from her and the realtor that it would be moved, almost a year has passed without any action. I also sent a text message offering assistance to move it, but... View More
answered on May 29, 2025
My short-hand answer is that a verbal agreement is worth the paper it is written on. Text messages doubly so.
If you completed the purchase BEFORE the encroachment was addressed that tells me you didn't really care about it, and apparently, your neighbor thinks the same thing.... View More
I have been married for 13 years and would like to file my own papers for a divorce to save money. This will be an uncontested divorce with no children involved, and neither of us wants alimony or retirement from the other. We have split our assets, and we plan to split our personal debts between... View More
answered on May 13, 2025
An uncontested divorce without children CAN be something "DIYable" but when you have property such as retirement plans and real estate to divide the phrase 'penny wise and dollar foolish' comes to mind if you're doing this to 'save money'.
Making a... View More
I'm aware of a high probability that there might be hidden money in a house that my great-grandfather owned. The property has since been sold, and the new owners are unaware of this potential hidden money. I want to approach the current owners with a contract that allows us to search for the... View More
answered on May 13, 2025
Generally speaking, you can enter into a contract to do anything so long as it is not illegal or against public policy.
So, no, you can't legally enter into a contract to murder someone, but you CAN enter into a contract to search a property with the owner of that property on whatever... View More
My mother passed away in September 2023, leaving no will. I believed my older brother was managing her affairs, but I recently discovered he took everything from her house and accounts. Now, a foreclosure company has contacted me about my mother's house, which is facing foreclosure. I... View More
answered on May 13, 2025
I agree with Mr Soble but I would add that CAN you sue is a very different question than SHOULD you sue.
People get confused about this a lot, and the short answer is almost always 'yes you can sue, but you probably shouldn't' SOMETIMES you cannot sue, and sometimes it is a... View More
I moved in with my mother and her husband about 3-4 years ago and had a verbal agreement to pay $200 rent directly to them. After some changes, I was told to pay the landlord directly, but there seemed to be confusion about the payment plan and outstanding balances. I eventually moved out, but my... View More
answered on Apr 8, 2025
If I understand correctly, you verbally 'sublet' part of your mother's rental for $200 a month, but somehow your name is on the lease? How did that work exactly? What does the WRITTEN lease say about your obligations?
Without seeing that document I can't even hazard a... View More
I have been living in a mobile home park for 6 years, and my rent was last increased 12 months ago. Recently, my rent was raised from $520 to $690 without any specific reason provided by management. Other residents have received the same increase. I'm not aware of any local rent control laws.... View More
answered on Apr 5, 2025
Absent rent control or some other local codes, private landlords can choose to charge whatever the market will bear for rent.
This is the disadvantage of renting.
You can also choose to move somewhere else with little to no notice.
This is the advantage of renting.... View More
I gave my ex-girlfriend a 30-day notice to vacate, which she acknowledged with a handwritten letter stating she'd be out in 30 days to avoid eviction on her record. She didn't leave, so I filed for eviction in Michigan a week after the deadline. She's now claiming she'll move... View More
answered on Apr 4, 2025
I think you know the answer, or you wouldn’t be asking the question in the first place. A verbal agreement, in general, is worth the paper that it is written on. Yes she can just change her mind again.
You DO need to serve her however, but so long as you are only looking for eviction and... View More
I'm interested in acquiring a property as a third party due to $3,700 in unpaid back taxes. The property owner recently passed away, and the owner's nephew has until Monday evening to pay the back taxes. The property is not yet listed for a tax sale or auction. I would like to know if I... View More
answered on Mar 29, 2025
'Control' is such a non-specific word.
Can you PAY the back taxes to the County/State before then? Yes, but the Estate will retain the right to redeem meaning you won't get the property, you'll only get your money (plus interest) back.
Can you BUY the property... View More
When my mom passed away, her assets, including her home with a lady bird deed, automatically transferred to me and my brothers, and we're not going through probate. However, she may have owed a debt to the IRS, and there are no remaining assets to pay that debt. Do I still need to post a... View More
answered on Mar 27, 2025
MUST you do so? No.
But it is still a good idea because it effectively reduces any statute of limitations to the ‘non-probate claims period’ which is drastically shorter than the general limits.
The wording is slightly different than the ‘probate’ notice but similar. I’d... View More
I believe my father's wife was negligent in caring for him, leading to his death. My father, who suffered from dementia, was suspected of having a stroke by his wife, a former nurse. She called an ambulance, but claimed he refused to get on. Later, she said he fell and refused help to return... View More
answered on Mar 17, 2025
Nothing you state raises huge red flags. People with dementia often act just as you describe and loved ones often can't intervene easily to avoid unpleasant outcomes. That said, if you question the veracity of these claims, my FIRST step would be to ask 9-1-1 for verification of the call for... View More
My mother passed away in 2024, having been divorced in 2015 in Michigan. The divorce included a QDRO ordering a lump sum to be paid by her ex-husband via an IRA rollover, designating him as a partial beneficiary. However, due to an oversight, he wasn't listed as a beneficiary on her Prudential... View More
answered on Mar 12, 2025
They may not be able to change the beneficiary per se, but the Divorce Court and Probate Court both have 'equitable' powers and can "recover" funds paid legally but contrary to prior court orders.
This situation needs to be reviewed by a local probate / divorce attorney... View More
My brother passed away in December 2024, and I am the personal representative for his estate in Michigan. His wife passed away in 2013. They lived in a home purchased during their marriage, but only his late wife’s name was on the deed. My brother never had the property transferred to his name.... View More
answered on Mar 8, 2025
You don't 'update' the deed. You probate the will and it looks like you will also need to probate his wife's estate as well. I strongly urge you to consult with a local (to the county where they lived) licensed probate attorney to walk through what steps may be necessary.... View More
My mom passed away in 2022, leaving a paid-off vehicle solely in her name without a will or any probate process initiated. There are four siblings, and there is a conflict because my brother and sister have taken the vehicle, but I have the title. Does it need to go through probate for me to claim... View More
answered on Mar 5, 2025
In Michigan vehicles below a specific value ($60k) do not HAVE to go through probate, but if there is a disagreement, that is the best way to insure there won't be issues in the future.
Seek local legal representation to make sure you do this in the most economical and appropriate... View More
As the adult child managing my deceased parent's estate, can I drop or forgive the back child support owed to my deceased parent by the other parent?
answered on Feb 25, 2025
The Personal Representative can settle and compromise claims in many circumstances but it is not a ’yes/no’ situation.
It is POSSIBLE to act in this way, but ONLY if it is in the ‘best interest of the estate’.
If you don’t already have an attorney, you need one to insure... View More
We received notice from a life insurance company after the probate was closed, asking us to file an Affidavit of Small Estate and provide a copy of the living trust that names us and The Humane Society as 50/50 beneficiaries. The Humane Society already received its share before probate closure.... View More
answered on Feb 24, 2025
Something doesn’t ’add up’ here. If there was a trust there wouldn’t have been probate absent someone doing something wrong.
If the probate is closed you may need to reopen it but life insurance doesn’t usually go through probate at all unless there is a failure to name a... View More
I bought a house from a friend through a verbal agreement and paid him $18,000. He was supposed to pay the back taxes, but he didn't fulfill this obligation, and now I'm at risk of losing the house due to unpaid taxes. I also discovered that he didn't own the property nor was it in... View More
answered on Feb 19, 2025
OK -- what a mess. If you "bought" a house with a 'verbal agreement', you didn't really buy the house. A sale of Real Estate REQUIRES a written document. Did you even get a deed?
I concur to the extent there are threats of criminal activity, you need to contact the... View More
He had requested my social security and address about 5 years ago and I am unsure why.
answered on Feb 12, 2025
He may have listed you as a beneficiary on either retirement, investment or bank account rather than needing this for a will/trust.
He SHOULD have told you why he wanted the info!
As for finding out about a will — do you know who he would name as the personal representative?... View More
My husband purchased 10 acres in 2020 and my son was put on the quit Claim deed to protect me, as I could not be put on it living in another state and on disability. My son passed away in September 2024 of ALS. He was married Aug 2023 and now she says half the 10 acres are hers. My husband has... View More
answered on Feb 5, 2025
I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your son, and the mess that this is creating. HOWEVER, without seeing the deed it is impossible to know. This all depends on HOW your son was 'put on the deed'. Was it 'joint owners with full rights of survivorship'? Joint Tenants? Tenants... View More
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