The law can seem like a daunting and complex tangle. The attorneys of Cunningham Dalman are here to help. If you require legal representation or would like to seek advice from a law expert, we hope you’ll talk with someone at our firm. We also encourage you to learn more about legal issues that matter to you. On this page you will find valuable information about many different aspects of the law. We encourage you to spend some time browsing this collection of posts written by Cunningham Dalman attorneys.
Q & A : Disinheriting Family Members in Estate Planning
QUESTION: I think that I might want to disinherit a family member in my estate planning documents – how do I go about doing that, and are there any limitations? ANSWER: Disinheriting someone is not easy, and I mean that both in an emotional sense as well as in a strict legal sense. I won’t… continue reading
Death of a Divorcee and Survival of the Divorcee’s Will
It is not uncommon for a couple to plan ahead by each preparing a Last Will and Testament to handle their assets upon death. But couples do not usually plan for divorce. So what happens to the Wills of a divorced couple? First, the original Will may end up with whoever takes it from the… continue reading
What is the best way to leave money to a charity upon your death?
We live in a wonderfully philanthropically minded community. When I am doing an estate plan for a client who has a desire to leave a gift to charity, one of the things that I try to accomplish for the client is to make the gift in the most tax efficient way possible. Most people have… continue reading
LANDLORDS BEWARE!
Most residential landlords know they have a duty to keep to keep their property safe for its residents. Most landlords do not know that this duty has been written into law, and it requires the property be “fit for its intended use.” MCL 554.139. Even less people know that this duty can be modified and… continue reading
Guardianship – authority to act for the care and protection of another
Despite our best laid plans, sometimes things in life just happen. While it may be impossible to plan for every eventuality in our lives, having awareness of resources available to assist us and our loved ones can make unexpected events somewhat less challenging. Some of these resources include guardianship proceedings available through a Probate Court.… continue reading
New Option for Medicaid Qualification and Retirement Assets
Tax strategies and Medicaid planning goals often conflict. As an example, imagine a single person who requires nursing home care and their main asset is an individual retirement account (“IRA”). In order to qualify for Medicaid this person will need to liquidate the IRA because of the $2,000 asset limit to be eligible for Medicaid… continue reading
A Cottage Should Be Worry-Free
Q: I am thinking about buying a cottage by a lake. What do I need to consider? A: You need to consider all the things you would for buying any other property, plus some things unique to waterfront property. They are all important and some complex. If you plan to build there are additional concerns.… continue reading
LLCs – Why They Have Become The Best Option For Most Small to Medium Sized Businesses
If you have ever been involved with forming a new entity in Michigan within the last 20 years, you have undoubtedly heard of “LLCs”. The acronym stands for “limited liability company” (not “limited liability corporation”, as is often mistaken), and ever since Michigan adopted the Limited Liability Company Act in June 1993 (and later amended… continue reading
Frequently Asked Questions about Wills and Trusts
I have a will. Will my family avoid the cost and stress of having to go through probate when I pass? Most likely not. A will is actually used when assets have to be probated at your passing. So, a will does not allow your family to bypass the cost and hassle of probate. I… continue reading
