Clients often ask me if it is important for them to file for divorce first. There are a few advantages which I will discuss, but generally speaking, since Michigan is a No Fault divorce state, it doesn’t matter who files first. Either party can file, and even if the other spouse doesn’t want a divorce,…
Continue reading ›MICHIGAN HAS THE BEST NO-FAULT SYSTEM: The purpose of the Michigan No-Fault System is to put an injured person in the position they would have been in had the accident not occurred. As a general rule, every person injured in an auto accident is entitled to the payment of certain no-fault benefits. This is true…
Continue reading ›Estate Planning – More Than Just Avoiding ProbateBesides the obvious and often exaggerated fears of dealing with the probate court, such as lack of privacy and added cost, there are other important reasons to avoid probate that attorneys might not tell you. After the loss or incapacity of a loved one, family members are naturally…
Continue reading ›Confused about Estate Recovery in Michigan? Apparently, so is the State of Michigan. After several years of thumbing its nose at CMA, the State of Michigan finally adopted an estate recovery program. The legislature enacted law requiring estate recovery for long term care Medicaid recipients. The end result is that estate recovery will effect any…
Continue reading ›December 7, 2011 marks the 70th Anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The attack was a shock to our nation and led directly to our involvement in World War II. This day, describe as “a date which will live in infamy” by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, reminds us of some very important lessons.…
Continue reading ›Finally, some good news from the federal government that will benefit Michigan residents receiving VA non-service connected pension benefits. After several years of not receiving a cost of living increase (COLA), the government has announced a 3.7% increase for benefits. In addition to social security, this will include VA benefit payments. If you are a…
Continue reading ›LIFE IMITATES ARE WHICH IMITATES LIFE (Or something like that) All I want or expect from any court or judge is a fair chance. I want an unbiased judge to look at the facts and the law and call it the way they see it. However, there appears to be a disturbing trend… In John…
Continue reading ›Often times we have clients that need assistance in Florida. The great snowbird migration of the upper midwest to sunshine states can affect clients living in multiple states. In Michigan it seems that most seniors and retires enjoy spending winters in Florida. Although we do not practice law in Florida, we frequently refer to experts…
Continue reading ›A recent article in USA Today reports some rather grim statistics. The recent opening of service connect claims related to Agent Orange exposure compounded with the need to file for non-service related claims by WWII and Korean War veterans has caused a serious backlog of VA claims. The total number of claims since last April…
Continue reading ›I would like to thank James Kelley, a University of Missouri law student, for providing us with the following post. After their service, veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces are entitled to a number of benefits. Common benefits include service-connected disability compensation, VA-provided health care, the VA Home Loan program, educational assistance, and Aid and…
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