[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":5698},["ShallowReactive",2],{"locations":3,"videos":1791,"locationAll":3376,"leadership":4711,"blogLatest-will":4915,"$QEJIbFX0hy":5596},[4,372,644,941,1227,1500],{"_path":5,"_dir":6,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":9,"description":10,"seoTitle":11,"h1":11,"headline":12,"answerCapsule":13,"streetAddress":14,"city":9,"state":15,"zip":16,"phone":17,"url":18,"map":19,"directions":20,"review":21,"phoneDisplay":22,"attorney":23,"attorneyUrl":24,"meetings":25,"inPerson":7,"ratingValue":26,"reviewCount":27,"ratingAsOf":28,"gbpName":29,"gbpCid":30,"latitude":31,"longitude":32,"county":33,"probateCourt":34,"areasServed":35,"services":41,"testimonialsLocation":51,"heroImage":52,"heroImageAlt":53,"differentiators":54,"faqs":60,"subhead":73,"nearestOffice":74,"nearestOfficeName":75,"nearestOfficeAddress":76,"nearestOfficeDirections":77,"body":78,"_type":366,"_id":367,"_source":368,"_file":369,"_stem":370,"_extension":371},"/about-us/locations/ann-arbor","locations",false,"en","Ann Arbor","Estate planning and asset protection for Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County, by video or at our Troy office. Home and accounts moved into your trust. 4.9 stars from 67 Google reviews. Call (866) 577-7296.","Estate Planning Lawyer in Ann Arbor, MI","Probate avoidance and asset protection for Ann Arbor families","Rutkowski Law Firm works with Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County families by secure video and in person at its Troy office, 801 W. Big Beaver Road, led by founding attorney Michael L. Rutkowski. We protect homes, savings and retirement accounts from probate court, lawsuits and long-term care costs, and we do the work families usually get stuck on: moving your home and accounts into your trust, recording your deed with the county and confirming in writing that your plan is done. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 67 Google reviews. Call (866) 577-7296.","315 E Eisenhower Pkwy, Suite 303b","MI","48108","+1 866-577-7296","https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rutkowski+Law+Firm+Asset+Protection+%26+Estate+Planning/@42.237035,-83.724137,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xcb96ebb3a1e6ba72!8m2!3d42.2452637!4d-83.7470967?shorturl=1","https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d11815.771197002985!2d-83.724137!3d42.237035!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x883caf0ac4d8dc43%3A0xcb96ebb3a1e6ba72!2sRutkowski%20Law%20Firm%20Asset%20Protection%20%26%20Estate%20Planning!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sgg!4v1737720648098!5m2!1sen!2sgg","https://maps.app.goo.gl/FgDyxKGAMCxzsB7b6","https://www.google.com/search?q=rutkowski+law+firm+ann+arbor&rlz=1C1RXQR_enUS960US960&oq=rutkowski+law+firm+ann+arbor+&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i65j69i60j69i65j69i60l3j69i65.3146j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-#lrd=0x883caf0ac4d8dc43:0xcb96ebb3a1e6ba72,3,,,,","(866) 577-7296","Michael L. Rutkowski","/about-us/team/michael-rutkowski/","By secure video, or in person at our Troy or Rochester office","4.9",67,"October 6, 2026","Rutkowski Law Firm Estate Planning & Asset Protection","14670171992953895538",42.2452637,-83.7470967,"Washtenaw","Washtenaw County Probate Court in Ann Arbor",[9,36,37,38,39,40],"Ypsilanti","Saline","Dexter","Chelsea","Pittsfield Township",[42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50],"Estate planning","Living trusts","Wills","Powers of attorney","Lady Bird deeds","Medicaid and nursing home planning","Elder law","Probate","Guardianship and conservatorship","Ann Arbor, MI","/img/hero/ann-arbor.webp","Downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan",[55,56,57,58,59],"funding","asset-shield","crisis-speed","process","virtual",[61,64,67,70],{"q":62,"a":63},"Which court handles probate for Ann Arbor estates?","Ann Arbor is in Washtenaw County, so estates go through the Washtenaw County Probate Court in Ann Arbor. Assets in a funded living trust skip that court.",{"q":65,"a":66},"Do my retirement accounts go into the trust?","Usually not directly. IRAs, 401(k)s and 403(b)s pass by beneficiary designation, so we review and update those forms to match your plan instead of retitling the account.",{"q":68,"a":69},"Where do in-person meetings happen?","Most Ann Arbor clients meet with us by secure video. If you'd rather meet in person, we'll see you at our Troy office at 801 W. Big Beaver Road or our Rochester office at 312 East Street.",{"q":71,"a":72},"Our kids live out of state. Can they be part of the process?","Yes. They can join any meeting by video, and we make sure the powers of attorney name people who can actually act when it's needed.","Most law firms hand you a binder and a to-do list. Rutkowski Law Firm does the work families usually get stuck on: moving your home and accounts into your trust, recording your deed with the county and confirming in writing that your plan is done.","troy","Troy","801 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 600, Troy, MI 48084","https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=801+W+Big+Beaver+Rd+Suite+600,+Troy,+MI+48084",{"type":79,"children":80,"toc":356},"root",[81,90,107,162,167,173,178,183,188,194,199,218,224,229,297,302,312,318,323,328,334,339,344],{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":84,"children":86},"element","h2",{"id":85},"whats-different-about-planning-in-ann-arbor",[87],{"type":88,"value":89},"text","What's different about planning in Ann Arbor?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":92,"children":93},"p",{},[94,96,105],{"type":88,"value":95},"Many Ann Arbor families hold much of their wealth in retirement accounts and a valuable home. The median Ann Arbor home is worth about $453,000, according to the ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":98,"children":102},"a",{"href":99,"rel":100},"https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/annarborcitymichigan/PST045224",[101],"nofollow",[103],{"type":88,"value":104},"U.S. Census Bureau",{"type":88,"value":106},". Retirement accounts pass by beneficiary form, not by will or trust, so those forms have to match the plan.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":108,"children":109},{},[110,112,118,120,126,127,132,133,139,140,145,146,152,154,160],{"type":88,"value":111},"That's where plans most often go wrong: a careful trust, and an IRA or 403(b) still naming an ex-spouse or a parent who has passed. If your children live out of state, a finished plan, and powers of attorney someone can actually use from a distance, matter even more. Rutkowski Law Firm handles ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":113,"children":115},{"href":114},"/estate-planning/",[116],{"type":88,"value":117},"estate planning",{"type":88,"value":119},", ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":121,"children":123},{"href":122},"/estate-planning/trusts/revocable-trust/",[124],{"type":88,"value":125},"living trusts",{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":128,"children":130},{"href":129},"/estate-planning/lady-bird-deed/",[131],{"type":88,"value":46},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":134,"children":136},{"href":135},"/estate-planning/power-of-attorney/",[137],{"type":88,"value":138},"powers of attorney",{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":141,"children":143},{"href":142},"/medicaid-planning/",[144],{"type":88,"value":47},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":147,"children":149},{"href":148},"/asset-protection/",[150],{"type":88,"value":151},"asset protection",{"type":88,"value":153}," and ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":155,"children":157},{"href":156},"/guardianship-conservatorship/",[158],{"type":88,"value":159},"guardianship and conservatorship",{"type":88,"value":161},".",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":163,"children":164},{},[165],{"type":88,"value":166},"The Asset Shield™ is the complete plan: your trust, deeds, powers of attorney and beneficiary forms, drafted, signed and funded so they work together.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":168,"children":170},{"id":169},"what-does-done-for-you-mean-at-rutkowski-law-firm",[171],{"type":88,"value":172},"What does \"done for you\" mean at Rutkowski Law Firm?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":174,"children":175},{},[176],{"type":88,"value":177},"It means Ann Arbor families leave with a finished plan, not a to-do list. We move your home and accounts into your trust, record your deed with the county, send the beneficiary-change forms and confirm in writing that your plan is done.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":179,"children":180},{},[181],{"type":88,"value":182},"For most Ann Arbor families that means retitling the home and bank accounts into the trust, recording the deed with the Washtenaw County Register of Deeds, and reviewing every retirement-account and life-insurance beneficiary form so it matches the plan.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":184,"children":185},{},[186],{"type":88,"value":187},"Most Michigan estate planning attorneys hand Ann Arbor families a binder and leave the bank visits and county filings to them. An unfunded trust doesn't keep anything out of probate court, which is why we treat funding as part of the plan, not an extra. You won't leave with homework.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":189,"children":191},{"id":190},"what-if-the-family-is-already-in-a-crisis",[192],{"type":88,"value":193},"What if the family is already in a crisis?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":195,"children":196},{},[197],{"type":88,"value":198},"Call us. Rutkowski Law Firm has turned around emergency powers of attorney by the next day, with a notary sent to wherever the parent is, such as a hospital room at Michigan Medicine or Trinity Health Ann Arbor.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":200,"children":201},{},[202,204,208,210,216],{"type":88,"value":203},"If a parent can no longer make decisions and there's no power of attorney in place, we handle ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":205,"children":206},{"href":156},[207],{"type":88,"value":159},{"type":88,"value":209},". Our guardianship fee includes ongoing guidance and a yearly check-in, so the family isn't left on its own after the court date. If a parent already needs nursing home care, Michigan Medicaid looks back five years at gifts and transfers, so talk to us before moving any money. ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":211,"children":213},{"href":212},"/practice-areas/crisis-planning/",[214],{"type":88,"value":215},"Crisis planning",{"type":88,"value":217}," can often still protect part of the savings.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":219,"children":221},{"id":220},"how-does-the-process-work",[222],{"type":88,"value":223},"How does the process work?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":225,"children":226},{},[227],{"type":88,"value":228},"Every Ann Arbor plan follows the same four steps, and the Rutkowski Law Firm team stays with you through all of them: a Vision Consultation, a design meeting, the signing, and the funding. Nothing is left for you to finish on your own.",{"type":82,"tag":230,"props":231,"children":232},"ol",{},[233,261,277,287],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":235,"children":236},"li",{},[237,243,245,251,253,259],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":239,"children":240},"strong",{},[241],{"type":88,"value":242},"Vision Consultation.",{"type":88,"value":244}," ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":246,"children":248},{"href":247},"/about-us/team/chris-pletkovic/",[249],{"type":88,"value":250},"Chris Pletkovic",{"type":88,"value":252}," or ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":254,"children":256},{"href":255},"/about-us/team/josh-heppner/",[257],{"type":88,"value":258},"Josh Heppner",{"type":88,"value":260}," from our Customer Success team asks what you're protecting and who you're protecting it for, then lays out the options that fit, with the price for each, before you decide anything.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":262,"children":263},{},[264,269,271,275],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":265,"children":266},{},[267],{"type":88,"value":268},"Design.",{"type":88,"value":270}," Our attorneys and paralegals, under founding attorney ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":272,"children":273},{"href":24},[274],{"type":88,"value":23},{"type":88,"value":276},", build the plan around your family, your property and your accounts.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":278,"children":279},{},[280,285],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":281,"children":282},{},[283],{"type":88,"value":284},"Signing.",{"type":88,"value":286}," By secure video with a notary, or in person at our Troy office.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":288,"children":289},{},[290,295],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":291,"children":292},{},[293],{"type":88,"value":294},"Funding.",{"type":88,"value":296}," We move your assets into the trust, record the deeds and deliver the finished documents.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":298,"children":299},{},[300],{"type":88,"value":301},"You'll have a client portal for your matter, so you can see where things stand at any point. And we keep improving the process: Michael Rutkowski builds the firm's client management system himself, and the team keeps refining each step.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":303,"children":304},{},[305,311],{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":306,"children":308},{"href":307},"/schedule/",[309],{"type":88,"value":310},"Schedule your Vision Consultation",{"type":88,"value":161},{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":313,"children":315},{"id":314},"do-i-have-to-come-to-an-office",[316],{"type":88,"value":317},"Do I have to come to an office?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":319,"children":320},{},[321],{"type":88,"value":322},"No. Most Ann Arbor families work with us entirely by secure video, including the signing. To meet face to face, we'll see you at our Troy office at 801 W. Big Beaver Road or our Rochester office at 312 East Street.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":324,"children":325},{},[326],{"type":88,"value":327},"Phones are answered 24 hours a day; the offices are open weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Video also lets adult children who live elsewhere join the same meeting, so the whole family hears the plan together.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":329,"children":331},{"id":330},"which-communities-do-you-serve-near-ann-arbor",[332],{"type":88,"value":333},"Which communities do you serve near Ann Arbor?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":335,"children":336},{},[337],{"type":88,"value":338},"We serve Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Saline, Dexter, Chelsea and Pittsfield Township, and families anywhere in Michigan by video. Estates in this area are handled by the Washtenaw County Probate Court in Ann Arbor.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":340,"children":341},{},[342],{"type":88,"value":343},"Rutkowski Law Firm meets clients in person at its Troy and Rochester offices and works with families anywhere in Michigan by secure video.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":345,"children":346},{},[347,349,355],{"type":88,"value":348},"See ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":350,"children":352},{"href":351},"/about-us/locations/",[353],{"type":88,"value":354},"every area Rutkowski Law Firm serves",{"type":88,"value":161},{"title":357,"searchDepth":358,"depth":358,"links":359},"",2,[360,361,362,363,364,365],{"id":85,"depth":358,"text":89},{"id":169,"depth":358,"text":172},{"id":190,"depth":358,"text":193},{"id":220,"depth":358,"text":223},{"id":314,"depth":358,"text":317},{"id":330,"depth":358,"text":333},"markdown","content:about-us:locations:ann-arbor.md","content","about-us/locations/ann-arbor.md","about-us/locations/ann-arbor","md",{"_path":373,"_dir":6,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":374,"description":375,"seoTitle":376,"h1":376,"headline":377,"answerCapsule":378,"streetAddress":379,"city":374,"state":15,"zip":380,"phone":381,"url":382,"map":383,"directions":384,"review":385,"phoneDisplay":386,"attorney":23,"attorneyUrl":24,"meetings":25,"inPerson":7,"ratingValue":26,"reviewCount":387,"ratingAsOf":28,"gbpName":29,"gbpCid":388,"latitude":389,"longitude":390,"county":391,"probateCourt":392,"areasServed":393,"services":399,"testimonialsLocation":400,"heroImage":401,"heroImageAlt":402,"differentiators":403,"faqs":404,"subhead":73,"nearestOffice":74,"nearestOfficeName":75,"nearestOfficeAddress":76,"nearestOfficeDirections":77,"body":416,"_type":366,"_id":641,"_source":368,"_file":642,"_stem":643,"_extension":371},"/about-us/locations/detroit","Detroit","Estate planning for Detroit and Wayne County families: Lady Bird deeds, trusts and powers of attorney, finished for you. 4.9 stars from 89 Google reviews. Call (313) 631-8477.","Estate Planning Lawyer in Detroit, MI","Keep the family home in the family, not in probate court","Rutkowski Law Firm works with Detroit and Wayne County families by secure video and in person at its Troy office, 801 W. Big Beaver Road, led by founding attorney Michael L. Rutkowski. We help families keep the family home out of probate court and protect it from long-term care costs, and we do the work families usually get stuck on: moving your home and accounts into your trust, recording your deed with the county and confirming in writing that your plan is done. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 89 Google reviews. Call (313) 631-8477.","420 Washington Blvd STE 301","48226","+1 313-631-8477","https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rutkowski+Law+Firm+Asset+Protection+%26+Estate+Planning/@42.3279089,-83.0485417,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x2eeaba7b51d31b24!8m2!3d42.3279089!4d-83.0485417?shorturl=1","https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d11798.741509319454!2d-83.0485417!3d42.3279089!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x88179d5ca4bbb14d%3A0x2eeaba7b51d31b24!2sRutkowski%20Law%20Firm%20Asset%20Protection%20%26%20Estate%20Planning!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sgg!4v1737720254793!5m2!1sen!2sgg","https://goo.gl/maps/njvtT375bBg13nYE8","https://www.google.com/search?q=Rutkowski+Law+Firm+Asset+Protection+%26+Estate+Planning%2C+420+Washington+Blvd+STE+301%2C+Detroit%2C+MI+48226&sca_esv=78c2cdce3559d586&hl=en-PK&gl=pk&ei=v4CTZ7zbDtSXhbIPzKqU4AI&ved=0ahUKEwj8tpi6p46LAxXUS0EAHUwVBSwQ4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=Rutkowski+Law+Firm+Asset+Protection+%26+Estate+Planning%2C+420+Washington+Blvd+STE+301%2C+Detroit%2C+MI+48226&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiZVJ1dGtvd3NraSBMYXcgRmlybSBBc3NldCBQcm90ZWN0aW9uICYgRXN0YXRlIFBsYW5uaW5nLCA0MjAgV2FzaGluZ3RvbiBCbHZkIFNURSAzMDEsIERldHJvaXQsIE1JIDQ4MjI2MgUQABiABDIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgsQABiABBiGAxiKBTILEAAYgAQYhgMYigUyCxAAGIAEGIYDGIoFMgsQABiABBiGAxiKBTILEAAYgAQYhgMYigVIywxQAFjgAXAAeAGQAQCYAXegAXeqAQMwLjG4AQPIAQD4AQH4AQKYAgGgAn6YAwCSBwMwLjGgB8kJ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#lrd=0x88179d5ca4bbb14d:0x2eeaba7b51d31b24,3,,,,","(313) 631-8477",89,"3380719509111511844",42.3279089,-83.0485417,"Wayne","Wayne County Probate Court in Detroit",[374,394,395,396,397,398],"Dearborn","Grosse Pointe","Hamtramck","Southfield","Livonia",[42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50],"Detroit, MI","/img/hero/detroit.webp","Downtown Detroit, Michigan",[55,56,57,58,59],[405,408,411,413],{"q":406,"a":407},"Which court handles probate for Detroit estates?","Detroit is in Wayne County, so estates go through the Wayne County Probate Court in Detroit. A recorded Lady Bird deed or a funded living trust keeps the house out of it.",{"q":409,"a":410},"My parent's house is the only big asset. Do they still need a plan?","Yes. A house on its own is enough to send an estate to probate, and it's the asset most exposed to nursing home costs. A recorded Lady Bird deed is often the fastest fix.",{"q":68,"a":412},"Most Detroit clients meet with us by secure video. If you'd rather meet in person, we'll see you at our Troy office at 801 W. Big Beaver Road or our Rochester office at 312 East Street.",{"q":414,"a":415},"The house is still in a late parent's name. Can you help?","Yes. That usually takes a probate case to clear the title before the house can be sold, refinanced or protected. Call us and we'll explain the steps for your situation.",{"type":79,"children":417,"toc":633},[418,424,438,478,482,486,491,496,501,505,510,524,528,533,583,587,595,599,604,609,615,620,624],{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":419,"children":421},{"id":420},"why-do-so-many-detroit-homes-get-stuck-after-a-death",[422],{"type":88,"value":423},"Why do so many Detroit homes get stuck after a death?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":425,"children":426},{},[427,429,436],{"type":88,"value":428},"Because the house passes down without the paperwork. More than 5,500 Detroit homes have been passed down without legal documentation, according to a ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":430,"children":433},{"href":431,"rel":432},"https://wdet.org/2024/03/04/more-than-5500-family-homes-in-detroit-passed-down-without-legal-documentation-report-finds/",[101],[434],{"type":88,"value":435},"2024 Detroit Future City report",{"type":88,"value":437},". Without a recorded deed, the family often can't sell, refinance or get help with repairs.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":439,"children":440},{},[441,443,447,448,452,453,457,458,462,463,467,468,472,473,477],{"type":88,"value":442},"For many Detroit families, the home is the single biggest thing they'll pass on. A Lady Bird deed, recorded properly, lets the house go straight to the person you choose without probate court, while you keep full control for the rest of your life. It's often the most affordable way to protect it. Where there are savings to protect from nursing home costs, we build the rest of the plan around it. Rutkowski Law Firm handles ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":444,"children":445},{"href":114},[446],{"type":88,"value":117},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":449,"children":450},{"href":122},[451],{"type":88,"value":125},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":454,"children":455},{"href":129},[456],{"type":88,"value":46},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":459,"children":460},{"href":135},[461],{"type":88,"value":138},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":464,"children":465},{"href":142},[466],{"type":88,"value":47},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":469,"children":470},{"href":148},[471],{"type":88,"value":151},{"type":88,"value":153},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":474,"children":475},{"href":156},[476],{"type":88,"value":159},{"type":88,"value":161},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":479,"children":480},{},[481],{"type":88,"value":166},{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":483,"children":484},{"id":169},[485],{"type":88,"value":172},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":487,"children":488},{},[489],{"type":88,"value":490},"It means Detroit families leave with a finished plan, not a to-do list. We move your home and accounts into your trust, record your deed with the county, send the beneficiary-change forms and confirm in writing that your plan is done.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":492,"children":493},{},[494],{"type":88,"value":495},"For most Detroit families that starts with the house: we prepare the Lady Bird deed, record it with the Wayne County Register of Deeds, and confirm it was recorded. Then we prepare your powers of attorney and see them signed with the witnesses or notary Michigan requires, so someone can act for you if you can't.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":497,"children":498},{},[499],{"type":88,"value":500},"Most Michigan estate planning attorneys hand Detroit families a binder and leave the bank visits and county filings to them. An unfunded trust doesn't keep anything out of probate court, which is why we treat funding as part of the plan, not an extra. You won't leave with homework.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":502,"children":503},{"id":190},[504],{"type":88,"value":193},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":506,"children":507},{},[508],{"type":88,"value":509},"Call us. Rutkowski Law Firm has turned around emergency powers of attorney by the next day, with a notary sent to wherever the parent is, such as a hospital room at Henry Ford Hospital or the Detroit Medical Center.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":511,"children":512},{},[513,514,518,519,523],{"type":88,"value":203},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":515,"children":516},{"href":156},[517],{"type":88,"value":159},{"type":88,"value":209},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":520,"children":521},{"href":212},[522],{"type":88,"value":215},{"type":88,"value":217},{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":525,"children":526},{"id":220},[527],{"type":88,"value":223},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":529,"children":530},{},[531],{"type":88,"value":532},"Every Detroit plan follows the same four steps, and the Rutkowski Law Firm team stays with you through all of them: a Vision Consultation, a design meeting, the signing, and the funding. Nothing is left for you to finish on your own.",{"type":82,"tag":230,"props":534,"children":535},{},[536,554,567,575],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":537,"children":538},{},[539,543,544,548,549,553],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":540,"children":541},{},[542],{"type":88,"value":242},{"type":88,"value":244},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":545,"children":546},{"href":247},[547],{"type":88,"value":250},{"type":88,"value":252},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":550,"children":551},{"href":255},[552],{"type":88,"value":258},{"type":88,"value":260},{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":555,"children":556},{},[557,561,562,566],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":558,"children":559},{},[560],{"type":88,"value":268},{"type":88,"value":270},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":563,"children":564},{"href":24},[565],{"type":88,"value":23},{"type":88,"value":276},{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":568,"children":569},{},[570,574],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":571,"children":572},{},[573],{"type":88,"value":284},{"type":88,"value":286},{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":576,"children":577},{},[578,582],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":579,"children":580},{},[581],{"type":88,"value":294},{"type":88,"value":296},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":584,"children":585},{},[586],{"type":88,"value":301},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":588,"children":589},{},[590,594],{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":591,"children":592},{"href":307},[593],{"type":88,"value":310},{"type":88,"value":161},{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":596,"children":597},{"id":314},[598],{"type":88,"value":317},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":600,"children":601},{},[602],{"type":88,"value":603},"No. Most Detroit families work with us entirely by secure video, including the signing. To meet face to face, we'll see you at our Troy office at 801 W. Big Beaver Road or our Rochester office at 312 East Street.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":605,"children":606},{},[607],{"type":88,"value":608},"Phones are answered 24 hours a day; the offices are open weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Video also makes it easier to include brothers and sisters who live out of state, so everyone hears the same plan at the same time.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":610,"children":612},{"id":611},"which-communities-do-you-serve-near-detroit",[613],{"type":88,"value":614},"Which communities do you serve near Detroit?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":616,"children":617},{},[618],{"type":88,"value":619},"We serve Detroit, Dearborn, Grosse Pointe, Hamtramck, Southfield and Livonia, and families anywhere in Michigan by video. Estates in this area are handled by the Wayne County Probate Court in Detroit.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":621,"children":622},{},[623],{"type":88,"value":343},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":625,"children":626},{},[627,628,632],{"type":88,"value":348},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":629,"children":630},{"href":351},[631],{"type":88,"value":354},{"type":88,"value":161},{"title":357,"searchDepth":358,"depth":358,"links":634},[635,636,637,638,639,640],{"id":420,"depth":358,"text":423},{"id":169,"depth":358,"text":172},{"id":190,"depth":358,"text":193},{"id":220,"depth":358,"text":223},{"id":314,"depth":358,"text":317},{"id":611,"depth":358,"text":614},"content:about-us:locations:detroit.md","about-us/locations/detroit.md","about-us/locations/detroit",{"_path":645,"_dir":6,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":646,"description":647,"seoTitle":648,"h1":648,"headline":649,"answerCapsule":650,"streetAddress":651,"city":646,"state":15,"zip":652,"phone":653,"url":654,"map":655,"directions":656,"review":657,"phoneDisplay":658,"attorney":23,"attorneyUrl":24,"meetings":659,"inPerson":7,"ratingValue":26,"reviewCount":660,"ratingAsOf":28,"gbpName":661,"gbpCid":662,"latitude":663,"longitude":664,"county":646,"probateCourt":665,"areasServed":666,"services":672,"testimonialsLocation":673,"heroImage":674,"heroImageAlt":675,"differentiators":676,"faqs":677,"subhead":73,"nearestOffice":74,"nearestOfficeName":75,"nearestOfficeAddress":76,"nearestOfficeDirections":77,"body":693,"_type":366,"_id":938,"_source":368,"_file":939,"_stem":940,"_extension":371},"/about-us/locations/marquette","Marquette","Estate planning and asset protection for Marquette and the Upper Peninsula, done entirely by video. 4.9 stars from 43 Google reviews. Call (906) 212-9945.","Estate Planning Lawyer in Marquette, MI","Protect your home, camp and savings without the drive downstate","Rutkowski Law Firm works with Marquette and Upper Peninsula families entirely by secure video, led by founding attorney Michael L. Rutkowski. We protect homes, camps and savings from probate court, lawsuits and long-term care costs, and we do the work families usually get stuck on: moving your home and accounts into your trust, recording your deed with the county and confirming in writing that your plan is done, all without a trip downstate. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 43 Google reviews. Call (906) 212-9945.","132 W Washington St Suite A","49855","+1 906-212-9945","https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rutkowski+Law+Firm+Asset+Protection+%26+Estate+Planning/@46.5435342,-87.3942241,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x4d4e21ae063a94d9:0xe22ce3d857cd9c05!8m2!3d46.5435342!4d-87.3942241!16s%2Fg%2F11srkksw5p?coh=164777&entry=tt&shorturl=1","https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2744.2099143863543!2d-87.3942241!3d46.543534199999996!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x4d4e21ae063a94d9%3A0xe22ce3d857cd9c05!2sRutkowski%20Law%20Firm%20Asset%20Protection%20%26%20Estate%20Planning!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sgg!4v1737720904707!5m2!1sen!2sgg","https://goo.gl/maps/zQrfLgV9akvnYokj9","https://www.google.com/search?q=rutkowski+law+firm+marquette%2C+mi&sca_esv=07057cd0c5299605&rlz=1C1RXQR_enUS960US960&ei=5YOTZ9jjG8S6hbIP4cSXmQI&ved=0ahUKEwiY6s-6qo6LAxVEXUEAHWHiJSMQ4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=rutkowski+law+firm+marquette%2C+mi&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiIHJ1dGtvd3NraSBsYXcgZmlybSBtYXJxdWV0dGUsIG1pMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABSL4eUIUPWMkccAJ4AZABAJgBkAGgAewJqgEEMTAuM7gBA8gBAPgBAZgCD6ACkwrCAgoQABiwAxjWBBhHwgIGEAAYFhgewgIIEAAYgAQYogTCAgUQABjvBcICBRAhGJ8FwgIEECEYFcICBxAhGKABGAqYAwCIBgGQBgiSBwQxMS40oAenQQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#lrd=0x4d4e21ae063a94d9:0xe22ce3d857cd9c05,3,,,,","(906) 212-9945","By secure video",43,"Rutkowski Law Firm Asset Protection & Estate Planning","16297651669872516101",46.5435342,-87.3942241,"Marquette County Probate Court in Marquette",[646,667,668,669,670,671],"Negaunee","Ishpeming","Harvey","Gwinn","Munising",[42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50],"Marquette, MI","/img/hero/marquette.webp","Marquette, Michigan, on Lake Superior",[55,56,57,58,59],[678,681,684,687,690],{"q":679,"a":680},"Which court handles probate for Marquette estates?","Marquette is in Marquette County, so estates go through the Marquette County Probate Court. Assets held in a funded living trust skip that court.",{"q":682,"a":683},"Can we do the whole process without traveling?","Yes. Marquette clients work with us by secure video for every step, including the signing.",{"q":685,"a":686},"We own a camp or cottage. Should it go in the trust?","Usually, yes. Holding it in a funded trust keeps it out of probate and lets you decide in advance how the family shares it.",{"q":688,"a":689},"Should we use a local Marquette attorney instead?","You can, but many small-town attorneys handle all kinds of cases. Rutkowski Law Firm's practice is limited to estate planning, asset protection, Medicaid planning, elder law and guardianship, and we work with Marquette families entirely by secure video.",{"q":691,"a":692},"Our kids live downstate. Can they help manage things?","Yes. We set up powers of attorney and trustee roles that work from a distance, and family members can join any meeting by video.",{"type":79,"children":694,"toc":929},[695,701,714,755,759,763,768,773,778,782,787,801,805,810,861,865,873,879,884,889,895,900,905,911,916,920],{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":696,"children":698},{"id":697},"why-plan-now-if-you-live-in-the-up",[699],{"type":88,"value":700},"Why plan now if you live in the U.P.?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":702,"children":703},{},[704,706,712],{"type":88,"value":705},"Because families here are older on average, and distance makes a crisis harder. Nearly one in four Marquette County residents is 65 or older, according to the ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":707,"children":710},{"href":708,"rel":709},"https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/marquettecountymichigan/PST045224",[101],[711],{"type":88,"value":104},{"type":88,"value":713},". When something happens, the family is often hours away, and paperwork that isn't finished becomes the problem.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":715,"children":716},{},[717,719,723,724,728,729,733,734,738,739,743,744,748,749,753],{"type":88,"value":718},"Many Upper Peninsula families own more than one piece of property: the house, a camp, a cottage on the lake, family land. Each one needs its deed handled, or it can end up in probate. Holding them in a funded trust also lets you decide in advance how the family shares them. Rutkowski Law Firm handles ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":720,"children":721},{"href":114},[722],{"type":88,"value":117},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":725,"children":726},{"href":122},[727],{"type":88,"value":125},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":730,"children":731},{"href":129},[732],{"type":88,"value":46},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":735,"children":736},{"href":135},[737],{"type":88,"value":138},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":740,"children":741},{"href":142},[742],{"type":88,"value":47},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":745,"children":746},{"href":148},[747],{"type":88,"value":151},{"type":88,"value":153},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":750,"children":751},{"href":156},[752],{"type":88,"value":159},{"type":88,"value":754},", all by video.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":756,"children":757},{},[758],{"type":88,"value":166},{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":760,"children":761},{"id":169},[762],{"type":88,"value":172},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":764,"children":765},{},[766],{"type":88,"value":767},"It means Marquette families leave with a finished plan, not a to-do list. We move your home and accounts into your trust, record your deed with the county, send the beneficiary-change forms and confirm in writing that your plan is done.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":769,"children":770},{},[771],{"type":88,"value":772},"For most U.P. families that means recording a deed for every property, sometimes in more than one county, retitling the accounts, and signing powers of attorney so someone can act for you even if they live downstate.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":774,"children":775},{},[776],{"type":88,"value":777},"Most Michigan estate planning attorneys hand Marquette families a binder and leave the bank visits and county filings to them. An unfunded trust doesn't keep anything out of probate court, which is why we treat funding as part of the plan, not an extra. You won't leave with homework.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":779,"children":780},{"id":190},[781],{"type":88,"value":193},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":783,"children":784},{},[785],{"type":88,"value":786},"Call us. Rutkowski Law Firm has turned around emergency powers of attorney by the next day. If a parent is suddenly at UP Health System–Marquette or back home after a fall, we can arrange the signing by video with a notary where they are.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":788,"children":789},{},[790,791,795,796,800],{"type":88,"value":203},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":792,"children":793},{"href":156},[794],{"type":88,"value":159},{"type":88,"value":209},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":797,"children":798},{"href":212},[799],{"type":88,"value":215},{"type":88,"value":217},{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":802,"children":803},{"id":220},[804],{"type":88,"value":223},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":806,"children":807},{},[808],{"type":88,"value":809},"Every Marquette plan follows the same four steps, and the Rutkowski Law Firm team stays with you through all of them: a Vision Consultation, a design meeting, the signing, and the funding. Nothing is left for you to finish on your own.",{"type":82,"tag":230,"props":811,"children":812},{},[813,831,844,853],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":814,"children":815},{},[816,820,821,825,826,830],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":817,"children":818},{},[819],{"type":88,"value":242},{"type":88,"value":244},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":822,"children":823},{"href":247},[824],{"type":88,"value":250},{"type":88,"value":252},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":827,"children":828},{"href":255},[829],{"type":88,"value":258},{"type":88,"value":260},{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":832,"children":833},{},[834,838,839,843],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":835,"children":836},{},[837],{"type":88,"value":268},{"type":88,"value":270},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":840,"children":841},{"href":24},[842],{"type":88,"value":23},{"type":88,"value":276},{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":845,"children":846},{},[847,851],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":848,"children":849},{},[850],{"type":88,"value":284},{"type":88,"value":852}," By secure video with a notary, from home.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":854,"children":855},{},[856,860],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":857,"children":858},{},[859],{"type":88,"value":294},{"type":88,"value":296},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":862,"children":863},{},[864],{"type":88,"value":301},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":866,"children":867},{},[868,872],{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":869,"children":870},{"href":307},[871],{"type":88,"value":310},{"type":88,"value":161},{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":874,"children":876},{"id":875},"do-i-have-to-travel-to-meet-with-you",[877],{"type":88,"value":878},"Do I have to travel to meet with you?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":880,"children":881},{},[882],{"type":88,"value":883},"No. Marquette and Upper Peninsula families work with us entirely by secure video, from the first conversation through the signing. Phones are answered 24 hours a day, and our team is available Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":885,"children":886},{},[887],{"type":88,"value":888},"If you're downstate anyway, you're welcome to meet in person at our Troy office at 801 W. Big Beaver Road or our Rochester office at 312 East Street.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":890,"children":892},{"id":891},"should-i-hire-a-local-marquette-attorney-instead",[893],{"type":88,"value":894},"Should I hire a local Marquette attorney instead?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":896,"children":897},{},[898],{"type":88,"value":899},"You can, but in smaller communities the local attorney often handles many kinds of cases, from real estate closings to divorces, with estate planning as one part of the job. Rutkowski Law Firm's practice is limited to estate planning, asset protection, Medicaid planning, elder law and guardianship.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":901,"children":902},{},[903],{"type":88,"value":904},"Your plan is governed by Michigan law, which is the same in Marquette as it is in Troy, and a Michigan attorney can handle it from anywhere in the state. What matters more than the drive is whether the plan gets finished: your home and accounts moved into your trust, your deed recorded with the Marquette County Register of Deeds and your beneficiary designations updated. Rutkowski Law Firm does that part for you, by secure video, from the first conversation through the signing.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":906,"children":908},{"id":907},"which-communities-do-you-serve-near-marquette",[909],{"type":88,"value":910},"Which communities do you serve near Marquette?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":912,"children":913},{},[914],{"type":88,"value":915},"We serve Marquette, Negaunee, Ishpeming, Harvey, Gwinn and Munising, and families anywhere in Michigan by video. Estates in Marquette County are handled by the Marquette County Probate Court.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":917,"children":918},{},[919],{"type":88,"value":343},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":921,"children":922},{},[923,924,928],{"type":88,"value":348},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":925,"children":926},{"href":351},[927],{"type":88,"value":354},{"type":88,"value":161},{"title":357,"searchDepth":358,"depth":358,"links":930},[931,932,933,934,935,936,937],{"id":697,"depth":358,"text":700},{"id":169,"depth":358,"text":172},{"id":190,"depth":358,"text":193},{"id":220,"depth":358,"text":223},{"id":875,"depth":358,"text":878},{"id":891,"depth":358,"text":894},{"id":907,"depth":358,"text":910},"content:about-us:locations:marquette.md","about-us/locations/marquette.md","about-us/locations/marquette",{"_path":942,"_dir":6,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":943,"description":944,"seoTitle":945,"h1":945,"headline":946,"answerCapsule":947,"streetAddress":948,"city":943,"state":15,"zip":949,"phone":950,"url":951,"map":952,"directions":953,"review":954,"phoneDisplay":955,"attorney":23,"attorneyUrl":24,"meetings":956,"inPerson":957,"ratingValue":958,"reviewCount":959,"ratingAsOf":28,"gbpName":29,"gbpCid":960,"latitude":961,"longitude":962,"county":963,"probateCourt":964,"areasServed":965,"services":971,"testimonialsLocation":972,"heroImage":973,"heroImageAlt":974,"differentiators":975,"faqs":976,"subhead":73,"body":989,"_type":366,"_id":1224,"_source":368,"_file":1225,"_stem":1226,"_extension":371},"/about-us/locations/rochester","Rochester","Estate planning and asset protection on East Street in Rochester, MI. Home and accounts moved into your trust, deed recorded with the county. 4.8 stars from 202 Google reviews. Call (248) 920-9841.","Estate Planning Lawyer in Rochester, MI","Keep your home and savings out of probate court","Rutkowski Law Firm is an estate planning and asset protection law firm at 312 East Street in downtown Rochester, Michigan, led by founding attorney Michael L. Rutkowski. We help Rochester and Rochester Hills homeowners protect what they've built from probate court, lawsuits and long-term care costs, and we do the work families usually get stuck on: moving your home and accounts into your trust, recording your deed with the county and confirming in writing that your plan is done. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 202 Google reviews. Call (248) 920-9841.","312 East Street","48307","+1 248-920-9841","https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rutkowski+Law+Firm+Asset+Protection+%26+Estate+Planning/@42.6762956,-83.1475895,14z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x9fcee7fcbcbc795e!8m2!3d42.6746006!4d-83.1513735?shorturl=1","https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d23466.35904315655!2d-83.1475895!3d42.6762956!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x8824e995caa5852d%3A0x9fcee7fcbcbc795e!2sRutkowski%20Law%20Firm%20Asset%20Protection%20%26%20Estate%20Planning!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sgg!4v1737720474633!5m2!1sen!2sgg","https://goo.gl/maps/LP75GYr7Co6ECN4F9","https://g.page/r/CV55vLz8586fEAI/review","(248) 920-9841","In person at our East Street office, or by secure video",true,"4.8",202,"11515396369917180254",42.6800904,-83.1318299,"Oakland","Oakland County Probate Court in Pontiac",[943,966,967,968,969,970],"Rochester Hills","Oakland Township","Auburn Hills","Lake Orion","Shelby Township",[42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50],"Rochester, MI","/img/hero/rochester.webp","Downtown Rochester, Michigan, near the Rutkowski Law Firm office on East Street",[55,56,57,58,59],[977,980,983,986],{"q":978,"a":979},"Is there parking at the Rochester office?","Yes. Rutkowski Law Firm has dedicated on-site parking at the building on East Street, so you can pull right up instead of hunting for a spot downtown.",{"q":981,"a":982},"Which court handles probate for Rochester and Rochester Hills estates?","Both are in Oakland County, so estates go through the Oakland County Probate Court in Pontiac. Assets held in a funded living trust stay out of that court.",{"q":984,"a":985},"We already have a trust from another firm. Can you check whether it's funded?","Yes. Bring the documents to a Vision Consultation. Many trusts we review were signed but never funded, which means the house and accounts would still go through probate.",{"q":987,"a":988},"Do I need to live in Rochester to work with this office?","No. Families across Michigan work with the Rochester office, and every meeting, including the signing, can happen by secure video.",{"type":79,"children":990,"toc":1216},[991,997,1010,1050,1054,1058,1063,1068,1073,1077,1082,1096,1100,1105,1156,1160,1168,1174,1179,1184,1190,1195,1207],{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":992,"children":994},{"id":993},"why-do-rochester-families-need-more-than-a-will",[995],{"type":88,"value":996},"Why do Rochester families need more than a will?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":998,"children":999},{},[1000,1002,1008],{"type":88,"value":1001},"Because the house alone puts most Rochester estates over the line. The median Rochester home is worth about $473,000, according to the ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1003,"children":1006},{"href":1004,"rel":1005},"https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/rochestercitymichigan/PST045224",[101],[1007],{"type":88,"value":104},{"type":88,"value":1009},". Without a funded trust or a Lady Bird deed, that home goes through the Oakland County Probate Court in Pontiac, on the public record.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1011,"children":1012},{},[1013,1015,1019,1020,1024,1025,1029,1030,1034,1035,1039,1040,1044,1045,1049],{"type":88,"value":1014},"If you've lived in Rochester or Rochester Hills for years, you probably own the house outright, have retirement accounts and savings, and want three things: keep the house out of court, keep a nursing home from taking it, and keep the peace between the kids afterwards. Rutkowski Law Firm handles ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1016,"children":1017},{"href":114},[1018],{"type":88,"value":117},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1021,"children":1022},{"href":122},[1023],{"type":88,"value":125},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1026,"children":1027},{"href":129},[1028],{"type":88,"value":46},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1031,"children":1032},{"href":135},[1033],{"type":88,"value":138},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1036,"children":1037},{"href":142},[1038],{"type":88,"value":47},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1041,"children":1042},{"href":148},[1043],{"type":88,"value":151},{"type":88,"value":153},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1046,"children":1047},{"href":156},[1048],{"type":88,"value":159},{"type":88,"value":161},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1051,"children":1052},{},[1053],{"type":88,"value":166},{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":1055,"children":1056},{"id":169},[1057],{"type":88,"value":172},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1059,"children":1060},{},[1061],{"type":88,"value":1062},"It means Rochester families leave with a finished plan, not a to-do list. We move your home and accounts into your trust, record your deed with the county, send the beneficiary-change forms and confirm in writing that your plan is done.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1064,"children":1065},{},[1066],{"type":88,"value":1067},"For most Rochester families that means recording the deed that moves the house into the trust with the Oakland County Register of Deeds, retitling the bank and brokerage accounts, and updating the beneficiary forms on IRAs and 401(k)s so they match the plan.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1069,"children":1070},{},[1071],{"type":88,"value":1072},"Most Michigan estate planning attorneys hand Rochester families a binder and leave the bank visits and county filings to them. An unfunded trust doesn't keep anything out of probate court, which is why we treat funding as part of the plan, not an extra. You won't leave with homework.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":1074,"children":1075},{"id":190},[1076],{"type":88,"value":193},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1078,"children":1079},{},[1080],{"type":88,"value":1081},"Call us. Rutkowski Law Firm has turned around emergency powers of attorney by the next day, with a notary sent to wherever the parent is, such as a hospital room at Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital or Corewell Health in Troy or Royal Oak.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1083,"children":1084},{},[1085,1086,1090,1091,1095],{"type":88,"value":203},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1087,"children":1088},{"href":156},[1089],{"type":88,"value":159},{"type":88,"value":209},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1092,"children":1093},{"href":212},[1094],{"type":88,"value":215},{"type":88,"value":217},{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":1097,"children":1098},{"id":220},[1099],{"type":88,"value":223},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1101,"children":1102},{},[1103],{"type":88,"value":1104},"Every Rochester plan follows the same four steps, and the Rutkowski Law Firm team stays with you through all of them: a Vision Consultation, a design meeting, the signing, and the funding. Nothing is left for you to finish on your own.",{"type":82,"tag":230,"props":1106,"children":1107},{},[1108,1126,1139,1148],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":1109,"children":1110},{},[1111,1115,1116,1120,1121,1125],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":1112,"children":1113},{},[1114],{"type":88,"value":242},{"type":88,"value":244},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1117,"children":1118},{"href":247},[1119],{"type":88,"value":250},{"type":88,"value":252},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1122,"children":1123},{"href":255},[1124],{"type":88,"value":258},{"type":88,"value":260},{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":1127,"children":1128},{},[1129,1133,1134,1138],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":1130,"children":1131},{},[1132],{"type":88,"value":268},{"type":88,"value":270},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1135,"children":1136},{"href":24},[1137],{"type":88,"value":23},{"type":88,"value":276},{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":1140,"children":1141},{},[1142,1146],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":1143,"children":1144},{},[1145],{"type":88,"value":284},{"type":88,"value":1147}," At our East Street office, at the Troy office, or through our secure virtual signing process.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":1149,"children":1150},{},[1151,1155],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":1152,"children":1153},{},[1154],{"type":88,"value":294},{"type":88,"value":296},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1157,"children":1158},{},[1159],{"type":88,"value":301},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1161,"children":1162},{},[1163,1167],{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1164,"children":1165},{"href":307},[1166],{"type":88,"value":310},{"type":88,"value":161},{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":1169,"children":1171},{"id":1170},"can-i-meet-in-person-at-the-rochester-office",[1172],{"type":88,"value":1173},"Can I meet in person at the Rochester office?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1175,"children":1176},{},[1177],{"type":88,"value":1178},"Yes. You can meet our team in person at 312 East Street, or do every meeting by secure video, including the signing. The office is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and our phones are answered 24 hours a day.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1180,"children":1181},{},[1182],{"type":88,"value":1183},"There's dedicated parking at the building on East Street, so you won't be feeding a meter downtown. Adult children helping a parent from out of state can join any meeting by video.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":1185,"children":1187},{"id":1186},"which-communities-do-you-serve-near-rochester",[1188],{"type":88,"value":1189},"Which communities do you serve near Rochester?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1191,"children":1192},{},[1193],{"type":88,"value":1194},"The Rochester office serves Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township, Auburn Hills, Lake Orion and Shelby Township, and families anywhere in Michigan by video. Estates in this area are handled by the Oakland County Probate Court in Pontiac.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1196,"children":1197},{},[1198,1200,1205],{"type":88,"value":1199},"Rutkowski Law Firm meets clients in person at its ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1201,"children":1203},{"href":1202},"/about-us/locations/troy/",[1204],{"type":88,"value":75},{"type":88,"value":1206}," and Rochester offices and works with families anywhere in Michigan by secure video.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1208,"children":1209},{},[1210,1211,1215],{"type":88,"value":348},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1212,"children":1213},{"href":351},[1214],{"type":88,"value":354},{"type":88,"value":161},{"title":357,"searchDepth":358,"depth":358,"links":1217},[1218,1219,1220,1221,1222,1223],{"id":993,"depth":358,"text":996},{"id":169,"depth":358,"text":172},{"id":190,"depth":358,"text":193},{"id":220,"depth":358,"text":223},{"id":1170,"depth":358,"text":1173},{"id":1186,"depth":358,"text":1189},"content:about-us:locations:rochester.md","about-us/locations/rochester.md","about-us/locations/rochester",{"_path":1228,"_dir":6,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":1229,"description":1230,"seoTitle":1231,"h1":1231,"headline":1232,"answerCapsule":1233,"streetAddress":1234,"city":1229,"state":15,"zip":1235,"phone":1236,"url":1237,"map":1238,"directions":1239,"review":1240,"phoneDisplay":1241,"attorney":23,"attorneyUrl":24,"meetings":25,"inPerson":7,"ratingValue":1242,"reviewCount":1243,"ratingAsOf":28,"gbpName":1244,"gbpCid":1245,"latitude":1246,"longitude":1247,"county":1248,"probateCourt":1249,"areasServed":1250,"services":1255,"testimonialsLocation":1256,"heroImage":1257,"heroImageAlt":1258,"differentiators":1259,"faqs":1260,"subhead":73,"nearestOffice":74,"nearestOfficeName":75,"nearestOfficeAddress":76,"nearestOfficeDirections":77,"body":1272,"_type":366,"_id":1497,"_source":368,"_file":1498,"_stem":1499,"_extension":371},"/about-us/locations/sterling-heights","Sterling Heights","Estate planning and asset protection for Sterling Heights and Macomb County families, by video or at our Troy or Rochester office. 5.0 stars from 158 Google reviews. Call (586) 519-6318.","Estate Planning Lawyer in Sterling Heights, MI","Protect the house, the business and the family","Rutkowski Law Firm works with Sterling Heights and Macomb County families by secure video and in person at its Troy and Rochester offices, led by founding attorney Michael L. Rutkowski. We protect what you've built from probate court, lawsuits and long-term care costs, and we do the work families usually get stuck on: moving your home and accounts into your trust, recording your deed with the county and confirming in writing that your plan is done. Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 158 Google reviews. Call (586) 519-6318.","12900 Hall Rd #180","48313","+1 (586) 519-6318","https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rutkowski+Law+Firm+Asset+Protection+%26+Estate+Planning/@42.6253986,-83.0004654,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x467fb05f67273e7a!8m2!3d42.6253986!4d-83.0004654?shorturl=1","https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d11742.784812154274!2d-83.0004654!3d42.6253986!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x8824dde4d52b9b17%3A0x467fb05f67273e7a!2sRutkowski%20Law%20Firm%20Asset%20Protection%20%26%20Estate%20Planning!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sgg!4v1737720352678!5m2!1sen!2sgg","https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=12900+Hall+Rd+%23180,+Sterling+Heights,+MI+48313","https://www.google.com/search?q=Rutkowski+Law+Firm+Asset+Protection+%26+Estate+Planning%2C+12900+Hall+Rd+%23180%2C+Sterling+Heights%2C+MI+48313&sca_esv=78c2cdce3559d586&hl=en-PK&gl=pk&ei=B4CTZ8W5BI6qhbIPhJKYmQU&ved=0ahUKEwiF2a_ipo6LAxUOVUEAHQQJJlMQ4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=Rutkowski+Law+Firm+Asset+Protection+%26+Estate+Planning%2C+12900+Hall+Rd+%23180%2C+Sterling+Heights%2C+MI+48313&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiZVJ1dGtvd3NraSBMYXcgRmlybSBBc3NldCBQcm90ZWN0aW9uICYgRXN0YXRlIFBsYW5uaW5nLCAxMjkwMCBIYWxsIFJkICMxODAsIFN0ZXJsaW5nIEhlaWdodHMsIE1JIDQ4MzEzSABQAFgAcAB4AZABAJgBAKABAKoBALgBA8gBAPgBAvgBAZgCAKACAJgDAJIHAKAHAA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#lrd=0x8824dde4d52b9b17:0x467fb05f67273e7a,3,,,,","(586) 519-6318","5.0",158,"Rutkowski Law Firm","5079972828496215674",42.6253986,-83.0004654,"Macomb","Macomb County Probate Court in Mount Clemens",[1229,970,1251,1252,1253,1254],"Macomb Township","Clinton Township","Utica","Warren",[42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50],"Sterling Heights, MI","/img/hero/sterling-heights.webp","Sterling Heights, Michigan",[55,56,57,58,59],[1261,1264,1266,1269],{"q":1262,"a":1263},"Which court handles probate for Sterling Heights estates?","Sterling Heights is in Macomb County, so estates go through the Macomb County Probate Court in Mount Clemens. Assets in a funded living trust skip that court.",{"q":68,"a":1265},"Most Sterling Heights clients meet with us by secure video. If you'd rather meet in person, we'll see you at our Troy office at 801 W. Big Beaver Road or our Rochester office at 312 East Street.",{"q":1267,"a":1268},"We own a family business. Does it belong in the estate plan?","Yes. The plan should say who runs the business and who owns it if you can't, and keep a lawsuit against the business from reaching your personal savings, or the reverse.",{"q":1270,"a":1271},"Is a Lady Bird deed enough on its own?","It protects the house from probate, but not your accounts, and it doesn't name anyone to make decisions if you can't. Most families pair it with a will, powers of attorney and, often, a trust.",{"type":79,"children":1273,"toc":1489},[1274,1280,1293,1333,1337,1341,1346,1351,1356,1360,1365,1379,1383,1388,1439,1443,1451,1455,1460,1465,1471,1476,1480],{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":1275,"children":1277},{"id":1276},"what-do-sterling-heights-families-most-need-to-protect",[1278],{"type":88,"value":1279},"What do Sterling Heights families most need to protect?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1281,"children":1282},{},[1283,1285,1291],{"type":88,"value":1284},"Usually the house and, often, a family business. About three in four Sterling Heights homes are owner-occupied and nearly one in five residents is 65 or older, according to the ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1286,"children":1289},{"href":1287,"rel":1288},"https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sterlingheightscitymichigan/PST045224",[101],[1290],{"type":88,"value":104},{"type":88,"value":1292},". That's a lot of paid-off homes heading toward probate and nursing home bills.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1294,"children":1295},{},[1296,1298,1302,1303,1307,1308,1312,1313,1317,1318,1322,1323,1327,1328,1332],{"type":88,"value":1297},"Sterling Heights is also a diverse city: more than a third of residents speak a language other than English at home. Many families here are multigenerational, with parents, children and sometimes a family business under one plan. Keeping the business and the house apart from each other's risks, and making sure everyone understands the plan, matters as much as the documents. Rutkowski Law Firm handles ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1299,"children":1300},{"href":114},[1301],{"type":88,"value":117},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1304,"children":1305},{"href":122},[1306],{"type":88,"value":125},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1309,"children":1310},{"href":129},[1311],{"type":88,"value":46},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1314,"children":1315},{"href":135},[1316],{"type":88,"value":138},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1319,"children":1320},{"href":142},[1321],{"type":88,"value":47},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1324,"children":1325},{"href":148},[1326],{"type":88,"value":151},{"type":88,"value":153},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1329,"children":1330},{"href":156},[1331],{"type":88,"value":159},{"type":88,"value":161},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1334,"children":1335},{},[1336],{"type":88,"value":166},{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":1338,"children":1339},{"id":169},[1340],{"type":88,"value":172},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1342,"children":1343},{},[1344],{"type":88,"value":1345},"It means Sterling Heights families leave with a finished plan, not a to-do list. We move your home and accounts into your trust, record your deed with the county, send the beneficiary-change forms and confirm in writing that your plan is done.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1347,"children":1348},{},[1349],{"type":88,"value":1350},"For most Sterling Heights families that means recording a Lady Bird deed or trust deed with the Macomb County Register of Deeds, retitling the accounts, and, where there's a business, making sure the plan covers who runs it and who owns it if something happens.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1352,"children":1353},{},[1354],{"type":88,"value":1355},"Most Michigan estate planning attorneys hand Sterling Heights families a binder and leave the bank visits and county filings to them. An unfunded trust doesn't keep anything out of probate court, which is why we treat funding as part of the plan, not an extra. You won't leave with homework.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":1357,"children":1358},{"id":190},[1359],{"type":88,"value":193},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1361,"children":1362},{},[1363],{"type":88,"value":1364},"Call us. Rutkowski Law Firm has turned around emergency powers of attorney by the next day, with a notary sent to wherever the parent is, such as a hospital room at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital or Ascension Macomb-Oakland.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1366,"children":1367},{},[1368,1369,1373,1374,1378],{"type":88,"value":203},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1370,"children":1371},{"href":156},[1372],{"type":88,"value":159},{"type":88,"value":209},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1375,"children":1376},{"href":212},[1377],{"type":88,"value":215},{"type":88,"value":217},{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":1380,"children":1381},{"id":220},[1382],{"type":88,"value":223},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1384,"children":1385},{},[1386],{"type":88,"value":1387},"Every Sterling Heights plan follows the same four steps, and the Rutkowski Law Firm team stays with you through all of them: a Vision Consultation, a design meeting, the signing, and the funding. Nothing is left for you to finish on your own.",{"type":82,"tag":230,"props":1389,"children":1390},{},[1391,1409,1422,1431],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":1392,"children":1393},{},[1394,1398,1399,1403,1404,1408],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":1395,"children":1396},{},[1397],{"type":88,"value":242},{"type":88,"value":244},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1400,"children":1401},{"href":247},[1402],{"type":88,"value":250},{"type":88,"value":252},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1405,"children":1406},{"href":255},[1407],{"type":88,"value":258},{"type":88,"value":260},{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":1410,"children":1411},{},[1412,1416,1417,1421],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":1413,"children":1414},{},[1415],{"type":88,"value":268},{"type":88,"value":270},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1418,"children":1419},{"href":24},[1420],{"type":88,"value":23},{"type":88,"value":276},{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":1423,"children":1424},{},[1425,1429],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":1426,"children":1427},{},[1428],{"type":88,"value":284},{"type":88,"value":1430}," By secure video with a notary, or in person at our Troy or Rochester office.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":1432,"children":1433},{},[1434,1438],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":1435,"children":1436},{},[1437],{"type":88,"value":294},{"type":88,"value":296},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1440,"children":1441},{},[1442],{"type":88,"value":301},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1444,"children":1445},{},[1446,1450],{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1447,"children":1448},{"href":307},[1449],{"type":88,"value":310},{"type":88,"value":161},{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":1452,"children":1453},{"id":314},[1454],{"type":88,"value":317},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1456,"children":1457},{},[1458],{"type":88,"value":1459},"No. Most Sterling Heights families work with us entirely by secure video, including the signing. To meet face to face, we'll see you at our Troy office at 801 W. Big Beaver Road or our Rochester office at 312 East Street.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1461,"children":1462},{},[1463],{"type":88,"value":1464},"Phones are answered 24 hours a day; the offices are open weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Video works well for multigenerational families: parents, adult children and anyone helping with the business can join the same meeting from wherever they are.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":1466,"children":1468},{"id":1467},"which-communities-do-you-serve-near-sterling-heights",[1469],{"type":88,"value":1470},"Which communities do you serve near Sterling Heights?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1472,"children":1473},{},[1474],{"type":88,"value":1475},"We serve Sterling Heights, Shelby Township, Macomb Township, Clinton Township, Utica and Warren, and families anywhere in Michigan by video. Estates in this area are handled by the Macomb County Probate Court in Mount Clemens.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1477,"children":1478},{},[1479],{"type":88,"value":343},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1481,"children":1482},{},[1483,1484,1488],{"type":88,"value":348},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1485,"children":1486},{"href":351},[1487],{"type":88,"value":354},{"type":88,"value":161},{"title":357,"searchDepth":358,"depth":358,"links":1490},[1491,1492,1493,1494,1495,1496],{"id":1276,"depth":358,"text":1279},{"id":169,"depth":358,"text":172},{"id":190,"depth":358,"text":193},{"id":220,"depth":358,"text":223},{"id":314,"depth":358,"text":317},{"id":1467,"depth":358,"text":1470},"content:about-us:locations:sterling-heights.md","about-us/locations/sterling-heights.md","about-us/locations/sterling-heights",{"_path":1501,"_dir":6,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":75,"description":1502,"seoTitle":1503,"h1":1503,"headline":1504,"answerCapsule":1505,"streetAddress":1506,"city":75,"primaryOffice":957,"state":15,"zip":1507,"phone":1508,"url":1509,"map":1510,"directions":77,"review":1509,"phoneDisplay":1511,"attorney":23,"attorneyUrl":24,"meetings":1512,"inPerson":957,"ratingValue":958,"reviewCount":1513,"ratingAsOf":28,"gbpName":29,"gbpCid":1514,"county":963,"probateCourt":964,"areasServed":1515,"services":1521,"testimonialsLocation":1522,"heroImage":1523,"heroImageAlt":1524,"differentiators":1525,"faqs":1526,"subhead":73,"body":1544,"_type":366,"_id":1788,"_source":368,"_file":1789,"_stem":1790,"_extension":371},"/about-us/locations/troy","Estate planning and asset protection on Big Beaver Road in Troy, MI, serving Troy, Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham. 4.8 stars from 217 Google reviews. Call (248) 951-9446.","Estate Planning Lawyer in Troy, MI","Protect what you've built, and finish the plan properly","Rutkowski Law Firm is an estate planning and asset protection law firm at 801 W. Big Beaver Road, Suite 600, in Troy, Michigan, serving Troy, Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham. Led by founding attorney Michael L. Rutkowski, our attorneys, paralegals and Customer Success team help families with homes, investments and businesses protect them from probate court, lawsuits and long-term care costs, and we do the work families usually get stuck on: moving your home and accounts into your trust, recording your deed with the county and confirming in writing that your plan is done. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 217 Google reviews. Call (248) 951-9446.","801 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 600","48084","+1 248-951-9446","https://share.google/6caqSgs0gmAzv1vD8","https://www.google.com/maps?q=801+W+Big+Beaver+Rd+Suite+600,+Troy,+MI+48084&output=embed","(248) 951-9446","In person at our Big Beaver Road office by appointment, or by secure video",217,"9733594504382005779",[75,1516,1517,1518,1519,1520],"Bloomfield Hills","Birmingham","Royal Oak","Clawson","West Bloomfield",[42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50],"Bloomfield Hills, MI","/img/locations/troy-reception-rudy.webp","The sixth-floor reception area of Rutkowski Law Firm's Troy office in Suite 600 at 801 W. Big Beaver Road, with the Rutkowski Law Firm sign on the wall behind the front desk, gray lounge seating and a navy Rutkowski Law Firm table beside a wall of windows overlooking Troy, and Rudy, the office's chocolate Lab, lying on the polished concrete floor",[55,56,57,58,59],[1527,1530,1532,1535,1538,1541],{"q":1528,"a":1529},"Did the Bloomfield Hills office move?","Yes. Rutkowski Law Firm's Bloomfield Hills office on Woodward Avenue has moved to 801 W. Big Beaver Road, Suite 600, in Troy. The phone number, (248) 951-9446, stayed the same.",{"q":1531,"a":982},"Which court handles probate for Troy and Bloomfield Hills estates?",{"q":1533,"a":1534},"Can you work with our financial advisor or CPA?","Yes. We coordinate with your existing advisor and CPA so the legal plan and the financial plan line up, especially on retirement accounts and beneficiary designations.",{"q":1536,"a":1537},"Where do I park at the Troy office?","Rutkowski Law Firm has reserved spaces outside 801 W. Big Beaver Road, marked with blue and white \"Welcome, Reserved\" signs. Park in any of those, then head for the doors under the vertical Entrance sign.",{"q":1539,"a":1540},"How do I get up to Suite 600 when I arrive?","Come in through the doors under the vertical Entrance sign and call (248) 792-9193 from the ground-floor lobby. Elevator access has to be granted, and we'll get you up to the sixth floor.",{"q":1542,"a":1543},"Do we need to come into the office to sign?","No. You can sign at the Troy office, at our Rochester office, or through our secure virtual signing process.",{"type":79,"children":1545,"toc":1780},[1546,1552,1565,1605,1609,1613,1618,1623,1628,1632,1637,1651,1655,1660,1665,1716,1720,1728,1734,1739,1743,1756,1762,1767,1771],{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":1547,"children":1549},{"id":1548},"why-does-a-troy-or-bloomfield-hills-plan-need-to-be-finished-properly",[1550],{"type":88,"value":1551},"Why does a Troy or Bloomfield Hills plan need to be finished properly?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1553,"children":1554},{},[1555,1557,1563],{"type":88,"value":1556},"More assets means more places for a plan to fail. Troy's median household income is about $120,000, according to the ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1558,"children":1561},{"href":1559,"rel":1560},"https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/troycitymichigan/PST045224",[101],[1562],{"type":88,"value":104},{"type":88,"value":1564},", and many families here hold a home, brokerage accounts, retirement plans, rentals or a business. Each one has to be retitled or updated, or it lands in probate.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1566,"children":1567},{},[1568,1570,1574,1575,1579,1580,1584,1585,1589,1590,1594,1595,1599,1600,1604],{"type":88,"value":1569},"Families in Troy, Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham also tend to have more exposure to lawsuits: a business, a rental, a teenage driver. Asset protection planning keeps personal savings separate from those risks. And with nearly a third of Troy residents born outside the U.S., many families have relatives, property or accounts in more than one place. We plan for that rather than around it. Rutkowski Law Firm handles ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1571,"children":1572},{"href":114},[1573],{"type":88,"value":117},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1576,"children":1577},{"href":122},[1578],{"type":88,"value":125},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1581,"children":1582},{"href":129},[1583],{"type":88,"value":46},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1586,"children":1587},{"href":135},[1588],{"type":88,"value":138},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1591,"children":1592},{"href":142},[1593],{"type":88,"value":47},{"type":88,"value":119},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1596,"children":1597},{"href":148},[1598],{"type":88,"value":151},{"type":88,"value":153},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1601,"children":1602},{"href":156},[1603],{"type":88,"value":159},{"type":88,"value":161},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1606,"children":1607},{},[1608],{"type":88,"value":166},{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":1610,"children":1611},{"id":169},[1612],{"type":88,"value":172},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1614,"children":1615},{},[1616],{"type":88,"value":1617},"It means Troy families leave with a finished plan, not a to-do list. We move your home and accounts into your trust, record your deed with the county, send the beneficiary-change forms and confirm in writing that your plan is done.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1619,"children":1620},{},[1621],{"type":88,"value":1622},"For many Troy and Bloomfield Hills families that means more than one deed, several brokerage and bank accounts, retirement plans with their own beneficiary forms, and sometimes business interests. We handle each one, record the deeds with the Oakland County Register of Deeds, and coordinate with your financial advisor or CPA so the legal plan and the financial plan line up.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1624,"children":1625},{},[1626],{"type":88,"value":1627},"Most Michigan estate planning attorneys hand Troy families a binder and leave the bank visits and county filings to them. An unfunded trust doesn't keep anything out of probate court, which is why we treat funding as part of the plan, not an extra. You won't leave with homework.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":1629,"children":1630},{"id":190},[1631],{"type":88,"value":193},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1633,"children":1634},{},[1635],{"type":88,"value":1636},"Call us. Rutkowski Law Firm has turned around emergency powers of attorney by the next day, with a notary sent to wherever the parent is, such as a hospital room at Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital or Corewell Health in Royal Oak.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1638,"children":1639},{},[1640,1641,1645,1646,1650],{"type":88,"value":203},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1642,"children":1643},{"href":156},[1644],{"type":88,"value":159},{"type":88,"value":209},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1647,"children":1648},{"href":212},[1649],{"type":88,"value":215},{"type":88,"value":217},{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":1652,"children":1653},{"id":220},[1654],{"type":88,"value":223},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1656,"children":1657},{},[1658],{"type":88,"value":1659},"Every Troy plan follows the same four steps, and the Rutkowski Law Firm team stays with you through all of them: a Vision Consultation, a design meeting, the signing, and the funding. Nothing is left for you to finish on your own.",{"type":82,"tag":1661,"props":1662,"children":1664},"photo-grid",{":photos":1663},"[{\"src\":\"/img/locations/troy-vision-consultation-office.webp\",\"alt\":\"A Vision Consultation office at Rutkowski Law Firm in Troy, with a dark wood desk facing four gray mesh guest chairs, framed photos on the left wall, a corkboard of sticky notes on the right wall, and a wide window looking out over Big Beaver Road, its parking lots and the neighboring office towers\",\"caption\":\"The Troy office where Vision Consultations happen.\"}]",[],{"type":82,"tag":230,"props":1666,"children":1667},{},[1668,1686,1699,1708],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":1669,"children":1670},{},[1671,1675,1676,1680,1681,1685],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":1672,"children":1673},{},[1674],{"type":88,"value":242},{"type":88,"value":244},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1677,"children":1678},{"href":247},[1679],{"type":88,"value":250},{"type":88,"value":252},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1682,"children":1683},{"href":255},[1684],{"type":88,"value":258},{"type":88,"value":260},{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":1687,"children":1688},{},[1689,1693,1694,1698],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":1690,"children":1691},{},[1692],{"type":88,"value":268},{"type":88,"value":270},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1695,"children":1696},{"href":24},[1697],{"type":88,"value":23},{"type":88,"value":276},{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":1700,"children":1701},{},[1702,1706],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":1703,"children":1704},{},[1705],{"type":88,"value":284},{"type":88,"value":1707}," At our Troy office, at the Rochester office, or through our secure virtual signing process.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":1709,"children":1710},{},[1711,1715],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":1712,"children":1713},{},[1714],{"type":88,"value":294},{"type":88,"value":296},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1717,"children":1718},{},[1719],{"type":88,"value":301},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1721,"children":1722},{},[1723,1727],{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1724,"children":1725},{"href":307},[1726],{"type":88,"value":310},{"type":88,"value":161},{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":1729,"children":1731},{"id":1730},"can-i-meet-in-person-at-the-troy-office",[1732],{"type":88,"value":1733},"Can I meet in person at the Troy office?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1735,"children":1736},{},[1737],{"type":88,"value":1738},"Yes, by appointment. You can meet at 801 W. Big Beaver Road, Suite 600, or do every meeting by secure video, including the signing. The office is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and our phones are answered 24 hours a day.",{"type":82,"tag":1661,"props":1740,"children":1742},{":photos":1741},"[{\"src\":\"/img/locations/troy-reserved-parking.webp\",\"step\":1,\"alt\":\"Three blue and white Rutkowski Law Firm \\\"Welcome, Reserved\\\" parking signs on posts along a rock-lined curb island outside 801 W. Big Beaver Road in Troy, with yellow autumn trees and the building's white side wall behind them\",\"caption\":\"Park in the spaces marked with blue and white Rutkowski Law Firm \\\"Welcome, Reserved\\\" signs.\"},{\"src\":\"/img/locations/troy-801-exterior-entrance.webp\",\"step\":2,\"alt\":\"The white, angular office building at 801 W. Big Beaver Road in Troy, with a tall vertical Entrance sign beside the glass front doors, a row of autumn trees along the walkway and two reserved parking signs at the curb in the foreground\",\"caption\":\"From the reserved spaces, head for the doors under the vertical Entrance sign.\"},{\"src\":\"/img/locations/troy-lobby-elevators.webp\",\"step\":3,\"alt\":\"The ground-floor lobby at 801 W. Big Beaver Road, with a wood-slat front desk marked 801/803 on the left, a Rutkowski Law Firm welcome sign on an easel in the center listing the elevator phone number 248-792-9193, and two stainless steel elevators on the right\",\"caption\":\"Inside, the elevators need to be called for you. Phone (248) 792-9193 when you arrive in the lobby and we'll get you up to the sixth floor.\"},{\"src\":\"/img/locations/troy-sixth-floor-elevators.webp\",\"step\":4,\"alt\":\"The sixth-floor elevator lobby at Rutkowski Law Firm's Troy office, with two stainless steel elevators along the back wall, a reception desk with a computer and phone in the foreground, gray lounge seating, and a navy Rutkowski Law Firm table beneath a wall of windows overlooking Troy\",\"caption\":\"Suite 600 is on the sixth floor. Our reception area is right off the elevators.\"},{\"src\":\"/img/locations/troy-rudy-office-dog.webp\",\"tall\":true,\"position\":\"50% 35%\",\"alt\":\"Rudy, the Troy office's chocolate Labrador and Director of Asset Relocation, sitting upright in a teal collar on the polished concrete floor of the office hallway and looking straight at the camera, with glass-walled offices behind him\",\"caption\":\"You'll probably meet Rudy, our chocolate Lab and Director of Asset Relocation. If you're allergic or uneasy around dogs, tell us when you book and we'll make sure he's relocated.\"}]",[],{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1744,"children":1745},{},[1746,1748,1754],{"type":88,"value":1747},"If you'd rather meet in Rochester, ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1749,"children":1751},{"href":1750},"/about-us/locations/rochester/",[1752],{"type":88,"value":1753},"our East Street office",{"type":88,"value":1755}," is a short drive north. Adult children helping a parent from out of town can join any meeting by video.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":1757,"children":1759},{"id":1758},"which-communities-do-you-serve-near-troy",[1760],{"type":88,"value":1761},"Which communities do you serve near Troy?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1763,"children":1764},{},[1765],{"type":88,"value":1766},"The Troy office serves Troy, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Royal Oak, Clawson and West Bloomfield, and families anywhere in Michigan by video. Estates in this area are handled by the Oakland County Probate Court in Pontiac.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1768,"children":1769},{},[1770],{"type":88,"value":343},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1772,"children":1773},{},[1774,1775,1779],{"type":88,"value":348},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1776,"children":1777},{"href":351},[1778],{"type":88,"value":354},{"type":88,"value":161},{"title":357,"searchDepth":358,"depth":358,"links":1781},[1782,1783,1784,1785,1786,1787],{"id":1548,"depth":358,"text":1551},{"id":169,"depth":358,"text":172},{"id":190,"depth":358,"text":193},{"id":220,"depth":358,"text":223},{"id":1730,"depth":358,"text":1733},{"id":1758,"depth":358,"text":1761},"content:about-us:locations:troy.md","about-us/locations/troy.md","about-us/locations/troy",[1792,2460,2981],{"_path":1793,"_dir":1794,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":1795,"description":1796,"id":1797,"thumbnailUrl":1798,"thumbnailAlt":1799,"videoUrl":1800,"duration":1801,"publishedAt":1802,"tags":1803,"author":1806,"isFeatured":957,"ctaUrl":1809,"platform":1810,"faqSchema":1811,"body":1823,"_type":366,"_id":2457,"_source":368,"_file":2458,"_stem":2459,"_extension":371},"/videos/how-to-include-cryptocurrency-in-your-estate-plan","videos","How to Include Cryptocurrency in Your Estate Plan","Cryptocurrency can't be titled in a trust, but it can still be part of your estate plan. Attorney Michael Rutkowski explains how to pass on digital assets like Bitcoin using key-based access and trustee instructions.","how-to-include-cryptocurrency-in-your-estate-plan","/img/video-thumbnails/how-to-include-cryptocurrency-in-estate-plan.webp","Michael Rutkowski explaining What Is a Special Needs Trust","https://www.youtube.com/embed/J8d7w8KaJyw?si=GBY96YHhqSbPwuxX",440,"2025-03-17T00:00:00Z",[1804,1805],"Estate Planning","cryptocurrency",{"name":1807,"avatarUrl":1808,"url":24},"Michael Rutkowski","/img/team/michael-rutkowski.webp","/contact/","YouTube",{"mainEntity":1812},[1813,1819],{"@type":1814,"name":1815,"acceptedAnswer":1816},"Question","Can I put cryptocurrency in my trust?",{"@type":1817,"text":1818},"Answer","Cryptocurrency assets like Bitcoin cannot be titled in the name of a trust under current legal restrictions. You can still include crypto in your estate plan by ensuring your successor trustee has access (e.g., one of the keys in a multi-key system) and by naming crypto recipients and instructions in your trust or will so your trustee knows how to distribute digital assets.",{"@type":1814,"name":1820,"acceptedAnswer":1821},"How do I pass cryptocurrency to heirs?",{"@type":1817,"text":1822},"Crypto often uses a multi-key system (e.g., 2-of-3 keys needed for access). Your successor trustee should hold one key and be named in your estate documents with clear instructions. Engrave keys on steel plates and store them securely (e.g., in your estate planning binder). Although not legally binding in the same way as retitled assets, naming recipients in your trust or will gives your trustee clear guidance on your wishes.",{"type":79,"children":1824,"toc":2452},[1825,1831,1853,1859,1942,1948,1953,1964,1979,1994,2004,2014,2019,2029,2044,2049,2065,2070,2082,2100,2110,2125,2130,2145,2157,2167,2192,2197,2214,2227,2237,2252,2262,2282,2287,2303,2316,2331,2341,2351,2366,2381,2391,2402,2412,2424,2437],{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":1826,"children":1828},{"id":1827},"overview",[1829],{"type":88,"value":1830},"Overview",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1832,"children":1833},{},[1834,1836,1844,1846,1851],{"type":88,"value":1835},"Cryptocurrency presents new challenges in estate planning. In this episode of Life Lessons with the ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1837,"children":1842},{"href":1838,"target":1839,"rel":1840},"/","_blank",[1841],"noopener",[1843],{"type":88,"value":1244},{"type":88,"value":1845},", estate planning attorney ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":1847,"children":1849},{"href":24,"target":1839,"rel":1848},[1841],[1850],{"type":88,"value":1807},{"type":88,"value":1852}," explains how crypto assets like Bitcoin can be structured within your estate plan, even though they can't be retitled into a trust. He discusses how key-based access works, the importance of successor trustees, and how to ensure your digital assets are passed on securely and according to your wishes.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":1854,"children":1856},{"id":1855},"key-takeaways",[1857],{"type":88,"value":1858},"Key Takeaways:",{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":1861,"children":1862},"ul",{},[1863,1873,1885,1897,1907,1919,1931],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":1864,"children":1865},{},[1866,1871],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":1867,"children":1868},{},[1869],{"type":88,"value":1870},"Cryptocurrency assets",{"type":88,"value":1872}," like Bitcoin can’t be titled in the name of a trust due to current legal restrictions.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":1874,"children":1875},{},[1876,1878,1883],{"type":88,"value":1877},"These assets typically use a ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":1879,"children":1880},{},[1881],{"type":88,"value":1882},"multi-key system",{"type":88,"value":1884}," (e.g., 2-of-3 keys needed for access).",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":1886,"children":1887},{},[1888,1890,1895],{"type":88,"value":1889},"The ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":1891,"children":1892},{},[1893],{"type":88,"value":1894},"successor trustee",{"type":88,"value":1896}," should hold one of the keys and be named in your trust or will for direction, even if it’s not legally binding yet.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":1898,"children":1899},{},[1900,1905],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":1901,"children":1902},{},[1903],{"type":88,"value":1904},"Two of the three keys",{"type":88,"value":1906}," (often held by an individual, a company, or a trustee) are required to access funds in most crypto storage systems.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":1908,"children":1909},{},[1910,1912,1917],{"type":88,"value":1911},"Best practice: ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":1913,"children":1914},{},[1915],{"type":88,"value":1916},"engrave keys on steel plates",{"type":88,"value":1918}," and store them securely, such as in your estate planning binder.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":1920,"children":1921},{},[1922,1924,1929],{"type":88,"value":1923},"Although not legally binding, naming crypto recipients in your estate documents ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":1925,"children":1926},{},[1927],{"type":88,"value":1928},"gives clear guidance",{"type":88,"value":1930}," to your trustee.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":1932,"children":1933},{},[1934,1936,1941],{"type":88,"value":1935},"There’s risk: without legal enforcement, a trustee could theoretically ignore your wishes, making ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":1937,"children":1938},{},[1939],{"type":88,"value":1940},"trustworthiness essential",{"type":88,"value":161},{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":1943,"children":1945},{"id":1944},"full-transcript",[1946],{"type":88,"value":1947},"Full Transcript",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1949,"children":1950},{},[1951],{"type":88,"value":1952},"Hello, and welcome back to Life Lessons with the Rutkowski Law Firm.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1954,"children":1955},{},[1956,1958,1962],{"type":88,"value":1957},"Today, we're going to talk about how to fund your trust using cryptocurrency.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":1960,"children":1961},"br",{},[],{"type":88,"value":1963},"Today, I have our trustee advisor, Mike Rutkowski, law attorney.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1965,"children":1966},{},[1967,1969,1972,1974,1977],{"type":88,"value":1968},"Mike, welcome back.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":1970,"children":1971},{},[],{"type":88,"value":1973},"Thanks for having me, as always.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":1975,"children":1976},{},[],{"type":88,"value":1978},"As always.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1980,"children":1981},{},[1982,1984,1987,1989,1992],{"type":88,"value":1983},"All right, let's get into it. Cryptocurrency — it's a thing.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":1985,"children":1986},{},[],{"type":88,"value":1988},"Yeah, it is.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":1990,"children":1991},{},[],{"type":88,"value":1993},"It clearly is. There's lots and lots happening.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":1995,"children":1996},{},[1997,1999,2002],{"type":88,"value":1998},"You know, maybe 10 years ago, we thought this would just be a thing that kind of went away, but it's a thing.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2000,"children":2001},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2003},"It's a thing.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2005,"children":2006},{},[2007,2009,2012],{"type":88,"value":2008},"And so the question that we're getting asked all the time as people are going through the estate planning process and they have some cryptocurrency is: How do I tie this all to my trust to make sure that in the event I pass away, someone can have access to it, right?",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2010,"children":2011},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2013},"That's always the big question when it comes to all assets.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2015,"children":2016},{},[2017],{"type":88,"value":2018},"Whether we're talking about retirement accounts, your house, bank accounts — we’ve got to make sure that everything has a plan so that in the event something happens to you, whether you're incapacitated or passed away, someone has access to these assets so they can go to who you want them to.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2020,"children":2021},{},[2022,2024,2027],{"type":88,"value":2023},"So now we've got this thing, this digital currency called cryptocurrency. Comes in all kinds of forms.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2025,"children":2026},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2028},"I'm not going to sit here and say that I'm an expert in all the different varieties of cryptocurrency, but here are the conversations that I have had, which I want to just share with you as an estate planner.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2030,"children":2031},{},[2032,2034,2037,2039,2042],{"type":88,"value":2033},"I typically connect with wealth advisors or people in the industry to figure this out.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2035,"children":2036},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2038},"Recently, I had a great conversation with a concierge, they call themselves, of Bitcoin.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2040,"children":2041},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2043},"Bitcoin is probably one of the largest cryptocurrencies out there that most people are familiar with.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2045,"children":2046},{},[2047],{"type":88,"value":2048},"So I can walk you through what we discussed in our conversation of how we're going to tie this all to an estate plan.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2050,"children":2051},{},[2052,2054,2059,2060,2063],{"type":88,"value":2053},"The interesting thing with cryptocurrency is there are typically these things called ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2055,"children":2056},{},[2057],{"type":88,"value":2058},"keys",{"type":88,"value":161},{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2061,"children":2062},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2064},"I don't know exactly what that means, but that's not important here.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2066,"children":2067},{},[2068],{"type":88,"value":2069},"What's important is that this is how someone’s going to have access to the cryptocurrency asset.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2071,"children":2072},{},[2073,2075,2080],{"type":88,"value":2074},"With Bitcoin, they have a three-level — call it multi-factor — where there are going to be ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2076,"children":2077},{},[2078],{"type":88,"value":2079},"three keys",{"type":88,"value":2081},":",{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":2083,"children":2084},{},[2085,2090,2095],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":2086,"children":2087},{},[2088],{"type":88,"value":2089},"One key is held by the individual who buys the cryptocurrency",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":2091,"children":2092},{},[2093],{"type":88,"value":2094},"Another key is held by the company that manages the cryptocurrency for you",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":2096,"children":2097},{},[2098],{"type":88,"value":2099},"The final key — we’ve got to figure out what to do with that",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2101,"children":2102},{},[2103,2105],{"type":88,"value":2104},"Because ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2106,"children":2107},{},[2108],{"type":88,"value":2109},"anyone with two out of the three keys can access the assets.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2111,"children":2112},{},[2113,2115,2120,2123],{"type":88,"value":2114},"The unfortunate part of crypto is: ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2116,"children":2117},{},[2118],{"type":88,"value":2119},"we can't just retitle it into the name of the trust.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2121,"children":2122},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2124},"It's not gonna happen — no one allows it to be done.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2126,"children":2127},{},[2128],{"type":88,"value":2129},"So what we’ve got to figure out is: how do we make sure that this goes to who we want it to go to in the event we pass away?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2131,"children":2132},{},[2133,2135,2138,2140,2143],{"type":88,"value":2134},"Like with anything, we typically map out a plan.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2136,"children":2137},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2139},"We say our retirement account’s going to be split between our kids or spouse first or whatever it is.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2141,"children":2142},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2144},"But with the cryptocurrency, we do that through their key system.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2146,"children":2147},{},[2148,2150,2155],{"type":88,"value":2149},"And whether that’s a system where they have two keys or three keys, ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2151,"children":2152},{},[2153],{"type":88,"value":2154},"who holds those keys",{"type":88,"value":2156}," is going to be the determining factor of where these assets go when I pass away.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2158,"children":2159},{},[2160,2162,2165],{"type":88,"value":2161},"You following me still?",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2163,"children":2164},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2166},"So in a trust — does this go in a trust? Like it’s just a will? In your will?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2168,"children":2169},{},[2170,2172,2175,2177,2182,2185,2187],{"type":88,"value":2171},"Yeah, so here's my recommendation as an estate planner:",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2173,"children":2174},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2176},"We lay out — whether in a will or a trust — ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2178,"children":2179},{},[2180],{"type":88,"value":2181},"who’s going to get this asset.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2183,"children":2184},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2186},"But at this point in time — February of 2025 — ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2188,"children":2189},{},[2190],{"type":88,"value":2191},"that is not legally binding.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2193,"children":2194},{},[2195],{"type":88,"value":2196},"To me, it’s still worth putting in that direction, though — where you want it to go — in the event this does all come full circle with U.S. laws and estate planning.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2198,"children":2199},{},[2200,2202,2205,2207,2212],{"type":88,"value":2201},"But what that will do — here’s what we agreed to with Bitcoin, at least —",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2203,"children":2204},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2206},"What that’s going to do is give the trustee ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2208,"children":2209},{},[2210],{"type":88,"value":2211},"direction",{"type":88,"value":2213}," of what you want to happen.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2215,"children":2216},{},[2217,2219,2222],{"type":88,"value":2218},"Also probably an important thing to do:",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2220,"children":2221},{},[],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2223,"children":2224},{},[2225],{"type":88,"value":2226},"Give the other key — that third key — to who you’re appointing as successor trustee.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2228,"children":2229},{},[2230,2232,2235],{"type":88,"value":2231},"Because they’re going to be handling everything else.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2233,"children":2234},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2236},"So if that successor trustee holds the third key, that could be how we’re going to figure this all out.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2238,"children":2239},{},[2240,2242,2245,2247,2250],{"type":88,"value":2241},"The trust or the will is going to say what you want to happen to it.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2243,"children":2244},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2246},"It’s up to the trustee to follow that.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2248,"children":2249},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2251},"But between the successor trustee and the company, they will have access to the asset.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2253,"children":2254},{},[2255,2257,2260],{"type":88,"value":2256},"If there’s three keys, does that mean that the trustee who has one of the keys needs to contact another person with a second key to actually access it?",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2258,"children":2259},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2261},"Or as long as you have one key, you can get into it?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2263,"children":2264},{},[2265,2267,2272,2275,2277,2280],{"type":88,"value":2266},"You gotta have ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2268,"children":2269},{},[2270],{"type":88,"value":2271},"two out of the three.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2273,"children":2274},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2276},"In a three-key system, you’ve got to have two out of the three.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2278,"children":2279},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2281},"In a two-key system, you have to have both keys.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2283,"children":2284},{},[2285],{"type":88,"value":2286},"So you better not lose a corner of one.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2288,"children":2289},{},[2290,2292,2297,2298,2301],{"type":88,"value":2291},"What we’ve been told is that a lot of people are ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2293,"children":2294},{},[2295],{"type":88,"value":2296},"engraving these into steel plates",{"type":88,"value":161},{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2299,"children":2300},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2302},"Helpful so you don’t just lose the key.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2304,"children":2305},{},[2306,2311,2314],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2307,"children":2308},{},[2309],{"type":88,"value":2310},"Keep it with your estate plan.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2312,"children":2313},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2315},"So typically you get a binder.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2317,"children":2318},{},[2319,2321,2324,2329],{"type":88,"value":2320},"If you have cryptocurrency, you can keep that engraved steel plate — or whatever you’re going to use to identify the key —",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2322,"children":2323},{},[],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2325,"children":2326},{},[2327],{"type":88,"value":2328},"Keep that in your estate planning binder",{"type":88,"value":2330}," would be a safe place to put it.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2332,"children":2333},{},[2334,2336,2339],{"type":88,"value":2335},"But yeah, two out of three.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2337,"children":2338},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2340},"So your successor trustee plus the company — that could give them the access to then give it to who you want it to go to.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2342,"children":2343},{},[2344,2346,2349],{"type":88,"value":2345},"The unfortunate part at this point in time —",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2347,"children":2348},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2350},"You’re just literally telling the successor trustee: give this cryptocurrency to my kids or whoever you want.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2352,"children":2353},{},[2354,2356,2359,2361,2364],{"type":88,"value":2355},"Right, it’s like a handshake agreement.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2357,"children":2358},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2360},"Like, I hope he actually does it.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2362,"children":2363},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2365},"But if he wants to just keep it all, he can keep it all too.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2367,"children":2368},{},[2369,2371,2374,2376,2379],{"type":88,"value":2370},"So I think there’s a lot of upside right now with crypto —",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2372,"children":2373},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2375},"And again, I’m not the person to speak to that —",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2377,"children":2378},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2380},"But there’s also some inherent risk in it too.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2382,"children":2383},{},[2384,2386,2389],{"type":88,"value":2385},"Those are the things that we’re just going to have to be mindful of as we transition into this digital currency space.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2387,"children":2388},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2390},"And as we navigate the changes in that — I mean, that’s just where it sits today.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2392,"children":2393},{},[2394,2396,2401],{"type":88,"value":2395},"Well, thank you so much, Michael. I appreciate your insight on how you're navigating the ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2397,"children":2398},{},[2399],{"type":88,"value":2400},"wild west of cryptocurrency",{"type":88,"value":161},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2403,"children":2404},{},[2405,2407],{"type":88,"value":2406},"If you would like to understand more about how your cryptocurrency can go into your estate plan — to ensure that third key or second key gets to a trustee — ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2408,"children":2409},{},[2410],{"type":88,"value":2411},"please give us a call. We’d be happy to help.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2413,"children":2414},{},[2415,2417,2422],{"type":88,"value":2416},"If you are having this experience, and maybe you’ve done this before and have a way forward, ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2418,"children":2419},{},[2420],{"type":88,"value":2421},"we’d love to hear",{"type":88,"value":2423}," how you're making sure that if something happens to you, your cryptocurrency continues down the line of where it needs to go.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2425,"children":2426},{},[2427,2432,2435],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2428,"children":2429},{},[2430],{"type":88,"value":2431},"Share in the comments.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2433,"children":2434},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2436},"Thank you all so much.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2438,"children":2439},{},[2440,2442,2445,2447,2450],{"type":88,"value":2441},"Thank you, Michael.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2443,"children":2444},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2446},"If you would like to contact us, the phone number is below.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":2448,"children":2449},{},[],{"type":88,"value":2451},"Please give us a call. We’d be happy to help.",{"title":357,"searchDepth":358,"depth":358,"links":2453},[2454,2455,2456],{"id":1827,"depth":358,"text":1830},{"id":1855,"depth":358,"text":1858},{"id":1944,"depth":358,"text":1947},"content:videos:how-to-include-cryptocurrency-in-your-estate-plan.md","videos/how-to-include-cryptocurrency-in-your-estate-plan.md","videos/how-to-include-cryptocurrency-in-your-estate-plan",{"_path":2461,"_dir":1794,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":2462,"description":2463,"id":2464,"thumbnailUrl":2465,"thumbnailAlt":2466,"videoUrl":2467,"duration":2468,"publishedAt":2469,"tags":2470,"author":2474,"isFeatured":957,"ctaUrl":1809,"platform":1810,"faqSchema":2475,"body":2485,"_type":366,"_id":2978,"_source":368,"_file":2979,"_stem":2980,"_extension":371},"/videos/how-a-trust-works","How a Trust Works: The Legal Shield for Your Family","A trust isn't just a document; it's a legal shield that avoids Michigan probate and keeps your family's business private. Michael Rutkowski breaks down the mechanics of trust ownership, the 'CEO' role of a trustee, and the critical step of asset fortification.","how-a-trust-works-michigan","/img/video-thumbnails/how-trust-works.webp","Michael Rutkowski explaining the mechanics of a Michigan trust","https://www.youtube.com/embed/5TRk6RyfxRI?si=kaRFHnAmCIB0OJtY",480,"2025-03-11",[2471,2472,2473],"Trust Mechanics","Asset Protection","Probate Avoidance",{"name":1807,"avatarUrl":1808,"url":24},{"mainEntity":2476},[2477,2481],{"@type":1814,"name":2478,"acceptedAnswer":2479},"How does a trust avoid Michigan probate court?",{"@type":1817,"text":2480},"In Michigan, a trust avoids probate because it acts as a legal entity that holds title to your assets. Since the trust—not you individually—owns the assets, there is no need for a judge to oversee the transfer of property when you pass away. A will is merely a letter to a judge; a trust is a fortified shield that bypasses the court entirely.",{"@type":1814,"name":2482,"acceptedAnswer":2483},"When does a living trust need a separate Tax ID (EIN)?",{"@type":1817,"text":2484},"For a revocable living trust in Michigan, you use your Social Security number during your lifetime. The trust only requires a separate Tax ID (EIN) after the grantor passes away and the trust becomes irrevocable, or in specific cases involving an Irrevocable Asset Shield.",{"type":79,"children":2486,"toc":2971},[2487,2491,2524,2529,2613,2617,2622,2627,2632,2639,2644,2649,2686,2694,2699,2728,2736,2748,2756,2761,2808,2816,2845,2853,2876,2884,2904,2912,2917,2944,2948,2958,2966],{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":2488,"children":2489},{"id":1827},[2490],{"type":88,"value":1830},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2492,"children":2493},{},[2494,2496,2502,2504,2510,2512,2516,2518,2522],{"type":88,"value":2495},"Creating a ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":2497,"children":2499},{"href":2498},"/estate-planning/trusts/",[2500],{"type":88,"value":2501},"trust",{"type":88,"value":2503}," is one of the most effective ways to protect your assets, ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":2505,"children":2507},{"href":2506},"/estate-planning/probate-avoidance/",[2508],{"type":88,"value":2509},"avoid probate",{"type":88,"value":2511},", and ensure your wishes are honored. In this conversation, ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":2513,"children":2514},{"href":24},[2515],{"type":88,"value":1807},{"type":88,"value":2517}," of ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":2519,"children":2520},{"href":1838},[2521],{"type":88,"value":1244},{"type":88,"value":2523}," explains exactly how a trust works, why it avoids probate, and what steps you need to take to properly fund and maintain it. Think of a trust not just as paperwork, but as a legal entity — much like a business — that manages your assets during your lifetime and distributes them according to your wishes after you pass.",{"type":82,"tag":2525,"props":2526,"children":2527},"h3",{"id":1855},[2528],{"type":88,"value":1858},{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":2530,"children":2531},{},[2532,2542,2559,2583,2593,2603],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":2533,"children":2534},{},[2535,2540],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2536,"children":2537},{},[2538],{"type":88,"value":2539},"A trust operates like a legal entity",{"type":88,"value":2541},", similar to a business, and owns your assets, allowing it to avoid probate.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":2543,"children":2544},{},[2545,2550,2552,2557],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2546,"children":2547},{},[2548],{"type":88,"value":2549},"During your lifetime",{"type":88,"value":2551},", a revocable living trust uses your ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2553,"children":2554},{},[2555],{"type":88,"value":2556},"Social Security number",{"type":88,"value":2558}," and does not require a separate tax ID (EIN).",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":2560,"children":2561},{},[2562,2567,2569,2574,2576,2581],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2563,"children":2564},{},[2565],{"type":88,"value":2566},"After your passing",{"type":88,"value":2568},", the trust becomes ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2570,"children":2571},{},[2572],{"type":88,"value":2573},"irrevocable",{"type":88,"value":2575},", and an ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2577,"children":2578},{},[2579],{"type":88,"value":2580},"EIN",{"type":88,"value":2582}," must be obtained for trust administration and tax purposes.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":2584,"children":2585},{},[2586,2591],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2587,"children":2588},{},[2589],{"type":88,"value":2590},"Funding the trust is critical",{"type":88,"value":2592}," — assets must either be retitled in the trust’s name or have proper beneficiary designations.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":2594,"children":2595},{},[2596,2601],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2597,"children":2598},{},[2599],{"type":88,"value":2600},"You may need to work with a CPA",{"type":88,"value":2602},", especially for trust tax filings, but it’s not always mandatory.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":2604,"children":2605},{},[2606,2611],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2607,"children":2608},{},[2609],{"type":88,"value":2610},"Regular checkups every 3–5 years",{"type":88,"value":2612}," are important to ensure all assets are correctly aligned with the trust.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":2614,"children":2615},{"id":1944},[2616],{"type":88,"value":1947},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2618,"children":2619},{},[2620],{"type":88,"value":2621},"Hello. Welcome back to Life Lessons with Mike Rutkowski as we continue to understand trusts and how they work.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2623,"children":2624},{},[2625],{"type":88,"value":2626},"We talked previously in a few other episodes about how there are over 60 types of trusts you could have, how they are more important than a will, and how they keep you out of probate — unlike just having a will.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2628,"children":2629},{},[2630],{"type":88,"value":2631},"Today, we want to walk you through how a trust actually works.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2633,"children":2634},{},[2635],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2636,"children":2637},{},[2638],{"type":88,"value":1968},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2640,"children":2641},{},[2642],{"type":88,"value":2643},"Thanks for having me.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2645,"children":2646},{},[2647],{"type":88,"value":2648},"You know, it's a question we get all the time: Why does a trust avoid the probate court?\nIt's not just someone arbitrarily saying, \"Trusts don’t go to probate.\" There’s a reason behind it.",{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":2650,"children":2651},{},[2652,2664,2681],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":2653,"children":2654},{},[2655,2657,2662],{"type":88,"value":2656},"A ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2658,"children":2659},{},[2660],{"type":88,"value":2661},"will",{"type":88,"value":2663}," is simply evidence you provide to a judge about how you want your assets distributed.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":2665,"children":2666},{},[2667,2668,2672,2674,2679],{"type":88,"value":2656},{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2669,"children":2670},{},[2671],{"type":88,"value":2501},{"type":88,"value":2673}," is a ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2675,"children":2676},{},[2677],{"type":88,"value":2678},"legal, binding contract",{"type":88,"value":2680}," — like creating a business entity.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":2682,"children":2683},{},[2684],{"type":88,"value":2685},"You move your assets into the trust (the \"business\"), and you, as the grantor, are the CEO.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2687,"children":2688},{},[2689],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2690,"children":2691},{},[2692],{"type":88,"value":2693},"How a Trust Functions",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2695,"children":2696},{},[2697],{"type":88,"value":2698},"This trust document sets all the rules:",{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":2700,"children":2701},{},[2702,2718],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":2703,"children":2704},{},[2705,2710,2712,2716],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2706,"children":2707},{},[2708],{"type":88,"value":2709},"If you're incapacitated",{"type":88,"value":2711},", a ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2713,"children":2714},{},[2715],{"type":88,"value":1894},{"type":88,"value":2717}," steps in to manage the trust according to your wishes.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":2719,"children":2720},{},[2721,2726],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2722,"children":2723},{},[2724],{"type":88,"value":2725},"If you pass 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need a separate government number, like a business EIN?\"",{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":2762,"children":2763},{},[2764,2787],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":2765,"children":2766},{},[2767,2771,2773,2778,2780,2785],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2768,"children":2769},{},[2770],{"type":88,"value":2549},{"type":88,"value":2772}," with a ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2774,"children":2775},{},[2776],{"type":88,"value":2777},"revocable living trust",{"type":88,"value":2779},", you ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2781,"children":2782},{},[2783],{"type":88,"value":2784},"do not need a separate EIN",{"type":88,"value":2786}," — it uses your Social Security number.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":2788,"children":2789},{},[2790,2795,2796,2800,2802,2806],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2791,"children":2792},{},[2793],{"type":88,"value":2794},"After your death",{"type":88,"value":2568},{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2797,"children":2798},{},[2799],{"type":88,"value":2573},{"type":88,"value":2801},", and 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",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2839,"children":2840},{},[2841],{"type":88,"value":2842},"trust bank account",{"type":88,"value":2844}," tied to the EIN.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2846,"children":2847},{},[2848],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2849,"children":2850},{},[2851],{"type":88,"value":2852},"Funding the Trust",{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":2854,"children":2855},{},[2856,2866],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":2857,"children":2858},{},[2859,2864],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2860,"children":2861},{},[2862],{"type":88,"value":2863},"Revocable Living Trust",{"type":88,"value":2865},": You can retitle assets into the trust or set beneficiary designations that flow into the trust at death.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":2867,"children":2868},{},[2869,2874],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2870,"children":2871},{},[2872],{"type":88,"value":2873},"Irrevocable Trust",{"type":88,"value":2875},": Assets must be retitled during your lifetime.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2877,"children":2878},{},[2879],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2880,"children":2881},{},[2882],{"type":88,"value":2883},"Working with Professionals",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2885,"children":2886},{},[2887,2889,2895,2897,2902],{"type":88,"value":2888},"You don't ",{"type":82,"tag":2890,"props":2891,"children":2892},"em",{},[2893],{"type":88,"value":2894},"have",{"type":88,"value":2896}," to hire a CPA to handle tax filings for your trust, but it’s ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2898,"children":2899},{},[2900],{"type":88,"value":2901},"highly recommended",{"type":88,"value":2903},", especially after death when filing requirements change.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2905,"children":2906},{},[2907],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2908,"children":2909},{},[2910],{"type":88,"value":2911},"Importance of Funding",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2913,"children":2914},{},[2915],{"type":88,"value":2916},"Funding is 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trust.",{"type":82,"tag":2945,"props":2946,"children":2947},"hr",{},[],{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2949,"children":2950},{},[2951,2956],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2952,"children":2953},{},[2954],{"type":88,"value":2955},"If you would like to create a trust and protect your assets — or if you have questions about funding or managing an existing trust — the Rutkowski Law Firm is here to help.",{"type":88,"value":2957},"\nPlease call us at the number below.\nIf you're in another state or just starting your journey, feel free to drop your questions below — we're happy to help however we can.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2959,"children":2960},{},[2961],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":2962,"children":2963},{},[2964],{"type":88,"value":2965},"Mike, thank you as always for your wise words.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":2967,"children":2968},{},[2969],{"type":88,"value":2970},"Thanks for having me. We'll see you next time.",{"title":357,"searchDepth":358,"depth":358,"links":2972},[2973,2977],{"id":1827,"depth":358,"text":1830,"children":2974},[2975],{"id":1855,"depth":2976,"text":1858},3,{"id":1944,"depth":358,"text":1947},"content:videos:how-a-trust-works.md","videos/how-a-trust-works.md","videos/how-a-trust-works",{"_path":2982,"_dir":1794,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":2983,"description":2984,"id":2985,"thumbnailUrl":2986,"thumbnailAlt":2987,"videoUrl":2988,"duration":2989,"publishedAt":2990,"tags":2991,"author":2992,"isFeatured":957,"ctaUrl":1809,"platform":1810,"faqSchema":2993,"body":3003,"_type":366,"_id":3373,"_source":368,"_file":3374,"_stem":3375,"_extension":371},"/videos/when-to-start-estate-planning","When to Start Estate Planning","Estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy or the elderly—it’s essential for everyone. But when is the right time to start? In this video, estate planning attorney Michael Rutkowski discusses key life scenarios where estate planning becomes crucial.","when-to-start-estate-planning","/img/video-thumbnails/what-is-estate-planning.webp","Michael Rutkowski explaining when to consider estate planning","https://www.youtube.com/embed/swIn-amdnN0?si=Ka0yFB-tvBFNhDNw",335,"2025-03-03",[1804],{"name":1807,"avatarUrl":1808,"url":24},{"mainEntity":2994},[2995,2999],{"@type":1814,"name":2996,"acceptedAnswer":2997},"When should I start estate planning?",{"@type":1817,"text":2998},"Estate planning should start as early as age 18 (e.g., powers of attorney for college students). The two main triggers are having children and approaching retirement. Revisit your plan when life changes—such as children becoming mature enough to serve as trustee or power of attorney—not necessarily on a fixed calendar schedule.",{"@type":1814,"name":3000,"acceptedAnswer":3001},"Do I need to update my estate plan every few years?",{"@type":1817,"text":3002},"Legal changes rarely require updates. More often, life changes trigger the need—for example, when adult children are ready to serve as successor trustees or powers of attorney, or when you are near retirement and aligning your plan with your current assets and goals.",{"type":79,"children":3004,"toc":3367},[3005,3009,3029,3033,3116,3120,3125,3133,3137,3142,3150,3155,3163,3168,3212,3220,3225,3230,3241,3254,3262,3267,3297,3305,3310,3328,3333,3336,3344,3354,3362],{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":3006,"children":3007},{"id":1827},[3008],{"type":88,"value":1830},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3010,"children":3011},{},[3012,3016,3018,3022,3023,3027],{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":3013,"children":3014},{"href":114},[3015],{"type":88,"value":42},{"type":88,"value":3017}," isn’t just something for retirees — it’s a vital process that should begin at key life stages to protect you and your loved ones. In this conversation, ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":3019,"children":3020},{"href":24},[3021],{"type":88,"value":1807},{"type":88,"value":2517},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":3024,"children":3025},{"href":1838},[3026],{"type":88,"value":1244},{"type":88,"value":3028}," breaks down when you should start thinking about creating or updating your estate plan, and why it’s important to revisit it as your family and financial situation evolves. Whether you're just starting a family, sending kids to college, or approaching retirement, proactive planning can prevent stress and uncertainty later on.",{"type":82,"tag":2525,"props":3030,"children":3031},{"id":1855},[3032],{"type":88,"value":1858},{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":3034,"children":3035},{},[3036,3046,3079,3096,3106],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3037,"children":3038},{},[3039,3044],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":3040,"children":3041},{},[3042],{"type":88,"value":3043},"Estate planning should start as early as age 18",{"type":88,"value":3045},", especially for college students who may need powers of attorney in case of emergencies.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3047,"children":3048},{},[3049,3054,3056],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":3050,"children":3051},{},[3052],{"type":88,"value":3053},"Two major triggers for estate planning",{"type":88,"value":3055}," are:\n",{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":3057,"children":3058},{},[3059,3069],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3060,"children":3061},{},[3062,3067],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":3063,"children":3064},{},[3065],{"type":88,"value":3066},"Having children",{"type":88,"value":3068}," (first or second child).",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3070,"children":3071},{},[3072,3077],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":3073,"children":3074},{},[3075],{"type":88,"value":3076},"Approaching retirement",{"type":88,"value":3078}," and preparing finances for the future.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3080,"children":3081},{},[3082,3087,3089,3094],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":3083,"children":3084},{},[3085],{"type":88,"value":3086},"Estate plans should be reviewed periodically",{"type":88,"value":3088},", not necessarily because of legal changes but due to ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":3090,"children":3091},{},[3092],{"type":88,"value":3093},"life changes",{"type":88,"value":3095}," (like children becoming mature enough to serve as power of attorney or trustee).",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3097,"children":3098},{},[3099,3104],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":3100,"children":3101},{},[3102],{"type":88,"value":3103},"Family dynamics differ",{"type":88,"value":3105}," — some children may be ready for estate responsibilities at 18, while others may need to wait until 25 or 30.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3107,"children":3108},{},[3109,3114],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":3110,"children":3111},{},[3112],{"type":88,"value":3113},"Financial advisors often prompt estate plan updates",{"type":88,"value":3115}," during retirement planning to ensure everything aligns with current assets and goals.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":3117,"children":3118},{"id":1944},[3119],{"type":88,"value":1947},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3121,"children":3122},{},[3123],{"type":88,"value":3124},"Today, we're going to talk about the phases of when you would be triggered to need an estate plan. There are life scenarios that come into play when you might want to consider that now would be a good time.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3126,"children":3127},{},[3128],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":3129,"children":3130},{},[3131],{"type":88,"value":3132},"Michael, welcome.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3134,"children":3135},{},[3136],{"type":88,"value":2643},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3138,"children":3139},{},[3140],{"type":88,"value":3141},"It's great having you. It's an interesting question you pose because we find that there are kind of two times during an individual's life when estate planning is very top of mind — not that you shouldn't be doing this when you turn 18.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3143,"children":3144},{},[3145],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":3146,"children":3147},{},[3148],{"type":88,"value":3149},"College Students (Age 18+)",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3151,"children":3152},{},[3153],{"type":88,"value":3154},"Absolutely, when you’re going away to college, you should have powers of attorney so that your parents can help you while you're away at college. We've had situations where someone at college got into a car accident and the parents couldn't learn what was going on. They had to drive all the way to the college and hospital to figure it out. (That's another whole episode.)",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3156,"children":3157},{},[3158],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":3159,"children":3160},{},[3161],{"type":88,"value":3162},"The Two Big Estate Planning Triggers",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3164,"children":3165},{},[3166],{"type":88,"value":3167},"But those two main phases where 90% of the families come to us are:",{"type":82,"tag":230,"props":3169,"children":3170},{},[3171,3189],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3172,"children":3173},{},[3174,3179,3181],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":3175,"children":3176},{},[3177],{"type":88,"value":3178},"Having kids",{"type":88,"value":3180}," — your first or second child.",{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":3182,"children":3183},{},[3184],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3185,"children":3186},{},[3187],{"type":88,"value":3188},"Some very important decisions and documents need to be made to protect your family.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3190,"children":3191},{},[3192,3197,3199],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":3193,"children":3194},{},[3195],{"type":88,"value":3196},"Near retirement",{"type":88,"value":3198}," —",{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":3200,"children":3201},{},[3202,3207],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3203,"children":3204},{},[3205],{"type":88,"value":3206},"Getting your ducks in a row, preparing for the future.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3208,"children":3209},{},[3210],{"type":88,"value":3211},"Even if you had an estate plan earlier, this is an ideal time to review and possibly revise it.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3213,"children":3214},{},[3215],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":3216,"children":3217},{},[3218],{"type":88,"value":3219},"Updating Your Estate Plan",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3221,"children":3222},{},[3223],{"type":88,"value":3224},"If you do an estate plan when you’re younger and have kids, do you then need to revisit it again at retirement?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3226,"children":3227},{},[3228],{"type":88,"value":3229},"I hear a lot of estate planners say that you should revisit your estate plan every three to five years. The reality is, in my 20 years of doing this, there hasn't been a legal change that required us to reach out and say, \"Hey, you need to update your plan.\"",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3231,"children":3232},{},[3233,3235,3239],{"type":88,"value":3234},"More often, ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":3236,"children":3237},{},[3238],{"type":88,"value":3093},{"type":88,"value":3240}," trigger updates:",{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":3242,"children":3243},{},[3244,3249],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3245,"children":3246},{},[3247],{"type":88,"value":3248},"For example, if we worked with a family when their kids were young, and now their kids are grown (over 18), they may now be ideal candidates to serve as successor trustees or powers of attorney.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3250,"children":3251},{},[3252],{"type":88,"value":3253},"You might no longer need your brother to be your power of attorney if your adult children are responsible and capable.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3255,"children":3256},{},[3257],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":3258,"children":3259},{},[3260],{"type":88,"value":3261},"When Are Children Mature Enough?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3263,"children":3264},{},[3265],{"type":88,"value":3266},"Every child is different.",{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":3268,"children":3269},{},[3270,3275,3280,3292],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3271,"children":3272},{},[3273],{"type":88,"value":3274},"I have three daughters — all completely different when it comes to responsibility.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3276,"children":3277},{},[3278],{"type":88,"value":3279},"One might be very responsible and a great saver; another might not be quite ready.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3281,"children":3282},{},[3283,3285,3290],{"type":88,"value":3284},"Typically, I see more children ready for these roles around ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":3286,"children":3287},{},[3288],{"type":88,"value":3289},"age 25–30",{"type":88,"value":3291},", but it really depends on the family and the individual child.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3293,"children":3294},{},[3295],{"type":88,"value":3296},"Parents should decide when they feel their children are mature enough.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3298,"children":3299},{},[3300],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":3301,"children":3302},{},[3303],{"type":88,"value":3304},"Second Major Update: Retirement",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3306,"children":3307},{},[3308],{"type":88,"value":3309},"The next time to revisit the plan is near retirement:",{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":3311,"children":3312},{},[3313,3318,3323],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3314,"children":3315},{},[3316],{"type":88,"value":3317},"You're looking at your 401(k)s.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3319,"children":3320},{},[3321],{"type":88,"value":3322},"You're doing financial planning.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":3324,"children":3325},{},[3326],{"type":88,"value":3327},"Financial planners will often suggest ensuring your estate plan is up to date.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3329,"children":3330},{},[3331],{"type":88,"value":3332},"It’s a great time to review your trust, powers of attorney, and other documents to make sure everything is aligned with your current life stage.",{"type":82,"tag":2945,"props":3334,"children":3335},{},[],{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3337,"children":3338},{},[3339],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":3340,"children":3341},{},[3342],{"type":88,"value":3343},"If you are in either of these life stages, or maybe you're somewhere in between and realize you need to catch up, we are here to help.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3345,"children":3346},{},[3347,3349,3352],{"type":88,"value":3348},"Please give us a call — the phone number is below.",{"type":82,"tag":1959,"props":3350,"children":3351},{},[],{"type":88,"value":3353},"\nWe're happy to guide you through creating or updating an estate plan that protects your family now and into the future.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":3355,"children":3356},{},[3357],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":3358,"children":3359},{},[3360],{"type":88,"value":3361},"Michael, thank you so much, as always, for your wise words of wisdom. 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She is a graduate of Western Michigan University, where she studied Business Administration. After her undergraduate studies, Anisha received an honors scholarship to attend the Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She was ranked in the top 5% of her class throughout her time in law school and served as an Editor on the school’s Law Review. Anisha graduated Magna Cum Laude and was awarded the Distinguished Student Award for her graduating class.","Anisha D. Rutkowski","Attorney","/img/team/anisha-rutkowski.webp","Head shot of Anisha Rutkowski",[1804],{"type":79,"children":4855,"toc":4875},[4856,4860,4865,4870],{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":4857,"children":4858},{},[4859],{"type":88,"value":4848},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":4861,"children":4862},{},[4863],{"type":88,"value":4864},"Anisha has served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Gerald E. Rosen in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and the Honorable Michael Warren in the Oakland County Circuit Court. She spent five years working for the State of Michigan, first as a prehearing attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals and then completing two judicial clerkships with the Michigan Supreme Court.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":4866,"children":4867},{},[4868],{"type":88,"value":4869},"Anisha has served as an adjunct professor at the Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where she instructed law students on advanced legal research and writing methods. She has also served as a mentor for aspiring lawyers through Cooley’s Mentor Jet program.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":4871,"children":4872},{},[4873],{"type":88,"value":4874},"Anisha was born and raised in Rochester, Michigan. After moving to northern Michigan for a few years early in her legal career, she and her husband returned to Rochester to work and raise their children. Outside of practicing law, Anisha is an avid reader, enjoys horseback riding and, most of all, weekend adventures with her family.",{"title":357,"searchDepth":358,"depth":358,"links":4876},[],"content:about-us:team:anisha-rutkowski.md","about-us/team/anisha-rutkowski.md","about-us/team/anisha-rutkowski",{"_path":4881,"_dir":4714,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":4882,"description":4883,"name":4882,"role":4884,"imageUrl":4885,"leadership":957,"order":4886,"imageAlt":4887,"practiceAreas":4888,"body":4889,"_type":366,"_id":4912,"_source":368,"_file":4913,"_stem":4914,"_extension":371},"/about-us/team/gail-gonos","Gail Gonos","Gail is a dedicated paralegal with over 25 years of experience with a strong focus on estate planning, trust administration, corporate, probate and client support. 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She takes pride in contributing to plans that provide clarity, protection, and peace of mind for individuals and families. ",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":4906,"children":4907},{},[4908],{"type":88,"value":4909},"When Gail is not working, she enjoys walks on the beach, hiking, and kayaking, but is best known for her passion for football.",{"title":357,"searchDepth":358,"depth":358,"links":4911},[],"content:about-us:team:gail-gonos.md","about-us/team/gail-gonos.md","about-us/team/gail-gonos",[4916,5146,5312],{"_path":4917,"_dir":4918,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":4919,"description":4920,"date":4921,"imageUrl":4922,"author":23,"imageAlt":4923,"practiceArea":4924,"body":4925,"_type":366,"_id":5143,"_source":368,"_file":5144,"_stem":5145,"_extension":371},"/blog/can-you-leave-part-of-your-estate-to-charity-in-michigan","blog","Can You Leave Part of Your Estate to Charity in Michigan?","Learn how to balance family inheritance with charitable giving goals using wills, trusts, and strategic account titling.","2026-10-20T15:27:56.477Z","https://media.rutkowskilawfirm.com/13b828ce-4f8d-4bbf-84c7-77a431b69dad-rlf-blog-can-you-leave-part-of-your-estate.webp","Mother and daughter","estate-planning",{"type":79,"children":4926,"toc":5134},[4927,4933,4938,4943,4954,4960,4965,5008,5014,5027,5032,5037,5043,5048,5053,5058,5064,5069,5074,5080,5085,5108,5113,5119,5124,5129],{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":4928,"children":4930},{"id":4929},"connecting-your-legacy-to-causes-that-matter",[4931],{"type":88,"value":4932},"Connecting Your Legacy to Causes That Matter",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":4934,"children":4935},{},[4936],{"type":88,"value":4937},"For many Michigan families, building an estate plan means protecting loved ones and supporting nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, or community foundations that reflect their values.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":4939,"children":4940},{},[4941],{"type":88,"value":4942},"Incorporating charitable giving into your overall financial strategy lets you make a meaningful impact while maintaining full financial control during your lifetime. However, simply saying you want to support a favorite cause isn't enough.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":4944,"children":4945},{},[4946,4948,4952],{"type":88,"value":4947},"Understanding Michigan charitable ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":4949,"children":4950},{"href":114},[4951],{"type":88,"value":117},{"type":88,"value":4953}," laws helps ensure your gifts are honored smoothly, without creating friction for your surviving family members.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":4955,"children":4957},{"id":4956},"ways-to-structure-a-charitable-gift",[4958],{"type":88,"value":4959},"Ways to Structure a Charitable Gift",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":4961,"children":4962},{},[4963],{"type":88,"value":4964},"When leaving money to charity in a will or trust, you have several flexible options for structuring your gift:",{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":4966,"children":4967},{},[4968,4978,4988,4998],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":4969,"children":4970},{},[4971,4976],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":4972,"children":4973},{},[4974],{"type":88,"value":4975},"Specific Dollar Amount:",{"type":88,"value":4977}," You can designate a fixed sum to be paid directly to a named charity before distributing remaining assets to family members.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":4979,"children":4980},{},[4981,4986],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":4982,"children":4983},{},[4984],{"type":88,"value":4985},"Percentage of Your Estate:",{"type":88,"value":4987}," Designating a specific percentage of your total estate allows your charitable contribution to scale naturally with changes in your overall asset value.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":4989,"children":4990},{},[4991,4996],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":4992,"children":4993},{},[4994],{"type":88,"value":4995},"Residuary Gift:",{"type":88,"value":4997}," You can direct that a charity receive whatever property remains after all specific distributions, taxes, and administrative costs have been settled.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":4999,"children":5000},{},[5001,5006],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":5002,"children":5003},{},[5004],{"type":88,"value":5005},"Contingent Gift:",{"type":88,"value":5007}," You can name a charitable organization as an alternate beneficiary if your primary family beneficiaries pass away before you.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":5009,"children":5011},{"id":5010},"using-wills-versus-living-trusts-for-charitable-gifts",[5012],{"type":88,"value":5013},"Using Wills Versus Living Trusts for Charitable Gifts",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5015,"children":5016},{},[5017,5019,5025],{"type":88,"value":5018},"While a ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":5020,"children":5022},{"href":5021},"/estate-planning/last-will-and-testament/",[5023],{"type":88,"value":5024},"Last Will and Testament",{"type":88,"value":5026}," can include charitable bequests, any solely owned property passing through a will must undergo public probate court administration in Oakland, Wayne, or Washtenaw County before funds reach the charity.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5028,"children":5029},{},[5030],{"type":88,"value":5031},"Utilizing a revocable living trust allows charitable transfers to occur privately and efficiently. Your successor trustee can distribute funds directly to the organization according to your exact terms, bypassing court delays and legal expenses.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5033,"children":5034},{},[5035],{"type":88,"value":5036},"Additionally, naming a charity as a direct beneficiary on taxable financial accounts, such as traditional IRAs or 401(k) plans, can be a tax-efficient strategy. Nonprofit organizations pay no income tax on inherited retirement distributions, so the full account value supports the cause, while tax-free assets like real estate or Roth accounts pass to family members.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":5038,"children":5040},{"id":5039},"what-happens-when-a-chosen-charity-no-longer-exists",[5041],{"type":88,"value":5042},"What Happens When a Chosen Charity No Longer Exists?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5044,"children":5045},{},[5046],{"type":88,"value":5047},"A common risk in estate planning is naming an organization that closes, renames itself, or merges with another institution before your estate is settled.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5049,"children":5050},{},[5051],{"type":88,"value":5052},"If your primary legal documents don't address this possibility, your trustee or personal representative may have to petition the probate court for guidance, delaying distributions to your family.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5054,"children":5055},{},[5056],{"type":88,"value":5057},"A well-structured plan includes protective backup language. You can authorize your trustee to select a similar local charity serving the same mission if your original choice is no longer operating.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":5059,"children":5061},{"id":5060},"coordinating-charitable-goals-with-family-inheritance",[5062],{"type":88,"value":5063},"Coordinating Charitable Goals with Family Inheritance",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5065,"children":5066},{},[5067],{"type":88,"value":5068},"Supporting charitable causes should never jeopardize your family's financial security.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5070,"children":5071},{},[5072],{"type":88,"value":5073},"A complete estate strategy balances philanthropic goals with the primary goal of providing for a surviving spouse and children. Clear communication and precise legal drafting prevent misunderstandings among family members who might otherwise feel surprised by charitable distributions.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":5075,"children":5077},{"id":5076},"when-is-a-charitable-trust-appropriate",[5078],{"type":88,"value":5079},"When Is a Charitable Trust Appropriate?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5081,"children":5082},{},[5083],{"type":88,"value":5084},"For individuals with substantial assets, highly appreciated real estate, or complex financial holdings, a Michigan-recognized charitable trust can offer significant strategic benefits.",{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":5086,"children":5087},{},[5088,5098],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5089,"children":5090},{},[5091,5096],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":5092,"children":5093},{},[5094],{"type":88,"value":5095},"Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT):",{"type":88,"value":5097}," Allows you or your family to receive income from an asset for a designated period, with the remaining trust balance transferring to a charity at the end of the term.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5099,"children":5100},{},[5101,5106],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":5102,"children":5103},{},[5104],{"type":88,"value":5105},"Charitable Lead Trust (CLT):",{"type":88,"value":5107}," Provides income streams to a charitable cause for a set number of years, after which the remaining principal passes to your children or grandchildren.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5109,"children":5110},{},[5111],{"type":88,"value":5112},"These specialized structures provide tax deductions, reduce capital gains exposure, and protect assets within a fortified Asset Shield.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":5114,"children":5116},{"id":5115},"building-a-coordinated-plan-for-your-legacy",[5117],{"type":88,"value":5118},"Building a Coordinated Plan for Your Legacy",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5120,"children":5121},{},[5122],{"type":88,"value":5123},"Incorporating charitable giving into your estate plan requires coordinating account titles, beneficiary designations, and legal directives into one seamless system.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5125,"children":5126},{},[5127],{"type":88,"value":5128},"At Rutkowski Law Firm, we don't just hand you a binder of paper and leave you to finish the job. Our white-glove process handles account re-titling and beneficiary alignment directly with financial institutions, ensuring your family is protected and your charitable wishes are executed flawlessly.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5130,"children":5131},{},[5132],{"type":88,"value":5133},"Connect with our Michigan legal team today to discuss your estate planning goals.",{"title":357,"searchDepth":358,"depth":358,"links":5135},[5136,5137,5138,5139,5140,5141,5142],{"id":4929,"depth":358,"text":4932},{"id":4956,"depth":358,"text":4959},{"id":5010,"depth":358,"text":5013},{"id":5039,"depth":358,"text":5042},{"id":5060,"depth":358,"text":5063},{"id":5076,"depth":358,"text":5079},{"id":5115,"depth":358,"text":5118},"content:blog:can-you-leave-part-of-your-estate-to-charity-in-michigan.md","blog/can-you-leave-part-of-your-estate-to-charity-in-michigan.md","blog/can-you-leave-part-of-your-estate-to-charity-in-michigan",{"_path":5147,"_dir":4918,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":5148,"description":5149,"date":5150,"imageUrl":5151,"author":23,"imageAlt":5152,"practiceArea":4924,"body":5153,"_type":366,"_id":5309,"_source":368,"_file":5310,"_stem":5311,"_extension":371},"/blog/what-should-a-complete-estate-plan-include-in-michigan","What Should a Complete Estate Plan Include in Michigan?","Discover how wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and account titling fit together into one coordinated plan.","2026-10-06T16:08:56.477Z","https://media.rutkowskilawfirm.com/cfc8a0d7-7a66-4c21-b7bb-93d4e2b331d5-rlf-blog-what-should-a-complete-estate-plan.webp","mother and daughter",{"type":79,"children":5154,"toc":5298},[5155,5161,5166,5171,5176,5182,5187,5192,5198,5203,5208,5214,5219,5224,5230,5235,5240,5246,5251,5256,5262,5267,5272,5278,5283,5288,5293],{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":5156,"children":5158},{"id":5157},"beyond-the-basic-will-what-completeness-means",[5159],{"type":88,"value":5160},"Beyond the Basic Will: What Completeness Means",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5162,"children":5163},{},[5164],{"type":88,"value":5165},"Many people believe that drafting a Last Will and Testament crosses estate planning off their to-do list.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5167,"children":5168},{},[5169],{"type":88,"value":5170},"However, a comprehensive estate plan isn't a single document; it is an interconnected system designed to safeguard your autonomy and assets. A will takes effect exclusively after death and does not prevent probate court involvement for solely owned property. It also offers zero protection if an unexpected illness or injury leaves you unable to manage your affairs while living.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5172,"children":5173},{},[5174],{"type":88,"value":5175},"Understanding what an estate plan should include under Michigan law requires looking at how multiple legal tools work together. Rather than focusing on a basic document checklist, a complete legal strategy harmonizes several essential components.",{"type":82,"tag":2525,"props":5177,"children":5179},{"id":5178},"_1-last-will-and-testament",[5180],{"type":88,"value":5181},"1. Last Will and Testament",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5183,"children":5184},{},[5185],{"type":88,"value":5186},"Even with a comprehensive living trust, a will remains an essential safety net.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5188,"children":5189},{},[5190],{"type":88,"value":5191},"In a complete estate plan Michigan families rely on, a pour-over will functions alongside your trust. It directs any solely owned assets accidentally left outside your trust into the trust structure upon death. Additionally, a will is the only legal document where parents can formally nominate guardians when minor children are involved.",{"type":82,"tag":2525,"props":5193,"children":5195},{"id":5194},"_2-revocable-living-trust-when-appropriate",[5196],{"type":88,"value":5197},"2. Revocable Living Trust (When Appropriate)",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5199,"children":5200},{},[5201],{"type":88,"value":5202},"A revocable living trust can serve as the financial engine of a complete plan when it fits a family's financial structure.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5204,"children":5205},{},[5206],{"type":88,"value":5207},"Unlike a will, a trust manages property both during your lifetime and after you pass away. If you become incapacitated, your named successor trustee can step in to manage trust assets without court intervention. Upon death, trust property transfers directly to named beneficiaries according to your exact rules, entirely bypassing public probate court in Oakland, Wayne, or Washtenaw County.",{"type":82,"tag":2525,"props":5209,"children":5211},{"id":5210},"_3-durable-financial-power-of-attorney",[5212],{"type":88,"value":5213},"3. Durable Financial Power of Attorney",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5215,"children":5216},{},[5217],{"type":88,"value":5218},"Protecting your financial well-being during your lifetime requires a robust power of attorney that Michigan institutions recognize.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5220,"children":5221},{},[5222],{"type":88,"value":5223},"This document authorizes a trusted agent to manage financial matters held outside of a living trust if you become incapacitated. Your agent can handle everyday tasks such as paying bills, filing income tax returns, managing retirement accounts, and interacting with government agencies like Social Security or Medicaid. Without this document, your family would be forced to petition the probate court for an expensive conservatorship.",{"type":82,"tag":2525,"props":5225,"children":5227},{"id":5226},"_4-patient-advocate-designation-and-healthcare-planning",[5228],{"type":88,"value":5229},"4. Patient Advocate Designation and Healthcare Planning",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5231,"children":5232},{},[5233],{"type":88,"value":5234},"State law requires dedicated legal safeguards for healthcare decisions.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5236,"children":5237},{},[5238],{"type":88,"value":5239},"A Patient Advocate Designation enables you to choose a trusted representative to make medical treatment decisions on your behalf if you are unconscious or mentally incapacitated. Paired with specific end-of-life care instructions and HIPAA privacy waivers, this document ensures your doctors follow your wishes regarding medical interventions.",{"type":82,"tag":2525,"props":5241,"children":5243},{"id":5242},"_5-asset-ownership-titling-and-beneficiary-designations",[5244],{"type":88,"value":5245},"5. Asset Ownership, Titling, and Beneficiary Designations",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5247,"children":5248},{},[5249],{"type":88,"value":5250},"Drafting estate planning documents Michigan attorneys prepare is meaningless if your bank accounts, real estate, and financial investments are not properly aligned with those documents.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5252,"children":5253},{},[5254],{"type":88,"value":5255},"Asset ownership, titling, and beneficiary designations take legal precedence over written estate plans. If a bank account lists a relative as a payable-on-death beneficiary, those funds transfer to that individual regardless of what your trust says. This is why trust funding matters. Moving asset titles and updating beneficiary records ensures that every financial account flows according to your overall design.",{"type":82,"tag":2525,"props":5257,"children":5259},{"id":5258},"_6-guardian-nominations-for-minor-children",[5260],{"type":88,"value":5261},"6. Guardian Nominations for Minor Children",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5263,"children":5264},{},[5265],{"type":88,"value":5266},"For parents with minor children, formal guardian nominations provide vital certainty.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5268,"children":5269},{},[5270],{"type":88,"value":5271},"A complete estate plan names primary and contingent guardians to raise your children if both parents pass away. It also pairs with trust provisions to hold and manage financial inheritances until children reach mature ages, preventing teenagers from receiving large lump sums directly at age 18.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":5273,"children":5275},{"id":5274},"why-coordinated-planning-outperforms-individual-documents",[5276],{"type":88,"value":5277},"Why Coordinated Planning Outperforms Individual Documents",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5279,"children":5280},{},[5281],{"type":88,"value":5282},"Individual documents aren't the same as a coordinated estate plan. Relying on generalist attorneys or online templates that hand you a paper binder leaves major vulnerabilities open.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5284,"children":5285},{},[5286],{"type":88,"value":5287},"If you draft individual documents in isolation without re-titling bank accounts or verifying real estate deeds, the plan fails when your family needs it most. The right combination of legal tools depends entirely on the person's family, assets, and goals.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5289,"children":5290},{},[5291],{"type":88,"value":5292},"At Rutkowski Law Firm, we ensure your strategy operates seamlessly through our Proven Process. Our white-glove, Done-For-You trust funding service re-titles real estate deeds and coordinates financial accounts directly with institutions, building a fortified Asset Shield that gives your family lasting peace of mind.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5294,"children":5295},{},[5296],{"type":88,"value":5297},"Connect with our Michigan estate planning team today to review your plan and protect what matters most.",{"title":357,"searchDepth":358,"depth":358,"links":5299},[5300,5308],{"id":5157,"depth":358,"text":5160,"children":5301},[5302,5303,5304,5305,5306,5307],{"id":5178,"depth":2976,"text":5181},{"id":5194,"depth":2976,"text":5197},{"id":5210,"depth":2976,"text":5213},{"id":5226,"depth":2976,"text":5229},{"id":5242,"depth":2976,"text":5245},{"id":5258,"depth":2976,"text":5261},{"id":5274,"depth":358,"text":5277},"content:blog:what-should-a-complete-estate-plan-include-in-michigan.md","blog/what-should-a-complete-estate-plan-include-in-michigan.md","blog/what-should-a-complete-estate-plan-include-in-michigan",{"_path":5313,"_dir":4918,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":5314,"description":5315,"date":5316,"imageUrl":5317,"author":23,"imageAlt":5318,"practiceArea":4924,"body":5319,"_type":366,"_id":5593,"_source":368,"_file":5594,"_stem":5595,"_extension":371},"/blog/do-all-estates-have-to-go-through-probate-in-michigan","Do All Estates Have to Go Through Probate in Michigan?","Discover how property ownership determines court involvement and learn why a will alone doesn't bypass probate.","2026-09-29T16:02:56.477Z","https://media.rutkowskilawfirm.com/8cf49650-2cb9-45e9-8eb8-c27078bc9eb6-rlf-blog-ao-all-estates-have-to-go-through-probate-oct-05.webp","Old couple",{"type":79,"children":5320,"toc":5582},[5321,5327,5332,5344,5349,5355,5360,5365,5383,5388,5394,5399,5404,5437,5443,5454,5459,5464,5470,5475,5480,5485,5491,5496,5501,5507,5512,5517,5523,5528,5561,5567,5572,5577],{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":5322,"children":5324},{"id":5323},"is-probate-court-always-necessary-after-a-death",[5325],{"type":88,"value":5326},"Is Probate Court Always Necessary After a Death?",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5328,"children":5329},{},[5330],{"type":88,"value":5331},"Following the death of a loved one, one of the first questions families ask is whether court involvement is mandatory.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5333,"children":5334},{},[5335,5337,5342],{"type":88,"value":5336},"Many people believe that every estate must automatically go through probate court. Others assume that simply writing a ",{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":5338,"children":5340},{"href":5339},"/practice-areas/estate-planning/last-will-and-testament/",[5341],{"type":88,"value":5024},{"type":88,"value":5343}," keeps their family out of court entirely.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5345,"children":5346},{},[5347],{"type":88,"value":5348},"Both assumptions are incorrect. Under Michigan law, whether probate is required depends not on having a will, but on how the deceased person owned and titled their property at the time of death.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":5350,"children":5352},{"id":5351},"understanding-what-makes-an-asset-a-probate-asset",[5353],{"type":88,"value":5354},"Understanding What Makes an Asset a Probate Asset",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5356,"children":5357},{},[5358],{"type":88,"value":5359},"To determine if court intervention is needed, you must first categorize the deceased person’s property.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5361,"children":5362},{},[5363],{"type":88,"value":5364},"A probate asset is any property owned solely by the deceased person that lacks an automatic transfer mechanism. Examples include:",{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":5366,"children":5367},{},[5368,5373,5378],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5369,"children":5370},{},[5371],{"type":88,"value":5372},"Bank accounts held in one person's name with no transfer-on-death (TOD) or payable-on-death (POD) designation.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5374,"children":5375},{},[5376],{"type":88,"value":5377},"Real estate titled exclusively in the deceased individual's name without a Lady Bird deed or joint owner.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5379,"children":5380},{},[5381],{"type":88,"value":5382},"Vehicles, personal property, and business interests owned solely by the individual.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5384,"children":5385},{},[5386],{"type":88,"value":5387},"Because no surviving person holds legal authorization to sign for or transfer these solely owned items, the local probate court must intervene to appoint a personal representative and oversee asset distribution.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":5389,"children":5391},{"id":5390},"common-types-of-non-probate-asset-transfers",[5392],{"type":88,"value":5393},"Common Types of Non-Probate Asset Transfers",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5395,"children":5396},{},[5397],{"type":88,"value":5398},"Conversely, non-probate assets transfer automatically to surviving individuals by operation of law or contract, entirely bypassing court oversight.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5400,"children":5401},{},[5402],{"type":88,"value":5403},"When evaluating whether an estate has to go through probate, families frequently discover that major assets pass through these common mechanisms:",{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":5405,"children":5406},{},[5407,5417,5427],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5408,"children":5409},{},[5410,5415],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":5411,"children":5412},{},[5413],{"type":88,"value":5414},"Joint Ownership with Rights of Survivorship:",{"type":88,"value":5416}," Real estate or bank accounts owned jointly by spouses or family members automatically pass to the surviving owner upon death.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5418,"children":5419},{},[5420,5425],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":5421,"children":5422},{},[5423],{"type":88,"value":5424},"Beneficiary Designations:",{"type":88,"value":5426}," Financial assets such as life insurance policies, 401(k) accounts, IRAs, and TOD/POD bank accounts transfer directly to the named beneficiaries.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5428,"children":5429},{},[5430,5435],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":5431,"children":5432},{},[5433],{"type":88,"value":5434},"Living Trusts:",{"type":88,"value":5436}," Assets titled in the name of a revocable or irrevocable living trust are managed and distributed by the named trustee according to the trust agreement, completely avoiding probate court.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":5438,"children":5440},{"id":5439},"why-having-a-will-does-not-bypass-probate-court",[5441],{"type":88,"value":5442},"Why Having a Will Does Not Bypass Probate Court",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5444,"children":5445},{},[5446,5448,5452],{"type":88,"value":5447},"A widespread misconception in estate planning is that creating a will allows a family to ",{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":5449,"children":5450},{},[5451],{"type":88,"value":2509},{"type":88,"value":5453}," court delays.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5455,"children":5456},{},[5457],{"type":88,"value":5458},"A Last Will and Testament does not bypass probate; rather, it is written directly for the probate judge. A will provides formal instructions on who should manage your estate and who should receive your solely owned property.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5460,"children":5461},{},[5462],{"type":88,"value":5463},"However, the document itself has no legal power to transfer title until a probate judge validates the will and issues formal Letters of Authority.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":5465,"children":5467},{"id":5466},"why-property-titling-takes-precedence",[5468],{"type":88,"value":5469},"Why Property Titling Takes Precedence",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5471,"children":5472},{},[5473],{"type":88,"value":5474},"In estate administration, asset titling always overrides instructions written in a will.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5476,"children":5477},{},[5478],{"type":88,"value":5479},"For instance, if a written will states that a bank account should be divided equally among three children, but the account itself lists only one child as a payable-on-death beneficiary, the financial institution must give 100% of the funds to that designated child. The account never enters probate, and the will's terms do not apply.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5481,"children":5482},{},[5483],{"type":88,"value":5484},"This is why auditing physical deeds, bank account titles, and beneficiary forms is essential when evaluating whether an estate goes through probate in Michigan.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":5486,"children":5488},{"id":5487},"simplified-michigan-procedures-for-smaller-estates",[5489],{"type":88,"value":5490},"Simplified Michigan Procedures for Smaller Estates",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5492,"children":5493},{},[5494],{"type":88,"value":5495},"Even when an estate contains solely owned probate property, full court administration may still be unnecessary if the total value remains low.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5497,"children":5498},{},[5499],{"type":88,"value":5500},"Under Michigan’s Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC), smaller estates can utilize an expedited assignment of property procedure. Under the 2026 small-estate limit, if the total net value of solely owned probate property (minus funeral and burial expenses) is $53,000 or less, the family can petition the court for a simplified order without opening a full probate estate.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":5502,"children":5504},{"id":5503},"inventorying-assets-before-filing-court-paperwork",[5505],{"type":88,"value":5506},"Inventorying Assets Before Filing Court Paperwork",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5508,"children":5509},{},[5510],{"type":88,"value":5511},"Before assuming you must file a full probate application in Oakland, Wayne, or Washtenaw County, personal representatives should conduct a thorough asset inventory.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5513,"children":5514},{},[5515],{"type":88,"value":5516},"Reviewing real estate deeds, contacting financial institutions to confirm POD designations, and locating living trust documents can prevent unnecessary court petitions. In many cases, what initially seems like a complex court process becomes a simple non-probate asset transfer once titles are verified.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":5518,"children":5520},{"id":5519},"when-probate-is-still-required-despite-non-probate-planning",[5521],{"type":88,"value":5522},"When Probate Is Still Required Despite Non-Probate Planning",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5524,"children":5525},{},[5526],{"type":88,"value":5527},"Even when a deceased individual intended to pass everything outside of court, probate may still become necessary in specific situations:",{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":5529,"children":5530},{},[5531,5541,5551],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5532,"children":5533},{},[5534,5539],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":5535,"children":5536},{},[5537],{"type":88,"value":5538},"Unfunded Living Trusts:",{"type":88,"value":5540}," If real estate or bank accounts were never formally retitled into the trust's name during life, those forgotten assets remain probate property.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5542,"children":5543},{},[5544,5549],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":5545,"children":5546},{},[5547],{"type":88,"value":5548},"Deceased Beneficiaries:",{"type":88,"value":5550}," If a named beneficiary on a life insurance policy or IRA passes away before the account owner and no contingent beneficiary was designated, the payout falls into probate.",{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5552,"children":5553},{},[5554,5559],{"type":82,"tag":238,"props":5555,"children":5556},{},[5557],{"type":88,"value":5558},"Creditor and Wrongful Death Claims:",{"type":88,"value":5560}," If the estate must resolve significant debt disputes or pursue a legal claim on behalf of the deceased, opening a probate estate is required to establish legal standing.",{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":5562,"children":5564},{"id":5563},"securing-reassuring-guidance-for-estate-settlement",[5565],{"type":88,"value":5566},"Securing Reassuring Guidance for Estate Settlement",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5568,"children":5569},{},[5570],{"type":88,"value":5571},"Determining whether probate is required requires careful examination of property titles, state statutes, and financial records. Getting clear answers early prevents costly administrative errors and ensures property passes smoothly to heirs.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5573,"children":5574},{},[5575],{"type":88,"value":5576},"Our team at Rutkowski Law Firm helps families evaluate post-death estates, identify non-probate transfers, and navigate probate court proceedings when court involvement is necessary.",{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5578,"children":5579},{},[5580],{"type":88,"value":5581},"Connect with our Michigan legal team to review your family's estate administration needs.",{"title":357,"searchDepth":358,"depth":358,"links":5583},[5584,5585,5586,5587,5588,5589,5590,5591,5592],{"id":5323,"depth":358,"text":5326},{"id":5351,"depth":358,"text":5354},{"id":5390,"depth":358,"text":5393},{"id":5439,"depth":358,"text":5442},{"id":5466,"depth":358,"text":5469},{"id":5487,"depth":358,"text":5490},{"id":5503,"depth":358,"text":5506},{"id":5519,"depth":358,"text":5522},{"id":5563,"depth":358,"text":5566},"content:blog:do-all-estates-have-to-go-through-probate-in-michigan.md","blog/do-all-estates-have-to-go-through-probate-in-michigan.md","blog/do-all-estates-have-to-go-through-probate-in-michigan",[5597],{"_path":4713,"_dir":4714,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":1807,"description":4715,"name":23,"role":4716,"imageUrl":1808,"leadership":957,"order":4717,"imageAlt":4718,"practiceAreas":5598,"body":5599,"_type":366,"_id":4842,"_source":368,"_file":4843,"_stem":4844,"_extension":371},[1804,4720,49],{"type":79,"children":5600,"toc":5693},[5601,5615,5619,5623,5627,5631,5635,5639,5643,5674,5678],{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5602,"children":5603},{},[5604,5605,5609,5610,5614],{"type":88,"value":4727},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":5606,"children":5607},{"href":114},[5608],{"type":88,"value":117},{"type":88,"value":153},{"type":82,"tag":97,"props":5611,"children":5612},{"href":4735},[5613],{"type":88,"value":4738},{"type":88,"value":4740},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5616,"children":5617},{},[5618],{"type":88,"value":4745},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5620,"children":5621},{},[5622],{"type":88,"value":4750},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5624,"children":5625},{},[5626],{"type":88,"value":4755},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5628,"children":5629},{},[5630],{"type":88,"value":4760},{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":5632,"children":5633},{"id":4763},[5634],{"type":88,"value":4766},{"type":82,"tag":91,"props":5636,"children":5637},{},[5638],{"type":88,"value":4771},{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":5640,"children":5641},{"id":4774},[5642],{"type":88,"value":4777},{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":5644,"children":5645},{},[5646,5650,5654,5658,5662,5666,5670],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5647,"children":5648},{},[5649],{"type":88,"value":1804},{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5651,"children":5652},{},[5653],{"type":88,"value":2472},{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5655,"children":5656},{},[5657],{"type":88,"value":4720},{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5659,"children":5660},{},[5661],{"type":88,"value":4797},{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5663,"children":5664},{},[5665],{"type":88,"value":4802},{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5667,"children":5668},{},[5669],{"type":88,"value":4807},{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5671,"children":5672},{},[5673],{"type":88,"value":4812},{"type":82,"tag":83,"props":5675,"children":5676},{"id":4815},[5677],{"type":88,"value":4818},{"type":82,"tag":1860,"props":5679,"children":5680},{},[5681,5685,5689],{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5682,"children":5683},{},[5684],{"type":88,"value":4826},{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5686,"children":5687},{},[5688],{"type":88,"value":4831},{"type":82,"tag":234,"props":5690,"children":5691},{},[5692],{"type":88,"value":4836},{"title":357,"searchDepth":358,"depth":358,"links":5694},[5695,5696,5697],{"id":4763,"depth":358,"text":4766},{"id":4774,"depth":358,"text":4777},{"id":4815,"depth":358,"text":4818},1792510992592]