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Your appointed conservator must file annual financial accounting reports with the court every year, requiring continuous judicial approval for basic financial decisions.",{"type":166,"tag":167,"props":302,"children":304},{"id":303},"common-power-of-attorney-mistakes-that-expose-your-family",[305],{"type":172,"value":306},"Common Power of Attorney Mistakes That Expose Your Family",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":308,"children":309},{},[310],{"type":172,"value":311},"Even families who believe they prepared ahead of time often rely on flawed documents that fail when tested during an emergency.",{"type":166,"tag":257,"props":313,"children":314},{},[315,325,335,353],{"type":166,"tag":261,"props":316,"children":317},{},[318,323],{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":319,"children":320},{},[321],{"type":172,"value":322},"Relying on Generic Online Templates:",{"type":172,"value":324}," Downloaded DIY forms often lack state-specific statutory language required by financial institutions or hospitals under updated Michigan law.",{"type":166,"tag":261,"props":326,"children":327},{},[328,333],{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":329,"children":330},{},[331],{"type":172,"value":332},"Using Outdated Documents:",{"type":172,"value":334}," Older documents drafted years ago may not comply with the recent Michigan Uniform Power of Attorney Act (UPOAA). Banks frequently reject outdated authorizations that lack explicit statutory protections.",{"type":166,"tag":261,"props":336,"children":337},{},[338,343,345,351],{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":339,"children":340},{},[341],{"type":172,"value":342},"Confusing Non-Durable and Durable Authority:",{"type":172,"value":344}," A basic non-durable financial document automatically terminates the moment you become incapacitated. Only a properly executed ",{"type":166,"tag":212,"props":346,"children":348},{"href":347},"/practice-areas/estate-planning/power-of-attorney/durable-power-of-attorney/",[349],{"type":172,"value":350},"durable power of attorney",{"type":172,"value":352}," Michigan law approves remains active during a medical emergency.",{"type":166,"tag":261,"props":354,"children":355},{},[356,361],{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":357,"children":358},{},[359],{"type":172,"value":360},"Naming the Wrong Agent:",{"type":172,"value":362}," Naming a relative simply out of obligation—rather than choosing someone with the organizational skills and emotional readiness to handle financial or medical stress—can lead to severe family conflict.",{"type":166,"tag":167,"props":364,"children":366},{"id":365},"why-you-must-review-documents-after-major-life-events",[367],{"type":172,"value":368},"Why You Must Review Documents After Major Life Events",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":370,"children":371},{},[372,374,379],{"type":172,"value":373},"A ",{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":375,"children":376},{},[377],{"type":172,"value":378},"power of attorney Michigan",{"type":172,"value":380}," plan is not a static set of papers that you set and forget. Life changes quickly, and your estate planning documents must adapt to reflect your current family circumstances.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":382,"children":383},{},[384],{"type":172,"value":385},"You should review your legal authorizations immediately after any major milestone:",{"type":166,"tag":257,"props":387,"children":388},{},[389,399,409,419],{"type":166,"tag":261,"props":390,"children":391},{},[392,397],{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":393,"children":394},{},[395],{"type":172,"value":396},"Marriage or Remarriage:",{"type":172,"value":398}," Ensuring your spouse has proper legal authority while protecting provisions for children from previous relationships.",{"type":166,"tag":261,"props":400,"children":401},{},[402,407],{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":403,"children":404},{},[405],{"type":172,"value":406},"Divorce:",{"type":172,"value":408}," Removing an ex-spouse from financial and medical decision-making roles.",{"type":166,"tag":261,"props":410,"children":411},{},[412,417],{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":413,"children":414},{},[415],{"type":172,"value":416},"Retirement:",{"type":172,"value":418}," Aligning financial authorization with updated investment portfolios, pension distributions, and long-term care goals.",{"type":166,"tag":261,"props":420,"children":421},{},[422,427],{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":423,"children":424},{},[425],{"type":172,"value":426},"Changes in Your Named Agent's Life:",{"type":172,"value":428}," Updating primary or alternate agents if a chosen loved one moves away, suffers health challenges, or passes away.",{"type":166,"tag":167,"props":430,"children":432},{"id":431},"coordinating-powers-of-attorney-into-an-active-asset-shield",[433],{"type":172,"value":434},"Coordinating Powers of Attorney into an Active Asset Shield",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":436,"children":437},{},[438,439,444,446,451],{"type":172,"value":373},{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":440,"children":441},{},[442],{"type":172,"value":443},"durable power of attorney Michigan",{"type":172,"value":445}," families rely on, and a ",{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":447,"children":448},{},[449],{"type":172,"value":450},"medical power of attorney Michigan",{"type":172,"value":452}," healthcare teams accept, are essential tools, but they represent only part of a complete strategy.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":454,"children":455},{},[456,458,463,465,470,472,477,479,484],{"type":172,"value":457},"To protect your lifetime of hard work from probate court delays and long-term care costs—which average over ",{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":459,"children":460},{},[461],{"type":172,"value":462},"$12,216 per month",{"type":172,"value":464}," in Michigan nursing facilities—your powers of attorney must work in total harmony with a ",{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":466,"children":467},{},[468],{"type":172,"value":469},"Will",{"type":172,"value":471},", a ",{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":473,"children":474},{},[475],{"type":172,"value":476},"Trust",{"type":172,"value":478},", and a fully executed ",{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":480,"children":481},{},[482],{"type":172,"value":483},"Trust Funding",{"type":172,"value":485}," strategy.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":487,"children":488},{},[489,491,496],{"type":172,"value":490},"Many ",{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":492,"children":493},{},[494],{"type":172,"value":495},"$3,000 document mills",{"type":172,"value":497}," hand clients a binder of uncoordinated papers and force them to handle bank asset transfers on their own. Unfunded trusts fail, forcing families right back into probate court.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":499,"children":500},{},[501,503,508,510,515,517,521,523,528],{"type":172,"value":502},"At Rutkowski Law Firm, our ",{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":504,"children":505},{},[506],{"type":172,"value":507},"Proven Process",{"type":172,"value":509}," delivers a white-glove, ",{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":511,"children":512},{},[513],{"type":172,"value":514},"Done-For-You",{"type":172,"value":516}," service backed by more than 50 years of combined legal experience. We handle the heavy lifting of coordinating your documents and completing your ",{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":518,"children":519},{},[520],{"type":172,"value":483},{"type":172,"value":522},", creating an active ",{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":524,"children":525},{},[526],{"type":172,"value":527},"Asset Shield",{"type":172,"value":529}," that keeps your decisions private and protects your family when it matters most.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":531,"children":532},{},[533],{"type":172,"value":534},"Our legal team in Rochester, Bloomfield Hills, Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor, and Marquette is ready to review your existing paperwork and eliminate dangerous gaps before a crisis hits.",{"title":23,"searchDepth":24,"depth":24,"links":536},[537,538,539,540,541,542],{"id":169,"depth":24,"text":173},{"id":197,"depth":24,"text":200},{"id":227,"depth":24,"text":230},{"id":303,"depth":24,"text":306},{"id":365,"depth":24,"text":368},{"id":431,"depth":24,"text":434},"content:blog:what-happens-when-you-have-the-wrong-power-of-attorney-or-none-at-all.md","blog/what-happens-when-you-have-the-wrong-power-of-attorney-or-none-at-all.md","blog/what-happens-when-you-have-the-wrong-power-of-attorney-or-none-at-all",{"_path":547,"_dir":155,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":548,"description":549,"date":550,"imageUrl":551,"author":161,"imageAlt":552,"practiceArea":162,"body":553,"_type":26,"_id":749,"_source":28,"_file":750,"_stem":751,"_extension":31},"/blog/the-4-types-of-power-of-attorney-in-michigan-what-every-family-must-know","The 4 Types of Power of Attorney in Michigan - What Every Family Must Know","Dying without a plan means default state formulas dictate who gets your home and savings. Here is how to keep control in your hands.","2026-08-04T16:20:00.000Z","https://media.rutkowskilawfirm.com/821f998e-3d8d-4921-abfd-443c76d74f7e-rlf-four-types-of-poa.webp","mother and daughter",{"type":20,"children":554,"toc":741},[555,561,566,571,576,581,587,592,641,647,652,657,663,668,680,692,698,710,715,720,726,731,736],{"type":166,"tag":167,"props":556,"children":558},{"id":557},"understanding-power-of-attorney-michigan-families-depend-on",[559],{"type":172,"value":560},"Understanding Power of Attorney Michigan Families Depend On",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":562,"children":563},{},[564],{"type":172,"value":565},"When families meet with our team in Rochester, Bloomfield Hills, Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor, or Marquette, many assume a basic estate plan automatically gives their loved ones authority during a medical emergency. They often believe one document gives a spouse or child immediate access to manage accounts or make care decisions.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":567,"children":568},{},[569],{"type":172,"value":570},"Under Michigan law, true protection requires a coordinated legal strategy. A complete Asset Shield depends on a Will, a Trust, Powers of Attorney, and a Patient Advocate Designation working together seamlessly.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":572,"children":573},{},[574],{"type":172,"value":575},"A power of attorney is a vital legal document that gives a trusted person the authority to make decisions on your behalf if you cannot speak or act for yourself. But no single document covers every situation. Michigan law recognizes four types of power of attorney, each designed for specific financial, personal, or healthcare needs.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":577,"children":578},{},[579],{"type":172,"value":580},"Understanding how these documents work helps ensure your wishes are respected and protects your family from administrative roadblocks during a crisis.",{"type":166,"tag":167,"props":582,"children":584},{"id":583},"the-4-types-of-power-of-attorney-in-michigan",[585],{"type":172,"value":586},"The 4 Types of Power of Attorney in Michigan",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":588,"children":589},{},[590],{"type":172,"value":591},"Selecting the right legal instrument depends entirely on when you want authority to begin, what powers you want to grant, and when that authority should end.",{"type":166,"tag":257,"props":593,"children":594},{},[595,611,621,631],{"type":166,"tag":261,"props":596,"children":597},{},[598,603,605,609],{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":599,"children":600},{},[601],{"type":172,"value":602},"Durable Financial Power of Attorney:",{"type":172,"value":604}," A ",{"type":166,"tag":212,"props":606,"children":607},{"href":347},[608],{"type":172,"value":443},{"type":172,"value":610}," residents rely on takes effect immediately upon signing or upon certified incapacity, remaining active throughout your entire lifetime. This document authorizes your designated agent to pay bills, access bank accounts, manage property, and protect assets without needing permission from a judge.",{"type":166,"tag":261,"props":612,"children":613},{},[614,619],{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":615,"children":616},{},[617],{"type":172,"value":618},"Non-Durable Power of Attorney:",{"type":172,"value":620}," Takes effect immediately for specific financial tasks but automatically ends if you become incapacitated. Because it terminates the moment you suffer a health crisis, it is completely ineffective for long-term emergency care or incapacity planning.",{"type":166,"tag":261,"props":622,"children":623},{},[624,629],{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":625,"children":626},{},[627],{"type":172,"value":628},"Limited Power of Attorney:",{"type":172,"value":630}," Grants narrow authority for a specific transaction or time frame, such as signing real estate closing documents while you are out of state. The authority expires immediately once that single task is complete.",{"type":166,"tag":261,"props":632,"children":633},{},[634,639],{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":635,"children":636},{},[637],{"type":172,"value":638},"Medical Power of Attorney:",{"type":172,"value":640}," Formally recognized under Michigan law as a Patient Advocate Designation, this document takes effect only when two attending physicians examine you and certify in writing that you are unable to make your own medical decisions. It empowers your advocate to communicate with doctors, review medical records, and honor your specific treatment preferences.",{"type":166,"tag":167,"props":642,"children":644},{"id":643},"which-documents-stay-active-during-incapacity",[645],{"type":172,"value":646},"Which Documents Stay Active During Incapacity?",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":648,"children":649},{},[650],{"type":172,"value":651},"The distinction between durable and non-durable legal authority is critical during a health crisis. A standard, or non-durable, document ends the moment a doctor determines you are unable to manage your own affairs. Only a durable power of attorney Michigan families establish and a Patient Advocate Designation, remain active during mental or physical incapacity.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":653,"children":654},{},[655],{"type":172,"value":656},"Most comprehensive estate plans include more than one power of attorney document. Having both a durable financial authorization and a medical advocate ensures that your financial affairs and personal medical care are handled seamlessly by people you trust, without interruption.",{"type":166,"tag":167,"props":658,"children":660},{"id":659},"what-happens-without-the-right-power-of-attorney",[661],{"type":172,"value":662},"What Happens Without the Right Power of Attorney?",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":664,"children":665},{},[666],{"type":172,"value":667},"Relying on generic online templates or incomplete legal forms leaves severe vulnerabilities. If an emergency occurs and your documents are missing or improperly drafted, Michigan law prevents your spouse or adult children from automatically taking over your accounts or medical decisions.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":669,"children":670},{},[671,673,678],{"type":172,"value":672},"With average Michigan nursing home costs exceeding ",{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":674,"children":675},{},[676],{"type":172,"value":677},"$12,000 per month",{"type":172,"value":679},", an unexpected health crisis without active financial authority can freeze your assets when your family needs them most.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":681,"children":682},{},[683,685,690],{"type":172,"value":684},"Without valid documents, your loved ones are forced to petition the local probate court in Oakland, Wayne, or Washtenaw counties for an emergency ",{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":686,"children":687},{},[688],{"type":172,"value":689},"conservatorship or guardianship",{"type":172,"value":691},". This process brings expensive legal fees, lengthy delays, public court hearings, and ongoing judicial oversight into your private family matters.",{"type":166,"tag":167,"props":693,"children":695},{"id":694},"recent-updates-to-michigan-power-of-attorney-laws",[696],{"type":172,"value":697},"Recent Updates to Michigan Power of Attorney Laws",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":699,"children":700},{},[701,703,708],{"type":172,"value":702},"Michigan updated its power of attorney legal framework by adopting the ",{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":704,"children":705},{},[706],{"type":172,"value":707},"Michigan Uniform Power of Attorney Act (UPOAA)",{"type":172,"value":709},". This statutory update modernizes power of attorney language, improves acceptance of financial documents by banks and institutions, and adds clear protections to prevent financial abuse.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":711,"children":712},{},[713],{"type":172,"value":714},"Because of these statutory updates, older documents or generic internet downloads may not comply with updated institutional standards. Banks and healthcare systems frequently reject outdated paperwork, leaving families stranded during medical emergencies.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":716,"children":717},{},[718],{"type":172,"value":719},"Having properly drafted, updated documents ensures your agent has the clear authority required by financial institutions and medical providers across Michigan.",{"type":166,"tag":167,"props":721,"children":723},{"id":722},"closing-the-gaps-in-your-family-plan",[724],{"type":172,"value":725},"Closing the Gaps in Your Family Plan",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":727,"children":728},{},[729],{"type":172,"value":730},"A written binder of papers is useless if your documents fail when tested. Many document mills give clients a folder of standard templates and leave them to navigate complex legal rules on their own.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":732,"children":733},{},[734],{"type":172,"value":735},"At Rutkowski Law Firm, our Proven Process delivers a complete Done-For-You experience backed by more than 50 years of combined legal expertise. We handle all the heavy lifting—including complete Trust Funding and document coordination—so your plan creates an active Asset Shield that keeps your family out of court.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":737,"children":738},{},[739],{"type":172,"value":740},"Our legal team is ready to review your existing paperwork, update your authority under current Michigan law, and give your family total peace of mind.",{"title":23,"searchDepth":24,"depth":24,"links":742},[743,744,745,746,747,748],{"id":557,"depth":24,"text":560},{"id":583,"depth":24,"text":586},{"id":643,"depth":24,"text":646},{"id":659,"depth":24,"text":662},{"id":694,"depth":24,"text":697},{"id":722,"depth":24,"text":725},"content:blog:the-4-types-of-power-of-attorney-in-michigan-what-every-family-must-know.md","blog/the-4-types-of-power-of-attorney-in-michigan-what-every-family-must-know.md","blog/the-4-types-of-power-of-attorney-in-michigan-what-every-family-must-know",{"_path":753,"_dir":155,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":754,"description":549,"date":755,"imageUrl":756,"author":161,"imageAlt":757,"practiceArea":758,"body":759,"_type":26,"_id":1001,"_source":28,"_file":1002,"_stem":1003,"_extension":31},"/blog/what-happens-when-michigan-decides-who-inherits-your-estate","What happens when Michigan decides who inherits your estate?","2026-07-28T20:20:00.000Z","https://media.rutkowskilawfirm.com/367b850e-1792-462b-8ca1-183c09ccc652-rlf-what-happens-when-michigan-decides-who-inherits-your-estate.webp","Family enjoying summers","estate-planning",{"type":20,"children":760,"toc":995},[761,766,771,776,782,787,799,839,844,850,855,868,873,913,919,924,936,969,975,980,985,990],{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":762,"children":763},{},[764],{"type":172,"value":765},"You’ve spent a lifetime building your home, protecting your savings, and creating a secure future for the people you care about. Many parents assume that when they die, their assets will automatically pass to their spouse or children in line with their wishes.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":767,"children":768},{},[769],{"type":172,"value":770},"However, if you die without an estate plan, you lose the ability to make those choices. Instead, Michigan inheritance laws determine what happens to your legacy.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":772,"children":773},{},[774],{"type":172,"value":775},"Without a coordinated plan, the state follows a strict legal formula called intestate succession. This formula assigns fixed percentages based only on blood relationships and marital status. It disregards your personal relationships, family dynamics, stepchildren, and any verbal promises you made during your lifetime.",{"type":166,"tag":167,"props":777,"children":779},{"id":778},"how-michigan-inheritance-laws-function-without-a-will",[780],{"type":172,"value":781},"How Michigan Inheritance Laws Function Without a Will",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":783,"children":784},{},[785],{"type":172,"value":786},"Relying on state guidelines is one of the biggest risks in family estate planning. When someone dies without a plan, their estate goes through probate, where a judge must use the state’s formula to decide who inherits every asset held in that person’s name.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":788,"children":789},{},[790,792,797],{"type":172,"value":791},"Under ",{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":793,"children":794},{},[795],{"type":172,"value":796},"Michigan inheritance laws without a will",{"type":172,"value":798},", the state's default formula creates serious challenges for modern families:",{"type":166,"tag":257,"props":800,"children":801},{},[802,812,829],{"type":166,"tag":261,"props":803,"children":804},{},[805,810],{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":806,"children":807},{},[808],{"type":172,"value":809},"Blended Families:",{"type":172,"value":811}," If you pass away leaving behind a surviving spouse and biological children from a prior relationship, state law forces a mandatory division of your estate between them. This rigid split can force the sale of a family home or create immediate financial tension between your spouse and your adult children.",{"type":166,"tag":261,"props":813,"children":814},{},[815,820,822,827],{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":816,"children":817},{},[818],{"type":172,"value":819},"Stepchildren:",{"type":172,"value":821}," Under ",{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":823,"children":824},{},[825],{"type":172,"value":826},"Michigan inheritance law, without will",{"type":172,"value":828}," provisions, stepchildren have zero legal rights to your inheritance. 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Fortunately, you can completely bypass default state formulas and public court interference by building a proactive life strategy.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":925,"children":926},{},[927,929,934],{"type":172,"value":928},"Establishing a ",{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":930,"children":931},{},[932],{"type":172,"value":933},"revocable living trust",{"type":172,"value":935}," paired with aligned beneficiary designations ensures that you—not a probate judge—decide who inherits your estate:",{"type":166,"tag":257,"props":937,"children":938},{},[939,949,959],{"type":166,"tag":261,"props":940,"children":941},{},[942,947],{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":943,"children":944},{},[945],{"type":172,"value":946},"Total Authority:",{"type":172,"value":948}," You specify exact distributions for biological children, stepchildren, blended family members, or charitable causes without state interference.",{"type":166,"tag":261,"props":950,"children":951},{},[952,957],{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":953,"children":954},{},[955],{"type":172,"value":956},"Smooth Transition:",{"type":172,"value":958}," Assets held in a funded trust transfer privately and immediately to your chosen beneficiaries upon your passing, bypassing court delays entirely.",{"type":166,"tag":261,"props":960,"children":961},{},[962,967],{"type":166,"tag":237,"props":963,"children":964},{},[965],{"type":172,"value":966},"Protection Against Incapacity:",{"type":172,"value":968}," A trust allows a trusted family member or trustee to manage your affairs privately if you become ill, avoiding public guardianship court proceedings.",{"type":166,"tag":167,"props":970,"children":972},{"id":971},"protecting-what-matters-most-with-a-done-for-you-strategy",[973],{"type":172,"value":974},"Protecting What Matters Most with a Done-For-You Strategy",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":976,"children":977},{},[978],{"type":172,"value":979},"A strong estate plan is far more than a pile of paper templates collecting dust. The typical approach from a generic document service or general practice attorney leaves you with a binder and expects you to navigate all the bank transfers alone. When your bank accounts, real estate, and investments aren’t properly aligned, your trust stays unfunded—and your family can end up right back in court.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":981,"children":982},{},[983],{"type":172,"value":984},"At the Rutkowski Law Firm, we trade uncertainty for complete clarity. Using our Proven Process, our team provides a white-glove, done-for-you trust funding service backed by more than 50 years of combined experience. We take care of the legwork with your financial institutions to move your accounts, property deeds, and investments into your trust structure, creating a fortified Asset Shield that relieves your children of unnecessary administrative stress.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":986,"children":987},{},[988],{"type":172,"value":989},"Don’t leave your family’s future to rigid state formulas or disorganized paperwork. Our offices in Rochester, Bloomfield Hills, Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor, and Marquette are ready to help you take full control of your legacy.",{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":991,"children":992},{},[993],{"type":172,"value":994},"Are you ready to ensure your wishes are carried out and keep your family out of court?",{"title":23,"searchDepth":24,"depth":24,"links":996},[997,998,999,1000],{"id":778,"depth":24,"text":781},{"id":846,"depth":24,"text":849},{"id":915,"depth":24,"text":918},{"id":971,"depth":24,"text":974},"content:blog:what-happens-when-michigan-decides-who-inherits-your-estate.md","blog/what-happens-when-michigan-decides-who-inherits-your-estate.md","blog/what-happens-when-michigan-decides-who-inherits-your-estate",[1005],{"_path":1006,"_dir":1007,"_draft":7,"_partial":7,"_locale":8,"title":1008,"description":1009,"name":161,"role":1010,"imageUrl":1011,"leadership":1012,"order":1013,"imageAlt":1014,"practiceAreas":1015,"body":1019,"_type":26,"_id":1143,"_source":28,"_file":1144,"_stem":1145,"_extension":31},"/about-us/team/michael-rutkowski","team","Michael Rutkowski","Michael L. Rutkowski is a husband, #girldad, entrepreneur, and estate planning attorney who lives his life with intention, grit, and an unshakable sense of purpose. He owns and operates four growing companies—including Rutkowski Law Firm, one of Michigan’s leading estate planning and elder law firms — but he’ll be the first to tell you: business success means nothing if you’re not winning at home.","Founder / Attorney","/img/team/michael-rutkowski.webp",true,1,"Head shot of Michael Rutkowski",[1016,1017,1018],"Estate Planning","Medicaid Planning","Probate",{"type":20,"children":1020,"toc":1138},[1021,1041,1046,1051,1056,1061,1067,1072,1078,1114,1120],{"type":166,"tag":175,"props":1022,"children":1023},{},[1024,1026,1031,1033,1039],{"type":172,"value":1025},"Michael L. Rutkowski is a husband, #girldad, entrepreneur, and estate planning attorney who lives his life with intention, grit, and an unshakable sense of purpose. 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