Ann Arbor, Michigan
Estate Planning Attorneys in Ann Arbor
Shea Law helps Washtenaw County families protect what they've built – wills, trusts, powers of attorney, probate and elder law. Your first consultation is free.
- Free initial consultation, no obligation
- Meet in Ann Arbor, or by Zoom or Teams
- Most plans finished in 30 days or less
Our Ann Arbor Office
Shea Law, PLLC 2400 Green RoadAnn Arbor, MI 48105
Request Your Free Ann Arbor Consultation
Tell us a little about your situation and a member of our team will reach out, usually within one business day. There is no fee and no obligation.
Legal Services at Our Ann Arbor Office
Every Shea Law practice area is available to Ann Arbor clients, in person on Green Road or online, whichever you prefer.
Estate Planning
Wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney and healthcare directives built around your family and your assets.
Learn more »Probate & Trust Administration
Guidance through Washtenaw County probate, and help administering a trust after a loved one passes.
Learn more »Elder Law
Long-term care planning, Medicaid questions, guardianship and conservatorship for aging parents.
Learn more »Not Sure Where to Start?
Take our two-minute quiz to see whether a will or a trust is the better fit for your situation.
Take the quiz »Visit Us on Green Road
Our Ann Arbor office sits at 2400 Green Road on the northeast side of the city, just off Plymouth Road and a short drive from US-23 – convenient whether you're coming from downtown Ann Arbor, the Arborland area, or north from Whitmore Lake.
Meetings are by appointment so we can pair you with the right attorney before you arrive. Call ahead and we'll have everything ready.
Estate Planning for Washtenaw County Families
Estate planning is governed by state law. As a result, Michigan's rules create both opportunities and traps that a generic online form won't catch. For example, here are a few that come up constantly with our Ann Arbor clients.
No Michigan estate or inheritance tax
However, the federal estate tax still applies to larger estates. Because the exemption is scheduled to change, the size of your estate is worth revisiting periodically.
Probate runs through the county
For most Ann Arbor residents that means the Washtenaw County Probate Court. Since probate is public, takes time, and costs money, it is the single most common reason our clients choose a revocable living trust over a will alone.
Michigan allows the "Lady Bird" deed
Michigan is one of only a handful of states that allow this enhanced life estate deed, which can pass real estate to your heirs outside of probate while you keep full control during your lifetime. Therefore, it is a genuinely useful tool here that simply doesn't exist in most states.
EPIC governs incapacity planning
In addition, under the Estates and Protected Individuals Code, a durable power of attorney and a patient advocate designation are what keep your family out of a guardianship proceeding if you can't speak for yourself.
Communities we serve from Ann Arbor
Clients travel to our Green Road office from across Washtenaw County and the surrounding area. That said, if another Shea Law office is closer, we're happy to point you there.
Your Estate Plan in Three Steps
Most clients go from first phone call to signed documents in 30 days or less.
Talk to a legal concierge
First, a friendly, no-pressure conversation about your situation. They answer your first questions and, because fit matters, match you with the right attorney – no fee.
Meet your attorney
Then, sit down at our Ann Arbor office or meet over Zoom or Teams. As a result, you'll leave knowing exactly what your plan should include and what it costs.
Review and sign
Finally, we draft your documents, walk you through every page, and handle proper signing and witnessing so the plan actually holds up.
Ann Arbor Estate Planning FAQs
Getting started
Is the first consultation really free?
Yes. There's no fee for your initial attorney consultation, and no obligation to move forward. However, you'll only pay if you decide to have us build your estate plan, and even then you'll know the cost before any work begins.
Do I need a will or a trust?
It depends mainly on what you own and whether avoiding probate matters to you. For example, a will directs who inherits and who becomes guardian of minor children, but it still goes through the Washtenaw County Probate Court. In contrast, a revocable living trust generally avoids probate and stays private. Therefore, if you own a home in Ann Arbor, the math often favors a trust.
Our two-minute quiz will give you a starting answer, and your consultation will confirm it.
Do I have to come into the Ann Arbor office?
No. You're welcome at 2400 Green Road, but we also handle consultations by Zoom and Microsoft Teams, and many clients prefer the flexibility of meeting online. However, document signing does require specific formalities, so we'll walk you through exactly how to handle that step.
Your plan and existing documents
How long does it take?
Most estate plans are complete within 30 days of your attorney meeting. However, timing depends mostly on how quickly you gather your asset information and settle on decisions like guardians and successor trustees.
What should I bring or have ready?
Nothing is required for the first conversation. That said, it helps to have a rough list of what you own – real estate, retirement accounts, life insurance, business interests – plus any existing will or trust, and your thoughts on who you'd want as guardian, executor or trustee.
I already have a will from years ago. Is it still good?
Possibly, but it's worth a look. For example, marriages, divorces, births, deaths, a move to Michigan from another state, a new home, or a change in the federal estate tax exemption can all undercut an older plan. Because of that, reviewing an existing plan is a common reason people call us.
Other Shea Law Offices Nearby
Let's Protect What You've Built
Talk to a Shea Law attorney serving Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County. The first consultation is free, and there's no obligation to continue.
The information on this page is general in nature and is not legal advice, nor does viewing it create an attorney-client relationship with Shea Law, PLLC. Estate planning outcomes depend on your specific circumstances and on Michigan law as it applies to them. Please speak with an attorney about your situation.