Taproot Law

Taproot Law Helping you help yourself — with your own legal projects and problems.
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Marquette-based legal coaching serving Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Phone-based sessions. Workshops and workbooks available. Legal services that help you help yourself

Have you been named as someone’s successor trustee?If your answer is, “I think so…” or “I’m not really sure what that me...
07/24/2026

Have you been named as someone’s successor trustee?

If your answer is, “I think so…” or “I’m not really sure what that means,” you’re not alone.

Most people sign estate planning documents without anyone explaining what the successor trustee actually does. Then, years later, a loved one becomes sick or passes away, and suddenly you’re expected to manage property, pay bills, work with financial institutions, keep records, and carry out someone’s wishes.

It’s an important role—but it’s one most people are never taught.

If you’ve been named as a successor trustee—or you’re thinking about naming someone in your own estate plan—I’d love to help.

🌿 School for Trustees & Power of Attorney Agents
📍 Wednesday | 6:00–7:30 PM | Drifa Brewing Company
💻 Thursday | 6:00–7:30 PM | Online
💲 $50 per person

We’ll cover what these roles actually involve, common mistakes to avoid, and practical steps you can take to carry out your responsibilities with confidence.

⬇️ Registration links are in the comments.

Have you been named as a trustee, power of attorney agent, guardian, or conservator?These roles come with real legal and...
07/21/2026

Have you been named as a trustee, power of attorney agent, guardian, or conservator?
These roles come with real legal and financial responsibilities, and most people are never taught what they're supposed to do.

If you're wondering, "Hmm... what does that mean?" you're not alone.

Join me for School for Trustees & Power of Attorney Agents on Wednesday, July 29 at 6:00 PM at Drifa Brewing Company to learn what these roles involve and how to carry them out with confidence.

If you want one-on-one guidance for your specific situation, I also offer legal coaching for trustees, power of attorney agents, guardians, and conservators.

Learn more or RSVP here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1Z3rG1A5Gz/

07/17/2026

🌿 Bonus divorce video this week!

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about divorce lately, so I decided to step away from this month’s theme to share something that I hope helps.

One of the first things I explain to people is that every divorce has to resolve four main issues:

• Property division
• Spousal support
• Child custody
• Child support

Once you understand those four areas, the process starts to feel much more manageable. You have a framework for organizing your questions and understanding what needs to happen before a divorce can be finalized.

In this video, I walk through each of those four areas and explain them in plain English.

If you need more support than a short video can provide, Taproot also offers:
🌱 Legal coaching
🌱 DIY legal workbooks and resources
🌱 Document preparation support

My goal is to help people understand their legal options so they can make informed decisions and move forward with confidence.

If you know someone who could benefit from this information, feel free to share it with them.

07/13/2026

Last week, we kicked off our free community roundtable with a new format: a 10-minute talk before opening the floor for discussion.

The topic was Helping Aging Parents Without Burning Out, and these were the three ideas I hoped everyone would leave with:

🌱 Most caregiving problems start as people problems—not legal problems.

🌱 Legal documents are important, but they’re only the beginning. They give you authority, but they don’t necessarily teach you how to manage the responsibilities that come with caring for someone else.

🌱 You don’t have to do it alone. There are professionals and community resources that can help you navigate these responsibilities before they become overwhelming.

If you’re helping an aging parent—or think you may someday—I hope this video gives you a place to start.

If you’d like to learn more, join me for School for Power of Attorney Agents & Successor Trustees on Wednesday, July 29 at 6 PM at Drifa Brewing Company. We’ll go beyond the legal documents and focus on what the job actually looks like and how to prepare for it.

If a workshop isn’t the right fit, legal coaching is also available for people who want one-on-one guidance before a crisis happens.

Learn more at taprootadvocates.com 🌱

07/08/2026

Helping aging parents is hard enough. The legal side shouldn’t make it harder.

It’s tonight!

Join me for Helping Aging Parents Without Burning Out at the Taproot Community Roundtable. We’ll start with a quick legal lesson and then open the table for questions and conversation. Whether you’re helping a parent now, planning ahead, or just curious about the process, you’re welcome to stop by.

📍 Ore Dock Brewing Co.
🗓 Wed., July 8
🕔 5–6 PM

I hope to see you there! 🌿 - Erica Payne

🌿 Taproot's new website is live!This website has been a long time coming.When I started building Taproot, I knew I wante...
07/03/2026

🌿 Taproot's new website is live!

This website has been a long time coming.

When I started building Taproot, I knew I wanted it to be different from a traditional law firm. I wanted one place where people could learn about legal coaching, browse DIY legal resources, sign up for workshops, and find practical legal help without feeling overwhelmed.

It's not perfect—and that's okay. Like Taproot itself, it'll keep growing over time.

If you've been curious about what Taproot is becoming, I'd love for you to take a look.

On the site you can:

⚖️ Learn about legal coaching
📚 Explore DIY legal workbooks
🗓️ See upcoming workshops and events
✍️ Browse flat-fee legal services

Whether you're starting a business, planning an estate, dealing with property, or just trying to figure out your next legal step, Taproot is here to help you help yourself.

Thank you to everyone who's encouraged me, attended a workshop, trusted me with a legal project, or simply followed along as this idea has grown. I'm really excited for what's next. 🌿
🔗 https://taprootadvocates.com

- Erica Payne

Address

Marquette, Michigan Phone-based And By Appointment
Marquette, MI
49855

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+19062848426

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