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Woods Law Office

We pride ourselves in being your counsel for life. Ideally, planning for long-term care and the disposition of an estate occurs before the need arises. E.g.

Our goal as Michigan Elder Care Practitioners is to effectively assist in long term care planning prior to any crisis situation. This can entail the ex*****on of a Trust with a pour over will, a Power of Attorney, Designation of Patient Advocate, and a Quit Claim deed. Depending on the situation and time frame, it could include the moving of certain assets to various types of Medicaid Qualifiable trusts. To effectively assist those in crisis by maximizing their asset base to their benefit and preventing the unnecessary and wasteful spending tactics that most nursing homes and social workers will recommend. Mental Note: You would not go to the IRS to have your taxes done….. don’t go to the people that would most benefit (nursing homes and DHS) for advice on long term care planning. To keep our elderly clients in the comfort of their own homes for as long as safely possible. There is no place like home for growing old. This means the recommendation of in home health care professionals, cleaning services or other necessary assistance to secure a safe environment. In addition, we also will recommend the renovation of certain homes to make them safe. a handicap bathroom, change of flooring surfaces, wheelchair accessible ramps, doorways, kitchens etc…

For those clients who do not have the funds for in home health care and the like, we can assist in securing Aid and Attendance Care/Housebound services benefits for certain Veterans of American Wars. These funds are also available for surviving spouses of these Veterans. Once a determination is made as to the need for Long Term Nursing Care, we assist the family through the Medicaid application process. This is often an emotional time for the family and we try to make this transition as smooth as possible. Of course there are decisions we cannot make or things that we cannot do for our families. That is why we must surround ourselves with a core group of professionals that can ensure the smoothest transaction possible. One of the most difficult times a family can and will face is in regards to a loved ones’ mortality. Contact Woods Law Office today for all of your Michigan elder law, elder care, needs. We are conveniently located in Shelby Township, in Macomb County, Michigan.

10/31/2026

🎃 GETTING OLDER ISN’T SCARY. NOT HAVING AN ESTATE PLAN CAN BE.

Ghosts, goblins and things that go bump in the night might be part of the Halloween fun—but leaving your family without an estate plan can be a little too frightening.

Whether you’re 50, 70, 90—or just young at heart—it’s never too late to make sure your wishes are known and the people you love are protected.

This Halloween, take the scary out of planning for the future.

Woods Law Office
Estate Planning • Elder Law • Probate Administration
📞 (586) 532-8970
woodslawoffice.com

Happy Halloween from Woods Law Office! 🎃👻

10/29/2026

MOM'S MAD AT THE KIDS!
Natalie the Nosy Neighbor Brings the Donuts, Takes Mom to the Casino… and Suddenly She's in the Will!
🍩 MOM'S MAD AT THE KIDS! BUT NATALIE THE NOSY NEIGHBOR IS HER NEW BEST FRIEND!
Mom is 87. Her children have spent years helping with groceries, medical appointments, bills, and maintaining the family home.
Then suddenly, everything changes.
Mom insists her children are trying to control her, take her money, and put her in a nursing home.
Meanwhile, Natalie the Nosy Neighbor has become Mom's new favorite person!
Natalie brings donuts. 🍩
Natalie picks up groceries. 🛒
Natalie takes Mom to the casino. 🎰
Natalie agrees with EVERYTHING Mom says.
And before long, Natalie is helping with bank accounts, financial paperwork, and even Mom's estate plan.
WAIT... WHEN DID NATALIE BECOME MOM'S FINANCIAL ADVISOR?! 😳
Unfortunately, situations involving cognitive decline, isolation, financial exploitation, and undue influence can create serious legal disputes among Michigan families.
🏠 SUDDEN CHANGES TO A WILL OR TRUST: What happens when an aging parent unexpectedly disinherits their children and leaves everything to a neighbor, friend, or companion? Under Michigan law, estate-planning documents may be challenged when there is evidence of insufficient legal capacity or undue influence.
💰 UNEXPLAINED FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS: Adding someone to bank accounts, changing beneficiaries, transferring real estate, or making substantial gifts may raise concerns when an older adult is vulnerable to exploitation.
🧠 DEMENTIA AND LEGAL CAPACITY: A diagnosis of dementia does not automatically mean someone lacks the legal capacity to execute a will, trust, deed, or Power of Attorney. Capacity must be evaluated under the applicable legal standard and circumstances surrounding the transaction.
⚖️ UNDUE INFLUENCE IN MICHIGAN: When someone uses a confidential relationship, dependency, isolation, or manipulation to improperly influence an older adult's financial or estate-planning decisions, legal remedies may be available. Michigan courts examine the particular facts and circumstances when determining whether undue influence occurred.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 WHAT RIGHTS DO ADULT CHILDREN HAVE? Adult children do not automatically have authority over their parents' financial affairs or estate plans. However, when legitimate concerns about incapacity, financial exploitation, or undue influence arise, guardianship, conservatorship, protective proceedings, or probate and trust litigation may be appropriate.
❤️ NOT EVERY NEIGHBOR OR CAREGIVER HAS BAD INTENTIONS! Many provide genuine friendship, companionship, and invaluable assistance. Older adults also have the right to make independent decisions their children may dislike. The concern is whether someone is taking advantage of vulnerability or improperly controlling decisions.
At The Woods Law Office PLLC, we represent Michigan families in estate planning, contested wills, trust disputes, undue influence claims, guardianships, conservatorships, and probate litigation.
If you are concerned about an aging parent's sudden behavioral changes, suspicious financial transactions, isolation from family, or unexpected changes to their estate plan, seeking legal guidance early may help protect their rights, independence, and financial security.
🍩 NATALIE BROUGHT THE DONUTS. BUT WHO'S REALLY CALLING THE SHOTS?
SHE CAME WITH GROCERIES. SHE STAYED FOR THE INHERITANCE!
📞 The Woods Law Office PLLC
(586) 532-8970
Protecting your independence. Protecting your wishes. Protecting your legacy.

10/29/2026

ADULTING.
No Will. No Guardians. No Plan. Welcome to the Family Drama!
Think you're too young to need an estate plan? Think again!
You're in your 20s, 30s, or 40s. You're buying a house, getting married, having children, building your career, and planning your future. Estate planning is probably the last thing on your mind.
But what happens if the unexpected occurs?
👶 WHO WILL RAISE YOUR CHILDREN? If both parents die without naming a guardian, family members may find themselves fighting in probate court over who should raise the children. Under Michigan law, parents can nominate guardians through appropriate legal documents, helping ensure their wishes are considered.
💰 WHO INHERITS YOUR MONEY? If you die without a will or trust, Michigan's intestate succession laws determine who inherits your probate estate. That could include an estranged sibling or half-sibling you never intended to benefit.
❤️ WHAT ABOUT YOUR UNMARRIED PARTNER? Living together for ten years doesn't automatically give your partner inheritance rights under Michigan law. Without proper planning, the person you love could be left financially vulnerable.
🏦 WHO MANAGES YOUR CHILDREN'S INHERITANCE? A properly drafted trust can help protect your children's financial future, establish who manages their inheritance, and determine when and how they receive their money.
🏥 WHO MAKES DECISIONS IF YOU BECOME INCAPACITATED? Every adult age 18 or older should consider having a Durable Financial Power of Attorney and a Designation of Patient Advocate. These essential documents allow you to appoint trusted individuals to handle financial and medical decisions when legally authorized to do so.
At The Woods Law Office PLLC, we help young adults, parents, unmarried couples, and families throughout Shelby Township, Macomb County, and Southeast Michigan create comprehensive estate plans that protect the people and assets that matter most.
You're not too young to plan. You're just too young to leave everything to chance.
📱 You insured your phone. What about your family?
Adulting is hard enough. Don't make your family do it for you!
📞 The Woods Law Office PLLC
(586) 532-8970

10/29/2026

💍 WE'RE MARRIED! WE DON'T NEED A WILL!
Oh, really? 🤔
You've been married for 30 years. You share a house, bank accounts, children, and a lifetime of memories.
Surely everything automatically goes to your spouse when you die.
SURPRISE! NOT NECESSARILY!
What if your spouse's children from a previous marriage are entitled to part of the estate?
What if your spouse becomes incapacitated and you don't have a Power of Attorney?
What if your surviving spouse remarries and assets you intended for your children eventually end up benefiting someone else?
And what happens when your children start fighting over the family home, Dad's classic car, or Mom's jewelry?
Nothing says family bonding quite like a probate dispute! 😂
❤️ LOVE MAY CONQUER ALL. BUT IT DOESN'T OVERRIDE MICHIGAN PROBATE LAW!
👇 Read our latest article: "We're Married! What Could Possibly Go Wrong?"
The Woods Law Office PLLC
📞 (586) 532-8970

10/29/2026

DAD'S IN LOVE AGAIN!
She's 20 Years Younger, the Kids Are Suspicious, and the Estate Plan Is Suddenly Missing!
💍❤️ DAD'S IN LOVE AGAIN! AND THE KIDS ARE PANICKING!
She's 20 Years Younger, the Kids Are Suspicious, and the Estate Plan Is Suddenly Missing!
Mom and Dad were married for 45 years. They worked hard, raised their children, paid off the house, and built a comfortable retirement.
Then Mom passed away.
Dad was lonely.
And suddenly... DAD'S IN LOVE AGAIN! ❤️
Maybe she's 20 years younger. Maybe Dad met Betty at assisted living over Tuesday night bingo. Either way, Dad is smiling again, buying flowers, and talking about getting married.
The kids are thrilled. Well... until Dad announces the wedding! 😳
What happens to Mom and Dad's estate plan when Dad remarries?
🏠 DOES THE NEW SPOUSE INHERIT THE HOUSE? Under Michigan law, a surviving spouse may have inheritance rights that affect assets the children expected to receive. The outcome depends on how the property is titled, the estate plan, and applicable law.
📜 WHAT HAPPENS TO MOM AND DAD'S TRUST? If Mom and Dad created a joint revocable living trust, portions of that trust may have become irrevocable when Mom died. Dad may not have the authority to change everything, even if he wants to provide for his new spouse.
💍 SHOULD DAD HAVE A PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT? A properly drafted prenuptial agreement can help address property rights, financial expectations, and certain inheritance rights before a second marriage.
💰 CAN DAD CHANGE HIS BENEFICIARIES? Retirement accounts, life insurance policies, bank accounts, and investment accounts may pass according to beneficiary designations. Changes to those designations can have significant consequences for children from a prior marriage.
🏥 WHAT IF DAD LIVES IN ASSISTED LIVING? Finding love later in life is wonderful! But when cognitive impairment, undue influence, or financial exploitation becomes a concern, families may find themselves involved in difficult legal disputes. Age or residence in assisted living alone does not mean someone lacks legal capacity.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN? Just because Mom and Dad always said the house would go to the kids doesn't necessarily mean that promise is legally enforceable. Existing trust provisions, ownership, and Michigan inheritance laws determine what happens.
At The Woods Law Office PLLC, we help Michigan families navigate estate planning for second marriages, blended families, surviving spouses, and late-in-life relationships.
Whether you're considering remarriage, protecting children from a previous marriage, reviewing an existing trust, or concerned about potential undue influence or financial exploitation, proper legal planning can help protect everyone involved.
❤️ YOU CAN LOVE YOUR NEW SPOUSE AND PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN. THE RIGHT ESTATE PLAN CAN DO BOTH!
LOVE MAY BE BLIND. BUT YOUR ESTATE PLAN SHOULDN'T BE!
📞 The Woods Law Office PLLC
(586) 532-8970

10/29/2026

FIDO AND KITTY IN THE CUPBOARD: WHO WILL CARE FOR YOUR PETS WHEN YOU'RE GONE?
🐾 Fido is your beloved ankle biter who hates everyone but you.
🐈 Kitty lives in the cupboard, and nobody even knows you have a cat because she only likes YOU!
We love our pets like family, but have you considered what will happen to them if you become incapacitated or pass away?
Who will take care of them? Who will pay for their veterinary care, medications, grooming, and food? What happens if your chosen caregiver cannot or will not take them?
Under Michigan law, MCL 700.2722 permits trusts to be established for the care of animals. A properly drafted Michigan pet trust can provide funds, designate responsible individuals, and establish instructions for your pets' care.
Whether you have a dog, cat, or other beloved companion, including your pets in your estate plan can help ensure they receive the care and protection they deserve.
At The Woods Law Office PLLC, we help Michigan pet owners incorporate pet-care provisions into their wills, revocable living trusts, and comprehensive estate plans.
They depend on you for everything. Make sure your love and protection continue even when you can't be there.
🐾 Because family isn't always human!
📞 (586) 532-8970

10/29/2026

A POOR MAN'S WILL: THE HIDDEN DANGERS OF DIY ESTATE PLANNING IN MICHIGAN
Think you can avoid estate planning by adding your children to a Lady Bird deed or naming them as beneficiaries on your bank accounts?
Think again!
While Lady Bird deeds and beneficiary designations can be useful estate-planning tools, using them without a comprehensive plan can create unintended consequences.
What happens when three siblings inherit a house but cannot agree on selling it? What happens if one of your children dies before you? Will their inheritance pass to your grandchildren, surviving children, or someone you never intended?
And what happens if you become incapacitated without a Durable Power of Attorney or Designation of Patient Advocate?
At The Woods Law Office PLLC, we help Michigan families avoid costly estate-planning mistakes through properly drafted wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and coordinated beneficiary designations.
A cheap estate plan today could become an expensive legal problem for your family tomorrow.
Your family deserves more than good intentions. Give them a plan.
📞 (586) 532-8970

10/29/2026

LAUGHING HEIRS: WHO INHERITS YOUR MONEY IF YOU DIE WITHOUT A WILL IN MICHIGAN?
Did you know that if you die without a will or trust in Michigan, distant relatives you barely know or have never even met could inherit your estate?
Under Michigan's intestate succession laws, your assets may pass to relatives based on their family relationship to you, regardless of whether they were involved in your life. These unexpected beneficiaries are sometimes called "Laughing Heirs."
If you are single, unmarried, have no children, or have no immediate family, having a proper estate plan is especially important. Without one, Michigan law—not you—determines who inherits your probate estate.
At The Woods Law Office PLLC, we help Michigan residents create wills, revocable living trusts, and comprehensive estate plans that ensure their assets pass to the people and charitable organizations they choose.
Your money. Your wishes. Your legacy. Don't let distant relatives get the last laugh!
📞 (586) 532-8970

10/28/2026

Asset Preservation: Protect What Matters Most

You’ve worked hard to build your home, savings and financial security. Thoughtful planning can help protect those assets while making sure the people you care about are provided for.

Asset preservation planning can help you prepare for future needs, reduce unnecessary financial risk and put strategies in place that reflect your personal and family goals.

Woods Law Office works with individuals and families to understand their options and develop a plan designed around their unique circumstances.

Protect what you’ve built. Plan for what’s ahead. Contact Woods Law Office to learn more about asset preservation planning.

10/22/2026

Probate: Guidance Through a Difficult Time

Losing someone you love is difficult enough. Managing their estate and navigating the probate process can make an already emotional time feel even more overwhelming.

Woods Law Office helps families understand what needs to be done and guides them through each step of the probate process — from necessary court filings and estate administration to addressing assets, debts and distributions.

Having experienced legal guidance can help simplify the process, avoid unnecessary complications and ensure your loved one’s estate is handled properly.

You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. Woods Law Office is here to help you move through probate with clarity and confidence.

Address

47100 Schoenherr Road, Ste D
Shelby Township, MI
48315

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 3pm

Website

http://www.woodselderlaw.com/

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