Page 18 - Senior Times South Central Michigan April 2021 - 28-04

Page 18
Senior Times - April 2021 Ask the ATTORNEY
Michael Walling, Special to Senior Times FILE WILL WITH PROBATE
QUESTION: My mother and father filed their wills with the probate court. Do people still do that? Should people do that?
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ANSWER: It depends. With most people having fireproof safes at their homes now, I would say that they don’t do it as much as they use to. This is fine in most cases. However, I have seen it lead to very big problems.
The problem with having your will at home is that people can get to it and destroy it if the will does not favor them. For example: Let’s say there is
a man in a second marriage. His will leaves everything to his children, and not to his wife or her children. Then he dies. His wife, or her children, can just get into the safe and destroy the will. With no will, the wife inherits the majority of his estate. She can then leave it to her children when he dies.
will is safe there and no one can get to it to destroy it. Just make sure to file any new wills or codicils (amendments to the will) with the probate court as well.
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The same thing can happen if you have a child who is estranged or who you are disinheriting. When you die, that child can get into your house and destroy the will. Why? Because with no will, the child will inherit from you.
You can contact the probate court located in the County where you live, or look on their website. They can instruct you on what you need to do to file your will with them. I believe the fee is still $25.
I know that this doesn’t sound very “family oriented” but these things hap- pen. Money can change people. I have seen it many times. If you have issues like the above or think that maybe something like this could happen, then the probate court is a great option. Your
Michael B. Walling is an Elder Law attorney with an advanced Master
of Laws degree. He manages the
Elder Law Center and the law firm of Michael B. Walling, PLC. Mr. Walling is also a part-time Professor at Western Michigan University. Please email any questions to: info@wallingplc.com. This column is intended for general information purposes only and should not be considered as legal advice to any particular person.
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Seniors in Branch Co
By: Amy Duff, Executive Director, Branch County Commission on Aging
Branch County Commission on Aging (BCCOA) updates - for more information regarding programs or
to schedule appointment call (517) 279-6565.
• In-Home services remain available for
Sign up by calling Pines Behavioral
Branch County seniors.
• The Chore Program will be focusing
Seniors schedule your COVID vac- cines at the Health Department website, www.bhsj.org. Click on the yellow banner near the top of the home page
to get to the online scheduler. So far about 31,000 vaccinations have been given in the three county district. If someone needs help scheduling an online appointment, and there is no one in their life that can help them, they can call and leave their information for the AAA to schedule an appointment for them at (517) 278-2538.
on spring yard clean-up and window
Health at (517) 227-9933.
• Burnside Senior Center is closed to
program activities until further notice.
washing for seniors who qualify.
• Transportation for medical appoint-
ments is available.
• Free tax preparation appointments are
available through the VITA program with Goodwill Industries. Call to schedule.
• MMAP assistance is by phone only. Call to make an appointment.
Michigan State Extension on-line programming continues. Information can be found on their Facebook.
• Senior Phone Pals is available to those in need of outside routine contact.
Call for a free
initial consultation*.
*Except Asset Protection Planning
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