Willingham & Coté, P.C.
Blog
Should you file a tax return if your spouse died in the last two years?
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Currently the estate tax exemption is $11.7 million per person or $23.4 million per couple and it is scheduled to… Continue reading →
Michigan Liquor Control Commission Extends License Renewals
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The Michigan Liquor Control Commission issued Administrative Order No. 2021-04 which extended the annual license expiration date for 2021 from… Continue reading →
COVID Immunity for Healthcare Providers in Michigan
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Our healthcare provider clients should be keenly aware of a somewhat quiet provision that was passed into law in October… Continue reading →
What is Legal Custody?
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When you file for divorce or file paperwork to seek an order of custody for a minor child or children,… Continue reading →
PLANNING THE DIFFICULT FOR YOUR LOVED ONES
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The death of a loved one is never convenient, nor pleasant. It is a very emotional time and often stressful… Continue reading →
Why You Need an Estate Plan
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Why should you finalize an estate plan? It is a great act of love that allows for you to put… Continue reading →
ARE YOU or YOUR LOVED ONE PREPARED FOR A COVID VACCINE?
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Recently, Chief Probate Judge Richard Garcia of the Ingham County Probate Court urged the public to prepare for the vaccination… Continue reading →
Can COVID-19 Be An Accident Related Injury?
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You finally step out of the house and get into your car for a short trip to the grocery store. … Continue reading →
Are You Ready for A Medical Emergency?
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With our current pandemic, you have probably had a lot of time to reflect during our new normal and thought… Continue reading →
Best Business Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic
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As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, our lives have significantly changed and the Governor has issued almost 100 executive… Continue reading →
Housekeeping for Wills & Trusts
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Recently we have seen our world turned upside down. Children are home from school and bored. People are anxious not… Continue reading →
Real Estate Financing 101
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LAND CONTRACTS, PURCHASE MONEY MORTGAGES, AND THIRD PARTY FINANCING Many of our clients wish to buy or sell real estate… Continue reading →
Rethink Your Loan To Family Members
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Throughout my years of practicing law, I have grown to appreciate that most families consist of similar family dynamics often… Continue reading →
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DIE WITHOUT A WILL?
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If you are like most people, you dread thinking of finalizing your last wishes should you die unexpectedly. Most people… Continue reading →
You’ve Been Served a Liquor Violation – Now What?
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Most people fail to understand the great expense and the time consuming complexities of having to file an application requesting… Continue reading →
Can’t Find Your Original Will? Don’t Panic.
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People spend thousands of dollars to draft wills and/or trusts to identify their intentions upon death; however, sometimes it is… Continue reading →
What is a Health Power of Attorney?
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A health durable power of attorney is granted by a legal document providing written authorization for an agent to make… Continue reading →
What Is A Guardian?
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Michigan has laws to allow persons to act as guardian for persons that are no longer competent to make financial… Continue reading →
Should You Contribute to 529 Plans for Estate Planning?
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Do you have assets in excess of $11 million per single person or $22 million per couple and wish to avoid… Continue reading →
Federal Employees Without Pay: What Do I Do Now?
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For approximately 380,000 federal employees on furlough and another 420,000 working without pay, many people may be asking how they… Continue reading →
The Ending of a Long Term Marriage
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Michigan is a no-fault divorce state which means the court will grant a divorce without a showing of fault-based grounds,… Continue reading →
Common Real Estate Pitfalls
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As a result of the internet and other resources that are available to individuals, many people are taking it upon… Continue reading →
A Checklist When Considering Divorce
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Are you contemplating divorce? Before you file, you should gather information to determine whether you can live on your own,… Continue reading →
Preparing Your Business for Success: The Importance of a Succession Plan
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We generally recommend that business owners form a corporation or limited liability company under which the business is operated primarily… Continue reading →
CHILD SUPPORT: HOW DO MEDICAL EXPENSES FACTOR?
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What is the “ordinary medical expense” calculated into Child Support in Michigan? Trying to figure out child support calculations issued… Continue reading →
Obtaining Guardianship of your Grandchildren
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Do you have a child addicted to drugs and you want to try to obtain custody of their minor child… Continue reading →
BASIS TO CHANGE CHILD SUPPORT IN MICHIGAN
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If there is an order issued in Michigan regarding the child support, the Friend of the Court can review the… Continue reading →
The Half-Mile Rule Is Dead: At Least for Now
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In 1968, the Michigan Liquor Control Commission established an administrative rule that generally prevented a retail store from obtaining a… Continue reading →
Marriage and Custody: What are the implications?
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How does an upcoming wedding impact the custody of your children? If you are planning the wedding, you may be… Continue reading →
Taxation of Pass-Through Businesses After Tax Reform
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Pass-through Entities Most people have heard that Congress recently passed extreme tax reform laws (commonly referred to as the “Tax… Continue reading →
Legal Vs. Physical Custody: What Does It Really Mean?
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Have you filed an action in court to determine the custody of your child? In doing so, the court will… Continue reading →
Five Things You Should Discuss with Your Fiancée Before the Wedding
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After many years of practicing family law and sitting through hundreds of hours of consultations with potential divorce clients, there… Continue reading →
YOUR NEW MARRIAGE: ARE YOU CREATING A BLENDED FAMILY?
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The majority of families have shifted from the traditional nuclear family of father, mother and child to a nation in… Continue reading →
HOW TO CHANGE DOMICILE
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Have you found a new job outside of Michigan or have been lucky to find new love across state… Continue reading →
Long Term Marriage and Finances: Separating Myth from Fact
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As a family law attorney, too often I receive phone calls from panicked “stay at home” parents. What is the… Continue reading →
A Quick Internet Divorce: Not As Simple As You Think
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Thinking about a divorce? Do you spend time on the internet or social media? You may have looked online… Continue reading →
Grandparenting Time in Michigan
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Whether grandparents have a right to grandparent time has always been a controversial political question. On June 13, 2017, the… Continue reading →
The “Half-Mile Rule” Survives: Existing Spirits Retailers Celebrate
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Grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores, and other stores that sell spirits for consumption off the licensed premises are required… Continue reading →
Grandparenting Time and Divorce
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If you are a grandparent and your son or daughter is going through a divorce or separation, as a parent,… Continue reading →
ALCOHOL BEVERAGE LICENSES 101
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All businesses desiring to manufacture, import, distribute, or sell alcohol to consumers must obtain proper licenses and permits from the… Continue reading →
New Law Restricts Issuance of Beer and Wine Licenses
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Effective in 2017, the Michigan Legislature changed the law related to a business owner’s ability to obtain a license to sell… Continue reading →
Gas Stations and Alcohol Beverage Licensing: What You Need to Know
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The Michigan Legislature has been active in the past few years in the area of alcohol beverage licensing. One of the… Continue reading →
Beyond The Dress: Thinking Through the Financials
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YOU WENT TO THE BRIDAL SHOW. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT THE BEAU. BUT DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT FINANCIAL PLAN? You… Continue reading →
How Is Property Divided When You Get Divorced?
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Michigan is a no-fault divorce state, which means if one person wants a divorce, the court will grant a divorce… Continue reading →
A Better Divorce Process: It Is Possible
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So either you or your spouse has decided to obtain a divorce. What important issues should you consider before filing for divorce? A… Continue reading →
The Death of a Loved One: Importance of Checking Your Insurance Policy (Part 2)
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Automobile Insurance Policies This blog is a follow up to our initial article on homeowner’s insurance and the death of a loved… Continue reading →
Opening a Restaurant or Liquor Store: What You Need to Know About Liquor Licenses
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Locating the Necessary Michigan Liquor License Many people have dreams of opening their own restaurant, brewpub, bar, grocery store, or convenience store. … Continue reading →
Do You Disagree with Your Property Tax Assessment?
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Appealing Your Residential and Business Property Taxes Each year, the city/township assessor determines the “assessed value” of all real estate within its jurisdiction. … Continue reading →
You’ve Been Served . . . Now What?
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You are sitting down in the quiet of your own home enjoying a cup of coffee and reading a newspaper… Continue reading →
How to File a Divorce (Without Minor Children)
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According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, there were 133,475 divorces between 2010 and 2013. This is… Continue reading →
Starting Your Own Business: What Type of Entity?
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One of the first questions that entrepreneurs ask when they are thinking about starting a new business is: What type… Continue reading →
Supreme Court Affirms the Right for Same Sex Couples to Marry – Legally, Now What?
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The Ruling The United States Supreme Court confirmed the right of same-sex couples to marry today in its decision in… Continue reading →
Child Custody 101: Reports of Abuse and Parenting Time
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Child custody disputes can be the most emotionally and financially draining element on a family going through a divorce. For a… Continue reading →
Business Owners: You Must Act Fast to Appeal Property Taxes
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If you feel that the local assessor has overvalued your commercial real estate, there is still time to file an… Continue reading →
Avoiding Medical Malpractice: 5 Simple Steps
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No physician, in today’s litigious society, is immune from professional liability lawsuits, even when they render the best of care…. Continue reading →
The Charm of Up North: Encroachment, Lot Lines and Trespassing
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There is often a great deal of emotional and sentimental attachment to family cottages and hunting land. Since much of… Continue reading →
Transfers of Liquor Licenses: A Quicker Process
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In December of 2013, a new Michigan law was enacted to provide a much quicker process to obtain a liquor… Continue reading →
Do You Ever Disagree with the Tax Man?
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Each year, the city/township assessor determines the “assessed value” of real estate within its jurisdiction. This is equal to one-half… Continue reading →
Transferring Real Estate to Your Children Without Tax Penalities
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A Michigan law was recently enacted which will allow parents to transfer real estate to their children without certain property… Continue reading →
Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA): What does it mean to me?
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On June 26, 2013, the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion in United States v. Windsor or the Defense… Continue reading →
Parenting Time Violations
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What to do if your parenting time is violated by your ex? The Role of Friend of the Court Do… Continue reading →
Children & Divorce: What You Need To Know
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How does a Court Determine Child Custody and Parenting Time in Michigan? Going through a divorce is a very emotional… Continue reading →
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