May Secures Court Validation of Trust During Client’s Lifetime

Case Summary: A client with 12 children sought to ensure that his estate plan would be carried out as intended, favoring two children while excluding the others. Concerned about potential challenges after his death, proactive steps were taken during his lifetime to address validity and intent.

Resolution: Probate attorney Alan A. May developed and implemented a strategy to petition the Oakland County Probate Court to validate the client’s trust while he was still living. All 12 children were formally served with both the petition and the trust itself. The court entered an order confirming that the trust was valid, that the client was competent, and that he was not subject to undue influence. By resolving these issues in advance, the client’s estate plan was protected from future disputes and interruptions.

This approach highlights a proactive estate planning strategy that can reduce the risk of post-death litigation, though it must be balanced against considerations of privacy and potential family conflict during the client’s lifetime.

For further information regarding proactive estate planning strategies, please contact Mr. May at 248.619.2890 or via email.