Handle your own Estate Planning Documents

Former probate and family judge Shana Lahti has created a simple, online DIY Estate Planning process that anyone can follow to easily handle their Estate Planning Documents. Many people overspend on this service by hiring an expensive lawyer, but you don’t need to! You can handle your own Estate Planning paperwork!

Easy to use

Legally Compliant

Fast Turnaround

Professional Support

See Frequently Asked Questions

Are you prepared in the event you’re unable to make your own decisions?

If you haven’t already handled your Estate Planning documents, you could be sending your family to court if you become unable to make your own financial or medical decisions. And, if you don’t have a Will it could result in family conflict. A judge will have to decide for your family, and you don’t want that. Conflicts in court are painful on families, let alone expensive.

Avoid this by creating your Estate Planning documents through MI Easy Forms now! Do it while you can, or have a parent or loved one handle theirs before they are unable to.

Everyone 18 years of age and older should have estate planning documents in place. Don’t put it off!

Keep everyone out of court

Families usually go to court in these cases because they are facing some level of disability with a family member. You can help everyone involved avoid court involvement by setting up your Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) now.

Put a DPOA in place to cover details from transfer of real estate, payment of monthly bills, and management of all assets.

Save money and aggravation

Putting a Patient Advocate Designation (PAD) in place will help you avoid conflict — and court. It may help you steer clear from a court appointing someone on your behalf. It also will help you avoid extensive attorney fees.

Some people do not like making simple or life-sustaining decisions for other people, so you should set this up while you can. Do this for you and your family members.

Don’t Put Your Will Off Any Longer

Having a Will protects you, your spouse, and frankly, other family members and friends. It’s planning for the future — and not just for people with kids or the elderly.

Everyone needs a Will to avoid conflict over assets.

Nobody will have to agonize over difficult decisions or argue about which one you promised would get that lamp, piece of art or treasured jewelry.

Not Sure if DIY is For You?

If you have questions that need answering before you begin to process your paperwork, you can always schedule a private consultation with former probate and family judge Shana Lahti. One-on-one consultations are provided through Lahti Legal Services.

Schedule a Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

These FAQs are for informational purposes only. The information contained in this document is not legal advice. If you need legal assistance, you should contact an attorney or schedule a consultation at MI Easy Forms.

Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA)

Without a DPOA, if you become incapacitated or disabled, your loved ones will need to file for conservatorship with the probate court to manage your property and finances.

Going to court is expensive and emotionally draining for all those involved. Family members may not agree, which can cause conflict. Make your choices now and avoid the expense of going to court — and any possible conflict between family members.

A DPOA authorizes your agent (another person also known as attorney-in-fact) to make decisions concerning your finances and property for you (the principal). Your agent will be able to make decisions and act with respect to your property and financial affairs if you are unable to or are unavailable (if you so choose).

You may have your DPOA effective immediately upon execution or upon your disability. You may choose either.

If you choose upon disability, your disability will be determined by two medical doctors (at least one of whom shall be a doctor specializing in geriatric medicine, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, or a neurologist).

If you choose immediately, your agent will be able to immediately handle your financial affairs for you.

An agent is the person you will designate in your DPOA to act on your behalf.

You should select someone you trust to serve as your agent. You can select any adult, a bank, or other institution to serve as your agent.

You should ask the person you want to appoint if they are willing to serve as your agent before completing your DPOA. Your agent will need to agree and sign an acknowledgement of their appointment before they may act under your DPOA.

This DPOA does not give you the option to have more than one agent act at a time. If you wish to have co-agents, you should contact an attorney or schedule a consultation at MI Easy Forms.

You will have the option to appoint a successor agent in case your first agent is unable or unwilling to fulfill the duties as your agent. If you have not named a successor agent and your agent is unable or unwilling to act for you, your durable power of attorney will end.

Your DPOA will last until you revoke (cancel) it, or you are deceased. You can revoke your DPOA while you are competent by putting it in writing and sending it to your agent. You will also need to send it to your bank(s) or anyone else your agent has authority to deal with. Your durable power of attorney will end if your agent resigns or is unable to act.

Delete FAQ Estate Planning page DPOA: This will make it consistent with the Young Adult FAQs

This DPOA gives broad powers to allow your agent to handle any financial matters that you may need to have completed while you are unable or unavailable to perform those tasks.

This DPOA gives your agent powers over the following financial matters:

Real Property
Personal Property
Banking
Business Interests
Life Insurance Policies
Social Security and Government Benefits
Legal Actions
Loans
Investments
Tax Returns
Transfers to Trusts (if any)
Safe Deposit Boxes
Disclaimers
Gifts
Digital Assets

You can revoke the DPOA, or anyone interested in your welfare can petition the probate court to have a conservator appointed to handle your financial affairs and remove the agent who is not acting in your best interest.

No. If you want someone to make health care decisions for you when you are unable to make those decisions, you must have a patient advocate designation. If you do not, a guardian would need to be appointed by a court if you became unable to make your own medical decisions.

You may use your mobile phone, but it will take longer to go through the process and will not work as efficiently as on a computer. If you do not have a computer, check with your local library, community centers, college, or a friend. Some UPS, FED EX and Staples locations offer use of computers.

If you do not have access to a printer, you may print your documents at an office supply store, public library, or print shop. There may be other options for printing as well. Search your area for places that offer print services.

Yes. Notary Publics can be found at a bank, county clerk’s office, UPS Store or other office supply stores.

Patient Advocate Designation (PAD)

Because without a PAD, if you become unable to make your own medical treatment decisions, your loved ones will need to file for guardianship with the probate court in order to make decisions regarding your care, custody, and medical treatment.

Going to court is expensive and emotionally draining on all who are involved. Family members may not agree, which can cause conflict. Make your choices now and avoid the expense of going to court, and possible conflict between family members.

This PAD allows you to choose a person (the patient advocate) to make decisions concerning your care, custody, and medical treatment when you (the patient) cannot. You may authorize your patient advocate to also make decisions regarding mental health treatment. Your patient advocate can also be authorized to donate your organs or other body parts for transplant or research (anatomical gifts) after your death if you so choose.

You may choose a patient advocate when you are of sound mind and age 18 or older.

There is no better time than now to put a PAD in place. We never know when we may need a PAD, so do it now while you can, to avoid the cost of going to court if you become unable to make your own medical decisions.

You may choose someone you trust and that can make the tough medical decisions. You should speak to the person that you want to designate as your patient advocate to make sure they are willing to make these decisions for you. They will need to agree and sign an acceptance of the PAD. You should also appoint a successor patient advocate in case your first choice is unable or unwilling to fulfill the duties.

First, your patient advocate must accept and agree to the terms of your designation by signing an acceptance. Secondly, you must be unable to make your own medical treatment decisions before it is effective, which will be determined by your attending physician and another physician or licensed psychologist.

Your patient advocate has a duty to act in your best interest and has the following authority, rights, responsibilities, and limitations:

A patient advocate shall act in accordance with the standards of care applicable to fiduciaries in exercising his or her powers.
A patient advocate shall take reasonable steps to follow the desires, instructions, or guidelines given by the patient while the patient was able to participate in decisions regarding care, custody, medical treatment, or mental health treatment, as applicable, whether given orally or as written in the designation.
A patient advocate shall not exercise powers concerning the patient’s care, custody, and medical or mental health treatment that the patient, if the patient were able to participate in the decision, could not have exercised on his or her own behalf.
The designation cannot be used to make a medical treatment decision to withhold or withdraw treatment from a patient who is pregnant that would result in the pregnant patient’s death.
A patient advocate may make the decision to withhold or withdraw treatment that would allow a patient to die only if the patient has expressed in a clear and convincing manner that the patient advocate is authorized to make such a decision, and that the patient acknowledges that such a decision could or would allow the patient’s death.
A patient advocate may choose to have the patient placed under hospice care.
A patient advocate cannot delegate his or her powers to another individual without prior authorization by the patient.

You may revoke your PAD at any time and in any manner sufficient to communicate an intent to revoke.

Your PAD will be suspended when you regain the ability to participate in decisions regarding medical treatment or mental health treatment, as applicable. The suspension is effective if you can participate in those decisions. If it is again determined that you are unable to participate in decisions regarding medical treatment or mental health treatment, the patient advocate’s authority, rights, responsibilities, and limitations are again effective.

No. You will need a Durable Power of Attorney to appoint an Agent to take care of your bills and financial affairs.

Yes. Notary Publics can be found at a bank, county clerk’s office, UPS Store or other office supply stores.

Wills

To choose who will manage your estate (personal representative).
To decide who gets your assets and property.
To choose who will take care of your minor children.
To lower the potential for family disputes.
To choose who will get your property if you and your spouse own your property jointly and they predecease you.

If you do not have a Will your property will be distributed according to Michigan law, which may not be your wishes. Under Michigan law a surviving spouse may not receive the entire estate. If you have minor children and do not specify a guardian for them, the court will decide who cares for your children.

Anyone who is 18 years of age or older and has sufficient mental capacity. A person has sufficient mental capacity if: they can understand they are providing for the disposition of their property after death; they have the ability to know the nature and extent of their property; they know the natural objects of their bounty (children and descendants), and if they have the ability to understand in a reasonable manner the general nature and effect of signing the will.

A fiduciary is a person or organization that acts on behalf of another person. The person you appoint as your Personal Representative is a fiduciary. The person appointed as a guardian and/or a conservator for your minor children are also fiduciaries.

The PR will be responsible for inventorying assets, paying debts, taxes, and administrative expenses out of your assets. They will also file tax returns and distribute your property as directed in your Will.

You may choose anyone who is 18 years of age or older or an institution to be your PR. You will want someone that is organized and trustworthy. You should speak to the person that you want to designate as your PR prior to appointing them in your Will. You should also appoint a successor PR in case your first choice is unable or unwilling to act.

Yes, MI Easy Forms can provide basic legal documents that most people are able to use without getting into complicated matters.

This Will contains basic provisions that will meet most people’s needs and will allow you to appoint a PR and successor, each of whom will act alone in fulfilling their duties.

If your estate planning needs are extensive or complicated, you should contact an attorney or schedule a consultation at MI Easy Forms.

You will have the option to leave your home or other real property to your spouse if they survive you, to your children if they survive you, or to other individuals. If you will be leaving your home or other real property to more than one person, you will have the option to leave it as tenants in common or joint tenants with full rights of survivorship.

If you choose to leave your home or real property to more than one person as tenants in common, if one of them predeceases the other then their share would go to their descendants. If you choose joint tenants with full rights of survivorship, if one of them predeceases the other, then their share will go to the other joint owner(s).

Yes, you may name a guardian and/or conservator in your Will for your minor children.

You will have the option to appoint one person to act as guardian at a time. You will also have the option to appoint a successor guardian in case your first choice is unable or unwilling to be appointed. The other legal parent will take precedent over a guardian appointment, unless that parent predeceases you or their rights have been terminated.

You also have the option to appoint a conservator for your minor child(ren) and a successor. This person does not have to be the same person you designate as guardian or the other legal parent.

Tangible personal property includes personal property effects, furniture, household goods, vehicles, watercraft, and other tangible items. Tangible personal property does not include cash.

You will have the option to leave specific items to individuals on a separate sheet that will be attached to your Will (List of Specific Distributions of Tangible Personal Property.) You must date and sign this form after you have filled out each gift. You may change this list at any time by destroying it. You may also attach a new list to your Will.

You will have the following options:

To your spouse, and then your child(ren) if your spouse predeceases you.
To your spouse, and then someone other than your child(ren) if your spouse predeceases you.
To your children equally, and then to other individual(s) if your child(ren) does not survive you.
To someone other than your spouse or child(ren).

Your personal representative will decide on how the property will be divided if not everyone can agree on the division. The property should be divided as equal as possible.

Yes. If you want to leave specific amounts of cash to a loved one(s) you will have that option. If that individual(s) predeceases you the cash gift will lapse and remain in your estate to be distributed under the residue clause.

Yes. You may enter the charity and the amount you wish to give.

The residue is all your property that is left after your debts, expenses, taxes, and specific gifts have been paid and distributed.

If a devisee (person receiving property under the will) predeceases you, their share will go to their decedent’s “by right of representation”, unless otherwise specified in the will. The MI Easy Forms Will “by right of representation” option will leave the deceased portion to their descendants (in the Residue), but if more than one devisee predeceases you, then their portions would be divided equally between all descendants of the deceased devisees in the next generation.

If the options do not fit your wishes, you should contact an attorney or schedule a consultation at MI Easy Forms.

No. A will allows you to decide who will administer your estate and how your property will be distributed, along with the ability to appoint a guardian and/or conservator for your minor children. It can also be very useful in avoiding family conflict.

No, however a will that is notarized, known as a self-proved will, may be a deterrent to someone contesting your will. Notary publics may be found at your bank, county clerk’s office, UPS store, or other office supply stores.

The person making the Will is known as the testator. Anyone who is 18 years of age and competent may be a witness. Although the law does not invalidate a will that is signed by a beneficiary, it could be asserted that the beneficiary exerted undue influence over the testator if the will is contested. If possible, try to avoid using a beneficiary as a witness.

Your original Will should be placed or deposited in a safe place. You may file your Will with the Probate Court in the county where you reside for safe keeping. The current cost of filing for safe keeping is $25.00. Upon your death, your PR or any interested person may file a death certificate at the Probate Court and a file will be opened and the original Will kept with the court. You may also place your Will in a safety deposit box or other place for safe keeping. No matter where you place your Will, you should inform your personal representative(s) where they can locate it upon your death.

Yes. You may revoke your Will at any time. You may revoke your Will by a statement in a subsequent Will. You may also revoke it by performing a revocatory act, such as tearing, burning, canceling, or destroying the Will. If you gave copies of your Will to anyone, you should collect them to be destroyed along with the original. If you file your will with the probate court, you should withdraw it if you are revoking that will.

MI Easy Forms allows 30 days after your purchase to complete your Will and make any changes.

Don’t send your family to court

Take care of estate planning now

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