Michigan Probate Attorney
Michigan probate attorney Howard Linden has over 30 years of experience practicing probate law in Michigan. He is a lawyer’s lawyer and is regularly hired by other attorneys for expert witness services and for handling the probate side of their practice.
Mr. Linden's law firm is a state-wide practice and has worked with clients in every Michigan county. He is a frequent lecturer on Michigan probate practice and procedure and is a visiting professor at the University of Detroit Law School. His experience and reputation led to his involvement in the drafting of the current Michigan statutes and court rules for probate practice and procedure. He was recently interviewed by Practical Law:
For a free consultation with Michigan probate attorney Howard Linden, please call 1-800-956-1900 (toll-free) or call 248-358-4545 (Detroit-area phone number).
Michigan Probate Practice and Procedure
Michigan probate practice and procedure involves opening and administering a decedent’s (dead person’s) estate. When our law firm probates an estate, we take some or all of the following essential steps, depending on the nature of the estate:
- File the most recent Will with the probate court
- Petition the probate court for appointment of a Personal Representative
- Identify and inventory the decedent’s property
- Have the property appraised
- Collect money owed to the estate
- Pay debts and taxes
- File appropriate tax returns
- Identify the beneficiaries
- Locate the beneficiaries
- Distribute the remaining property as outlined in the will and other documents or through intestacy (where there is no will involved)
If there is a dispute, we litigate those matters. A good estate plan can make the probate process much easier and less likely to result in family conflict. Attorney Howard Linden is available for a free consultation regarding any Michigan probate or estate planning matter.
Wrongful Death Settlement and Distribution in Probate Court
When an attorney recovers compensation for a wrongful death, that money needs to be distributed to family members as outlined by the Michigan Wrongful Death Statue and case law. The settlement and distribution process of wrongful death claims in probate court are a frequent source of confusion and frustration for the attorneys who are hired to pursue compensation for the families because these attorneys usually practice exclusively in the areas of personal injury and wrongful death, not probate. Noncompliance with relevant statutes and court rules will delay and jeopardize the settlement and distribution process and could leave an attorney open to a malpractice claim.
Michigan probate attorney Howard Linden is regularly hired by wrongful death attorneys to handle the probate of Michigan wrongful death distributions. He has been prominently published in the Michigan Bar Journal in January 2006 with an article entitled, “Wrongful Death Settlements and Distributions in the Probate Court.”
For a free consultation with Michigan probate attorney Howard Linden, please call 1-800-956-1900 (toll-free) or call 248-358-4545 (Detroit-area phone number).