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Strobl PLLC

Strobl PLLC

Business and Corporate Law Firm

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(248) 540-2300

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    • Henry J. Andries, Jr.

      Henry J. Andries, Jr.

      Member

      Phone: 248.205.2710

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Healthcare Law, Labor & Employment, Litigation, Real Estate, Tax

      Experience

      Since 1995, Henry J. Andries, Jr. has engaged in private practice with a concentration in employment law, complex civil litigation...

    • Lynn M. Brimer

      Lynn M. Brimer

      Member

      Phone: 248.205.2772

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Banking & Financial Services, Bankruptcy & Creditor's Rights, Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Litigation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Non-Profit Law, Real Estate, Tax

      Experience
      • Assist taxpayers with representation before the internal Revenue Service, the State of Michigan Department of Treasury and other taxing authorities...
    • Anthony Cimini

      Anthony Cimini

      Associate

      Phone: 248.205.2764

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      Practice Areas

      Banking & Financial Services, Bankruptcy & Creditor's Rights, Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Litigation, Real Estate

      Experience
      • Assists distressed businesses in Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings, with expertise in Subchapter V bankruptcy filings, including prefiling negotiations, preparing first...
    • Jon P. Everly

      Jon P. Everly

      Managing Member

      Phone: 248.205.2759

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Estate & Succession Planning, Non-Profit Law, Real Estate, Tax

      Experience
      • Advises closely held businesses and their owners in a broad range of legal matters, including formation, taxation, succession planning, and...
    • Michael L. Geller

      Michael L. Geller

      Member

      Phone: 248.205.2770

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Healthcare Law, Labor & Employment, Litigation, Real Estate

      Experience
      • Advises and assists clients in the creation and structuring of their business entities.
      • Regularly counsels clients relative to employment issues that...
    • Paul M. Kavanaugh

      Paul M. Kavanaugh

      Member

      Phone: 248.205.2711

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Banking & Financial Services, Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Healthcare Law, Labor & Employment, Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate

      Experience

      In his more than 30 years of practicing law, he has helped businesses protect their financial and intellectual property, minimize...

    • Jay R. LaBarge

      Jay R. LaBarge

      Member

      Phone: 248.205.2778

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Banking & Financial Services, Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Estate & Succession Planning, Healthcare Law, Mergers & Acquisitions, Non-Profit Law, Real Estate, Tax

      Experience
      • Advises clients on a full range of real estate matters, including drafting and negotiating purchase agreements and residential, commercial and...
    • Randi LaFave

      Randi LaFave

      Associate

      Phone: 248.205.2712

      Office: Bloomfield Hills

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      Practice Areas

      Banking & Financial Services, Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Estate & Succession Planning, Labor & Employment, Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate, Tax

      Experience
      • Counsels start-ups and growing companies on fundraising, including preparation of private placement memorandums
      • Works with clients to uncover and resolve bank...
    • Brian J. McCullough

      Brian J. McCullough

      Member

      Phone: 248.205.2715

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Estate & Succession Planning, Healthcare Law, Real Estate

      Experience
      • All legal aspects pertaining to healthcare providers, including licensing, certification issues, survey and compliance issues, Medicare, Medicaid and other insurance-related...
    • Pamela S. Ritter

      Pamela S. Ritter

      Member

      Phone: 248.205.2765

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Banking & Financial Services, Bankruptcy & Creditor's Rights, Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Litigation, Real Estate

      Experience
      • Counsel to lenders in a range of loan origination transactions, including commercial and industrial loan facilities, real estate and construction...
    • James A. Rocchio

      James A. Rocchio

      Of Counsel

      Phone: 248.205.2748

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Bankruptcy & Creditor's Rights, Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Estate & Succession Planning, Mergers & Acquisitions, Tax

      Experience

      Mr. Rocchio has deep expertise in the area of taxation. Over the course of his legal career, he has counseled...

    • Nelson B. Stieper

      Nelson B. Stieper

      Of Counsel

      Phone: 248.205.2742

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Estate & Succession Planning

      Experience
      • Performs probate and trust administration, revocable and irrevocable trusts, wills, special needs planning, gift planning, and asset protection
      • Advises on divorce,...
    • Thomas J. Strobl

      Thomas J. Strobl

      Member

      Phone: 248.205.2713

      Office: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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      Practice Areas

      Banking & Financial Services, Business Law, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Law, Labor & Employment, Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate, Tax

      Experience
      • Advises a broad spectrum of purchasers and sellers in merger and acquisition transactions involving primarily private companies.
      • Represents financial institutions and...
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When and How to Share the Details of your Estate Plan

February 8, 2021

Estate planning, a difficult but necessary process, provides you with the peace of mind that your loved ones will be provided for and your wishes will be upheld in the event of your death or incapacitation. Depending on the complexity of your situation, however, disclosing the details of an estate plan to your family can be a stressful prospect.

Most experts advise that giving your family a preview of relevant information concerning your last wishes benefits everyone. Initiating this discussion allows you the opportunity to provide context for your decisions and can also alleviate conflict down the road between your loved ones.

Here are some tips to ease that communication:

If possible, get input first. Before finalizing your estate plan, a discussion with your adult children and/or other main beneficiaries to get their input could save you time and money to make a revision down the road.  For example, if there is a piece of property that only 1 of your 3 children would like to inherit, you can work to balance any additional assets ahead of time to maintain an equal distribution.

Take it one step (or beneficiary) at a time. Once your estate plan has been finalized, begin the communication with your main beneficiaries by having one-on-one conversations about the relevant contents. If there are any strong objections, it’s often better to address them privately before bringing the discussion to a larger group.

Communicate who is in charge. Your personal representative, trustees and named powers of attorney should be informed of their responsibilities ahead of time so that they can become familiar with any legal and financial situations. However, it is often advisable to notify the rest of your beneficiaries of the identities of those who will be in charge in the event of your death or incapacitation. By simply voicing your trust in the decision makers you have chosen, many legal and emotional battles can be avoided in the future.

Prepare beneficiaries before discussions. If you have decided to gather all relevant parties together to present the details of your estate plan, it is better to prepare them ahead of time with the topic of conversation than to hit them with a surprise agenda. By communicating the benefits of a such a discussion, you will help to put them at ease and make the meeting more productive.

When it comes to sentimental possessions, consider allowing your beneficiaries to make their own choices. While most legal challenges concerning estates focus on finances, bitterness can also result from a perceived slight due to the distribution of sentimental objects. To avoid this, some families find it helpful to allow heirs to choose the specific items that mean the most to them in advance.

It’s not all about money. By communicating your choices regarding your end of life care, you give your fiduciaries and other family the peace of mind that these emotional decisions are being made in line with your wishes. This can be accomplished through a designation of patient advocate.

What were you thinking? In an ideal world, all assets and responsibilities would be distributed equally among your loved ones. If, however, there will be an unexpected discrepancy which you do not feel comfortable disclosing ahead of time, write a letter to those involved in your own hand to make it known that your decisions did not result from undue influence.  If you choose, you can also provide the reasons behind your final wishes which may provide some peace for those affected by them.

Communicate additional information with a letter of intent. Providing, in advance, the location of passwords, combinations to safes, insurance policies and vehicle titles, instructions for digital assets, and information regarding monthly bills can save your loved ones heartache and frustration during an emotional time.

Set up a revocable trust with an attorney or advisor as the trustee. If you anticipate strife among your beneficiaries, it is best to take legal steps that protect the carrying out of your final wishes from legal interference. A revocable trust, established by an estate planning attorney, is the most effective way to do this. In some situations, it can also be better to assign power positions to independent professionals instead of choosing one family member over another.

Get help from a professional. The decision to be candid concerning the contents of your estate plan is a personal one and depends on the specifics of your unique family dynamics. If you are unsure about how to handle this communication, it is always best to consult with an estate planning attorney for professional advice.

Strobl is a team of experienced and trusted lawyers that can advise on all estate planning matters. For more information, visit Strobl online at www.stroblandsharp.com or on LinkedIn.

News beneficiary,  distribution,  estate plan,  heirs

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At Strobl PLLC, our attorneys are committed to your team. We collaborate with clients to share our expertise and guide them to success.

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