Michigan Trust

Your planning conversation

The questions we’ll ask.
The people you’ll cover.
The plan we’ll design.

This is where our education about you begins. So, tell us your story and we’ll have some basic questions about the makeup of your immediate family.
You don’t need all the answers before we talk.

Here’s what we’ll talk through.

A preview of the conversation, not another form to complete.

Your family. Start with the real story.

  • Who are your children, including children from an earlier relationship?
  • Does anyone rely on you for housing, care, or financial support?
  • Who needs protection, extra help, or a different arrangement?

Who can do the job?

  • Who can keep up with bills, records, deadlines, and institutions?
  • Who can make a hard medical decision and follow your wishes?
  • Who is your second choice? Your third?

Who gets what—and when?

  • Should an inheritance go outright or stay under someone’s management?
  • What should the money be available for before a final distribution?
  • If a beneficiary dies first, who should receive that share?

Who speaks for you when you can’t?

  • Who understands your values and can stand up for your wishes?
  • Would you want treatment continued long enough to confirm your condition?
  • What matters most to you about comfort, awareness, and the chance of recovery?

What do you own—and how is it held?

  • Whose names are on the house, accounts, and business records?
  • Who is named on the current retirement and life-insurance beneficiary forms?
  • Who should receive an asset, and who should run it?

Where could a standard plan miss your family?

  • Would anyone be harmed by receiving money outright?
  • Should a helper be allowed to make gifts or change beneficiary instructions?
  • Are there prior agreements, business restrictions, or family conflicts we need to read?

People, with different jobs

A role is a responsibility.

One person can fill several roles.
Different roles do not automatically share the same powers.

Beneficiary

The person or organization receiving the inheritance.

The work
A beneficiary may receive money outright or benefit from property that a trustee continues to manage. Being named to receive a share does not give that person control of the whole plan.
Before you choose
Decide whether they can safely receive it outright. Tell us about age, financial judgment, disability, or public benefits before choosing the form of the gift.

Trustee / successor trustee

The person doing the work of managing the trust.

The work
The trustee controls trust property under your instructions: keeping records, handling expenses and investments, and making the distributions the trust permits. A successor takes over when the trust calls for it.
Before you choose
Choose someone organized and willing to do the work. A good trustee can hire qualified help, but still has to supervise it and account for the decisions.

Financial agent

The person who can handle the financial work you authorize.

The work
During your lifetime, this person may need to pay the mortgage, deal with insurance, manage accounts, and keep your finances running. The power of attorney defines the authority and when it starts. It ends at death.
Before you choose
Choose someone trustworthy with bills and records. Discuss which major powers they should have, especially gifts, beneficiary changes, and transactions that could benefit the agent.

Patient advocate

The adult you trust to follow your medical wishes.

The work
When you cannot participate in treatment decisions and the required determination is made, your patient advocate can exercise the healthcare powers you granted. That is a different job from paying bills.
Before you choose
Choose someone who can ask the medical team hard questions and hold to your wishes under pressure. Talk with them about treatment, recovery, and comfort before they face a crisis.

Personal representative

The person responsible for administering your probate estate.

The work
After death and the required appointment, this person gathers probate assets, handles the estate’s obligations, and distributes what remains under the will and applicable law. A trust may have a different person doing the trust work.
Before you choose
Look for follow-through: deadlines, records, communication, and the ability to get professional help when needed. Being a beneficiary is not the same as taking on this job.

Guardian for a minor child

The person you want providing the home and daily care.

The work
Think about where your children would live, their school, siblings, values, routines, and support system. We’ll document your nomination and review how it takes effect in your circumstances.
Before you choose
Ask whether the person is willing and practically able to raise your children. The person with the right home may be different from the trustee managing the money for their support.
Two additional roles, if your plan needs them

Conservator: a person appointed through a court process to manage protected property or finances. Different from a guardian’s care role or a privately appointed financial agent.

Trust director: a person given specific decision powers under a directed trust. The trust defines those powers separately from the trustee’s duties. Many plans do not need this role.

Fictional example · not a client plan

Your plan at a glance.

Here is how the answers can come together.

Your people
Jordan is the financial agent. Riley is the patient advocate. Casey is the successor trustee. Each has a named backup.
Your wishes
The children are beneficiaries. Casey manages their inheritance under the trust’s instructions. Morgan is the nominated guardian while they are minors.
Your review
We check names, roles, backups, shares, timing, and special instructions together before you approve the drafts.
Your next step
Confirm the signing arrangements and the asset tasks. We identify what is finished and what still needs follow-through.

Receiving an inheritance and managing it are different jobs. A guardian nomination does not, by itself, complete an appointment.

A few things people ask.

Do I need every answer before we meet?

No. Bring your best starting point. “I’m not sure” and “explain the difference” are useful answers. We help you work through the choices.

Can the same person have more than one role?

Often, yes. Choose based on ability and willingness, not a need to spread titles around. Each role has its own authority and duties. We check suitability and any restrictions.

Should I name all my children together?

Not automatically. Shared authority can add coordination or disagreement. We discuss one person with backups, joint decision-making, or independent authority where available.

What if nobody feels like the right choice?

Tell us. We can discuss an appropriate professional or corporate option, its availability, responsibilities, and fees. Do not name someone simply because you feel obligated.

Should I ask the people I want to name?

Yes. Talk about the work and confirm willingness. Include backups. A good personal relationship does not always mean someone has the time or skills for a particular role.

Can I change my mind?

Tell us before signing and we can revise the draft. After signing, the ability and process to change a choice depend on the document, your authority, and the law. Contact us rather than handwriting a change.

Does filling out a questionnaire finish my plan?

No. Information gathering is followed by advice, drafting, review, proper signing, and any needed ownership or beneficiary changes. We explain what remains at each stage.

Where should I put personal records?

Use the secure client process we provide. This preview does not collect or save answers. Keep account numbers, IDs, and private medical records out of public inquiries.

Michigan sources and scope

This is a conversation guide. Authority depends on the document, its effective conditions, applicable law, and any required appointment. Not every question or role applies to every client.

General education. Updated October 21, 2026. We apply these choices to your circumstances in our planning conversation.

Bring your questions. We’ll bring ours.

You bring the story. We help you turn it into clear decisions.

Let’s talk about your plan ↗Explore the optional focused planning day ↗