This is a review about my family's experiences with the Rutkowski Law Firm in regards to estate…read moreplanning. More specifically, the discussions around preparing and executing a trust. My wife and I recently became parents and we were thinking about what how we should protect our assets and what we should have in place to distribute them should, heaven forbid, something happens to us. We did some research and found that a trust is the best route to take because if we did a will, then it would have to go through a time-consuming and expensive probate process. We also discovered that a trust sets up directions for our financial institutions that saves time and money and it would ensure that the things we have would get in the hands of the people we love. Without a trust, then the state of Michigan would be the ones deciding who gets our assets and how much they would receive. We searched for law firms in the area and we eventually were referred by a friend to the Rutkowski Law Firm. So we called and set up an appointment and met with business owner and attorney, Mike Rutkowski. We were greeted by Office Manager, Coleen at the Bloomfield office and she was warm and friendly. She showed us to the board room where we would meet Mike and she explained that he would go over estate planning. She offered us some water or coffee, so we asked for water and she brought us a couple bottles of water. You can tell a lot about a business by the demeanor of its employees and Coleen was a happy person with a great attitude, so obviously we were in good hands. The law firm was extremely clean too, which means the employees obviously take pride in their work. Everyone was professional, polite and friendly. Mike walked in and greeted us by introducing himself and giving my wife and I a firm handshake with eye contact. We exchanged some small talk and eventually got down to business. We found that it was easy to relate to Mike because he was clearly a family man based on our small talk and family is most important to us. He reviewed the differences between a will and a trust and the importance of a trust and advised that it's a set of instructions for what to do with our assets should something happen to my wife and I. The following pieces would fall within the trust: 1) financial power of attorney, 2) healthcare power of attorney, 3) will, and 4) trust. He explained each of these four pieces in great detail so we could make an educated decision on who we wanted to designate for every piece and at what percentages, if applicable. Mike reviewed the estate planning questionnaire that he gave to us and explained each question and the importance of each answer. More specifically, he spoke to the why, which is extremely important to me-why we were having the meeting, why we were setting up a trust, etc. Then we discussed next steps and the next step was to have a conference call with Client Relations Manager, Trisha. Once we got the details of the trust ironed out with her, then would meet to review and sign the trust. We set up the time and date of the conference call with Coleen and we were on our way. Trisha and I talked on the phone for about fifteen minutes and she asked me who I wanted for each piece of the trust and who would receive our assets and at what percentages. She advised that she was going to e-mail my answers to me so I could verify that everything was correct and then we would set up a meeting to review and sign the trust. We ended up changing things several times via e-mail and she was patient and understanding with us, which we appreciated. Once everything was finalized, Coleen called me and we set up a meeting to review and sign the trust at the Rochester office. Once again Mike reviewed everything in great detail and spoke to the why. The meeting lasted about thirty minutes and one of the exciting aspects of the trust that he pointed out was that this trust could be used as a beneficiary on our investments. He said that financial advisers will try to tell us that that is not true, because that is the case with most trusts, but we would in fact be able to use this trust, executed by the Rutkowski Law Firm, as a beneficiary on our investments. It would be a contingent listed after my wife for me and after me for her. The key to Mike's success with us was his ability to demonstrate value. He demonstrated the value of working with the Rutkowski Law Firm and the value of having a trust. We could have piece of mind now that we knew that the Rutkowski Law Firm was going to take care of our family and make sure that important decisions would be made to our liking even after we were gone. It's a feeling of safety knowing that our family will receive what's owed to them.

utkowski Law Firm made estate planning feel completely manageable. They listened closely, explained…read moremy options without any pressure, and treated me with genuine care. Truly a great team to work with.

Jay was extremely professional and answered our many questions concerning our will and trusts.read more

Jay provided my husband and I with outstanding service in setting up our trust. Despite our tight…read moretimeline in getting something set up before our honeymoon, he managed to expedite the initial documentation without compromise of quality. His professionalism and consultancy were top-notch. I would recommend Jay for anyone seeking trustworthy and efficient trust services.

My wife and I recently worked with David Wakefield and his law office for our estate planning, and…read morewe couldn't be happier with the experience. From the moment we met David, he made us feel completely comfortable and at ease with a process that can otherwise feel overwhelming. He took the time to get to know us, understand our needs, and explain every detail in a way that was clear and easy to understand. What really stood out was how personable and genuine David is -- it truly felt like he cared about helping us make the best decisions for our family. We spoke with a few other attorneys before finding David, and honestly, none came close to his level of professionalism, patience, and warmth. If you're looking for someone who combines expertise with a personal touch, we can't recommend David Wakefield and his team highly enough. He made what could have been a stressful process feel simple, smooth, and even enjoyable.

Wakefield Law prepared our original estate planning documents some years ago and recently updated…read moreour documents. Connie, the attorney leading the updates, is knowledgeable and efficient with respect to understanding the clients situation and updating the documents accordingly. She is also down-to-earth to interface with and will make the effort to research topics if they are unique or more complicated. Also, Amy the paralegal was professional and efficient in assisting with the signing, processing and issuing of the final documents. We will be comfortable continuing to work with Wakefield Law in the future. - Kevin T.

Mr. Howard Collens created the estate plan for our family of three generations…read more It addresses the needs of every single family member in a caring and fair way . It will help to avoid the disagreements , that might come with aging, family problems etc. Working with Mr. Collens was not only educational, but also very pleasant due to feeling of sincere caring for our family.

As an older adult, I was in need of getting my papers in order and making sure my family wouldn't…read morehave to deal with more than they had to, if/when it came time for legal work. I am so grateful for the kindness, patience, and expertise I found with Mr. Collens and his staff. From the moment I phoned for an appointment, I felt visible and cared about. His assistants were friendly and knowledgeable and I received a quick follow up when I had a question or concern. I'm so glad to have found Collens Estate Law and would highly recommend.

Attorney Cozart was extremely helpful and informative in assisting my mother with her estate…read moreplanning. No question went unanswered. He explained things in a way that was easy to understand and that helped to give us peace of mind during the process. The service he provided for us was also very reasonably priced, which was important since we're a family of modest means. I would recommend Attorney Cozart to anyone who is looking for estate planning services.

From the owner: Steven G. Cozart I help clients protect the people they love…read moreand preserve what has taken a lifetime to earn. We don't offer any services pertaining to Probate. It is important to make sure you prepare for the future. You want to make your family's lives easier after your passing, which requires careful estate planning. Creating a solid estate plan isn't necessarily easy for many individuals, and as such, it can be beneficial to work with a qualified attorney. Wills and trusts are incredibly important documents. Make sure that they're created correctly by working with a qualified will or trust attorney. Cozart Law Office is here to assist clients throughout the Troy, MI area. I am an attorney with over 25 years of experience that aims to provide you with reliable legal guidance.

The law firm of Julie A Paquette, PLC was so repectful of my needs after the passing of my husband…read more My attorney was very informative on what needed to be done. Not only did we go over my will and trust, power of attorney and so much more. After several meetings, I felt confident that I had no worries for my children. The staff also was very respectful and answered all my questions. Awesome Law Firm!!!!!!

Horrible experience. They worked for my deceased mother's estate for 2 years, then quit. For the…read morefinal 1 year, we had no updates, nor any progress. Nicole Laruwe was contacted by me during the final year, on 5/25/23, 1/25/23, and 2/7/23, asking for simple updates. Each time, she'd responded via email saying she would get back to me. Never did. Then she quit a few weeks later, and billed the PR tens of thousands of dollars. When I asked for a copy of total bill on 6/15/24, she refused and stated she already gave it to another sibling. I then wrote to Julie Paquette, who also refused and suggested I contact another lawyer to obtain the details of their undisclosed bill. Never met these humans in person, but clearly a law firm whose professionalism and kindness needs some work. Hopefull they can grow to realize that deceased famiiy estates are very sensitive issues, and empathy and mutual respect from day 1 is important, which was never noted by the majority of our family.

I have been putting off my Estate Planning for quite some time, but with the prodding of friends…read moreand relatives, I found the perfect place to finally take care of this task. Matt Haupt was recommended by one of my nieces to assist with my needs, and he was great. Matt is very personable, energetic and knowledgeable in this area. He made the entire process very easy and comfortable to complete. I would highly recommend Beier Howlett for any of your Estate Planning. Sincerely Joan Parski

From the owner: Beier Howlett is a full service law firm serving businesses of all sizes, individuals,…read moremunicipalities and school districts. For over 115 years Beier Howlett has served its clients with care, compassion, skill and expertise. Focusing on each client's individual needs has enabled the Firm to effectively meet and often exceed client expectations. Our lawyers and staff work hard to get to know our clients and understand their needs and goals. We are successful only if our clients are successful.

I found Bryan Yaldou when I had trouble getting paid during a labor dispute at work. That case took…read moresome time. while that case was in process the company closed. I was out of a job. While talking with Bryan one day ( he always made me feel at ease) I'd told him I'd most likely be filing for bankruptcy. That's when I found out that he also was a bankruptcy attorney. I had no clue about bankruptcy but Bryan and Leanna Sikes explained the process and with their expert assistance I made it. Bryan told me if I had a problem not to worry just call him and he'd take care of whatever it was, and he always did. If you have a need of any services that this office offers do yourself a favor and call them. They are very professional people and extremely knowledgeable and will always be available to help you. They are the best in the business and I couldn't be happier with all of the assistance I have been given.

From the owner: The Law Offices of Bryan Yaldou is based in Brownstown, Michigan. We serve Southeast Michigan --…read moreincluding the entire Downriver area -- and handle some matters statewide. Our attorneys provide insightful consultations to folks who have questions about a variety of civil law issues. We offer you the chance to consult with a lawyer -- without cost to you -- and learn what potential legal remedies may be available to you. We're a locally operated practice, and we work hard to represent all of our clients' interests. You can ask for our guidance if you're trying to handle: a personal injury claim or wrongful death suit, the details of a will, estate, or trust, bankruptcy proceedings and employment law issues such unpaid wages or overtime, including legal help for tipped workers who are underpaid.

I highly recommend Andrew Byers! I started working with Andrew in late 2019. I needed to have a…read morelawyer review my elderly mother's will and unfortunately I live out of state. Andrew was very accommodating to my mother and very helpful in the process. Since then, he's my go-to for any legal issues for my mother. I've found his work to be extremely thorough and timely. I believe his prices are also fair, particularly given the high quality of his work. He usually gives me an accurate price up front and his fees are never excessive. I give Andrew my highest recommendation.

Upon the passing of my brother, Andrew Byers gave excellent legal services and advice to my father…read moreand I in handling my brother's estate. Andrew coordinated with the Michigan Probate Court, obtained the necessary Letter of Authorization (including a required extension) for my father and I to be representatives of the estate, and gave valuable advice on how to address all outstanding issues such as selling of assets, paying off debts, taxes, and finally closing of the estate. My father and I had a great experience working with Mr. Byers and highly recommend him to anyone in need of medical, financial and estate legal services.