Poor estate planning creates enormous headaches for Michigan families trying to sell inherited real estate. When a loved one passes without a clear plan, their heirs can spend months or even years navigating legal complications before they can sell the property. Understanding the most common estate planning mistakes can help you avoid these problems for your own family and give you insight into how to handle a complicated inherited property situation. If you are looking for help with estate planning in michigan real estate, this guide covers everything you need to know.
Mistake 1: No Will or Trust
When someone dies without a will in Michigan, their property passes according to state intestacy laws. This means the probate court decides who gets what, often in ways the deceased would not have wanted. The probate process for intestate estates is typically longer and more expensive. For properties in Detroit or other Michigan cities, this delay means months of property taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs piling up while the estate works through the courts.
Mistake 2: Outdated Beneficiary Designations
Life changes like marriage, divorce, and estrangement happen, but many people forget to update their estate documents accordingly. This can result in property going to an ex-spouse, a deceased beneficiary’s estate, or creating disputes among family members that must be resolved before the property can be sold.
Mistake 3: Multiple Heirs with No Agreement
When a property is left to multiple heirs, all parties must agree on what to do with it. If one sibling wants to keep the house and another wants to sell, the resulting conflict can drag on for years. This is especially problematic for inherited homes in areas like Grosse Pointe, Birmingham, and West Bloomfield where property values are higher and the financial stakes are greater.
How to Move Forward When Estate Planning Was Inadequate
If you have inherited a Michigan property and are dealing with any of these complications, the key is to get legal guidance and consider all your options. Once the estate sale process is cleared for the property to be sold, working with a cash buyer can eliminate many of the remaining obstacles. Offer Now Michigan works with estate attorneys, personal representatives, and families to make the sale of inherited properties as simple as possible.
We buy inherited properties in any condition across Michigan, from Macomb Township to Midland and everywhere in between. If you need help navigating the sale of an inherited property, call us at 810-425-5961. We also offer property cleanout services to help handle the physical side of estate settlement.