Estate Planning is Confusing
A GOOD GUIDE IS ALL YOU NEED
Estate planning today is all of those things. The options seem endless. Powers of attorney, living wills, living trusts, wills, deeds, advanced directives and beneficiary designations. Where do you even start?
Meet Sean O’Bryan
For almost 30 years, Sean has been guiding people through a simple, focused step-by-step process that protects his clients and their families.
Since beginning his practice in Michigan, Sean has personally handled over 7,000 separate legal matters. He has drafted over 3,000 trust agreements for local families, which will allow more than $1 billion dollars to pass to families without probate.
Don’t be intimidated. At the first meeting, we simply sit down and learn about your family, what your hope is for their future, and how your estate plan can play a role. We discuss the real estate and investments you have. Then we talk about who would be the best people to make decisions.
You attend a second appointment, usually 1 week to the day after the first, where you will review and sign your estate plan. Every good estate plan includes a way for your family to handle your affairs if you are ever unable to yourself, and a method to distribute your assets when you are gone
Relax, the heavy lifting is over. We last meet to present you with your completed plan, together with an organized portfolio of your entire estate. Estate is just a lawyer word for all of your stuff. Included will be simple, easy-to-follow instructions for anything life has in-store in the future. You’re done!
With nearly 30 years in practice, over 7,000 families around this area put their trust in Sean O’Bryan
The O'Bryan Law Firm in Davison, Michigan, has provided estate planning, trust drafting, probate, and estate settlement services to people in our area for over 30 years. Attorney Sean O'Bryan explains a little bit about our office and how we help families establish an easy-to-understand and functional estate plan for them.
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“We have a 3rd generation family farm. Sean O’Bryan took the time to explain what we needed, and put it in plain English. We feel like we have an attorney we can trust.”
— Mr. & Mrs. C., North Branch, Michigan
A little bit about us.
We are a small town law office located in downtown Davison, Michigan, specializing in Estate Planning, Elder Law, and Estate Administration.
Please use this site to learn more about our philosophy and how we strive to provide quality legal services to our clients. We believe that our office is a friendly, comfortable place to do business.
“What you and your family have worked hard for throughout the years is too important to be lost through needless taxes, unnecessary costs and family bickering.”
Be one of the families who takes the time to plan – and give yourself, and those you love peace of mind.
I am confident that we can assist your family with a level of satisfaction that too often doesn’t exist anymore these days. It is my hope that you choose this firm, and that I am your family lawyer for many years to come.
Sean O’Bryan
Click on each Question to expand
How Expensive is an Estate Plan?
There is no "one-size-fits-all" answer. That said, most of the estate plans we create involving a living trust agreement designed for your family that protects assets and avoids probate runs from $1950 to $2750. We quote a flat rate fee, and you are never charged by the hour. A plan utilizing a will instead of trust starts at $550.
How Long Does It Take?
We pride ourselves on using a 3 step planning process that is completed exactly 2 weeks after your first appointment. That means the plan is designed, drafted, signed and returned to you, along with all funding and deed work.
Does Everyone Need a Trust?
No. Whether your family needs a trust involves a series of questions about the make-up of both your assets and your family's dynamics. Many people are just as well served with a simplier, less expensive estate plan. But each situation is unique, and should be carefully reviewed.
Can’t I just deed my house to one child, and add her name to my bank account?
Sure. However, you are exposing yourself to countless potential problems, and your child to a capital gains tax on the house that could have been avoided completely with a simple living trust. Capital gains tax on real estate often is tens of thousands of dollars.
What about my retirement or 401k Plan?
You cannot transfer a tax deferred retirement account to anyone without triggering taxes. However, there are various options regarding changing the beneficiary. This is why it is very important to use an attorney who understands estate and tax law. The consequences to changing the title on assets (or leaving them as they are incorrectly) can be significant. A good estate planning lawyer knows how to maximize these options.
It’s Time to Plan.
Let Us Show You How.
