Presque Isle County Probate and Trust Administration Lawyer

Administering an estate or trust is more than a checklist. It’s a significant legal responsibility. If you’ve been named as a personal representative, executor, or trustee, you may feel honored but also overwhelmed. At Carig Law, we help people throughout the Presque Isle County area deal with probate and trust administration with clarity and confidence. Our lawyer will guide you through each step, look for ways to reduce risk, and help you fulfill your duties correctly under Michigan law.

Call (989) 623-7592 or contact us online today.

Avoiding Personal Liability as a Trustee or Executor

Serving as a trustee or executor entails fiduciary duties, and mistakes can expose you to personal liability. Fiduciaries are legally required to act in the best interests of beneficiaries, manage assets prudently, avoid conflicts of interest, and follow the exact terms of the will or trust. When those duties are breached, even unintentionally, beneficiaries may be able to pursue legal action.

Common risk areas include: 

• Failing to properly notify beneficiaries
• Mismanaging investments
• Paying creditors in the wrong order
• Distributing assets too early
• Keeping inadequate records

Even something as simple as commingling estate funds with personal accounts can create serious legal exposure. What begins as an effort to “handle things yourself” can quickly become stressful and costly if disputes arise.

This is where experienced legal guidance comes in. With over 20 years of experience, our lawyer works closely with executors and trustees to ensure that all legal requirements are met. We help you understand deadlines, prepare required court filings, manage creditor claims, interpret trust provisions, and carefully document every decision. 

Legal counsel also provides an important buffer. When beneficiaries have concerns or disagreements, we can communicate on your behalf, keeping discussions professional and grounded in the governing documents and applicable law. That layer of representation often prevents misunderstandings from escalating into litigation.

Probate and trust administration frequently intersect with estate planning considerations. Questions may arise about asset titling, tax implications, or long-term trust management. Having guidance that reflects both technical knowledge and a broader understanding of estate planning means decisions today don’t have to create complications tomorrow.

We work to make complex legal issues easier to understand and resolve, so you never feel left guessing about your responsibilities or next steps. Administration should be thorough and compliant, yet manageable.