Business Details
Your Trusted Partner for Estate Planning Solutions
John A McDermott has been dedicated to providing comprehensive legal solutions in estate planning, probate, and elder law since 1997. Our founder, Attorney Leigh A. Beauchamp, brings decades of experience and a client-centered approach to every case, prioritizing clarity, empathy, and personalized guidance. With a focus on empowering clients to navigate life's complexities, we specialize in crafting tailored strategies to protect assets, ensure healthcare directives, and streamline estate transitions.Our practice is rooted in deep local knowledge of Michigan's legal landscape and a commitment to ethical, transparent representation. By combining technical expertise with compassionate support, we help families achieve peace of mind through meticulously designed legal frameworks.
Services
Estate Planning
Probate
Trust Administration
Wills & Trusts
Powers of Attorney
Special Needs Planning
Deeds
Highlights and features
- We offer over 25 years of experience in Michigan estate law.
- Our practice focuses exclusively on estate planning and elder law.
- We provide transparent flat-fee billing for estate planning services.
- Our attorney holds dual State Bar specializations in relevant fields.
- We serve clients across Michigan with localized legal expertise.
Associations and certifications
- State Bar of Michigan - Elder Law and Disability Rights
- State Bar of Michigan - Probate and Estate Planning
Services
Estate Planning
Estate planning creates comprehensive frameworks to manage assets during life and distribute them after death. Our process identifies client-specific goals, drafts customized documents like wills and trusts, and ensures legal compliance. We focus on minimizing probate complexities while protecting beneficiaries through healthcare directives and durable powers of attorney.
Probate
Probate services guide executors through court-supervised estate settlement. We handle document filing, asset inventory, debt resolution, and final distributions. Our expertise streamlines complex probate processes while ensuring adherence to Michigan statutes, representing clients in contested matters when necessary.
Trust Administration
Trust administration involves executing trustee responsibilities including asset management, beneficiary notifications, and tax compliance. We provide step-by-step guidance for trust funding, distribution schedules, and legal reporting requirements, ensuring fiduciary obligations are met with precision.
Wills & Trusts
Wills and trusts establish legally binding instructions for asset distribution. We draft revocable and irrevocable trusts tailored to tax strategies, along with holographic and formal wills. Our approach ensures documents reflect current circumstances while remaining adaptable to life changes.
Powers of Attorney
Powers of attorney designate decision-makers for financial and healthcare matters during incapacity. We create durable documents compliant with state regulations, covering medical directives and property management to maintain client autonomy through unexpected circumstances.
People
Leigh A. Beauchamp
Attorney
Leigh A. Beauchamp has practiced Michigan estate law since 1997, transitioning from corporate law to specialize in estate planning and elder law. She graduated from Wayne State University Law School and serves Washtenaw County clients with personalized legal strategies.
Questions
What estate planning documents do I need?
Essential documents include wills, trusts, financial powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. We customize these tools based on your asset portfolio, family structure, and long-term objectives during our initial consultation.
How does probate work in Michigan?
Michigan probate validates wills and oversees estate distribution through court supervision. Our process identifies the simplest pathway, handles filings, creditor notifications, and ensures proper asset transfer while representing your interests in contested matters.
What are the costs for estate planning services?
Estate plans use flat-fee billing determined by complexity factors like asset types and beneficiary circumstances. Probate and trust administration services are billed hourly. We provide detailed cost estimates after your initial consultation.
Do you offer virtual consultations?
Yes, we conduct intake meetings via phone or video conferencing. Document reviews and final signings typically require in-person appointments but may be arranged remotely when necessary with proper verification.
What areas do you serve?
While based in Chelsea, Michigan, we serve clients statewide including Washtenaw, Wayne, Oakland, and Livingston counties. Our practice accommodates local needs while handling complex cases across Michigan's legal jurisdictions.
