Business Details
19 Years
experience
Estate Planning & Elder Law Services in Grand Rapids
Lichterman Law, has dedicated his practice to empowering families and individuals through comprehensive legal planning. With expertise in estate planning, elder law, Medicaid qualification, and firearm trusts, we prioritize personalized solutions that reflect each client's unique values and legacy. Our approach combines decades of legal experience with a deep understanding of evolving regulations, ensuring clients maintain control over their assets, loved ones, and future.We emphasize transparent communication, meticulous documentation, and proactive strategies to protect clients from financial risks, probate complexities, and elder abuse. By fostering lifelong relationships, we guide clients through critical decisions, from business succession planning to special needs trusts, while upholding the highest standards of professionalism and ethical practice.
Services
Estate Planning
Medicaid Qualification
Gun Trusts
Special Needs Trusts
Elder Law
Probate Administration
Business Succession Planning
ABLE Accounts
Asset Protection
Charitable Planning
Details
- Year established: 2007
Highlights and features
- We offer 15+ years of experience in estate and elder law with a focus on Michigan-specific regulations.
- Our team provides personalized Medicaid planning to protect assets while ensuring care access.
- We specialize in firearm trusts to ensure legal compliance and multi-user access.
- Our Whole Family Wealth approach prioritizes values-based legacy planning beyond financial assets.
- We guarantee transparent communication and meticulous documentation of all trust assets.
Services
Estate Planning
Our estate planning services create legally sound frameworks to protect assets and ensure client wishes are honored. We draft customized wills, trusts, and advanced directives while addressing tax implications and family dynamics. By emphasizing comprehensive documentation and regular updates, we help clients maintain control over financial decisions, healthcare preferences, and property distribution. Our approach ensures seamless transitions during incapacity or after death, minimizing probate challenges and preserving wealth for future generations.
Medicaid Planning
We specialize in Medicaid eligibility strategies that protect assets while securing access to necessary care. Our planning addresses countable asset limits, penalty periods, and spousal protections through trusts and legal exemptions. By analyzing income streams and healthcare needs, we develop compliant pathways to qualify for benefits without impoverishment. Our guidance includes application assistance and ongoing compliance management to maintain eligibility while preserving quality of life.
Gun Trusts
Our firearm trust services ensure legal ownership and transfer of NFA-regulated items like silencers and short-barreled rifles. We structure trusts to allow multiple authorized users while complying with ATF regulations. The process includes tax stamp applications, trustee coordination, and documentation updates under Rule 41F. Clients receive step-by-step guidance for establishing trusts that protect Second Amendment rights and facilitate smooth succession planning for firearm collections.
Special Needs Trusts
We design special needs trusts to safeguard government benefits while providing supplemental financial support. Our trusts exceed ABLE account limitations by allowing unlimited contributions and avoiding Medicaid payback requirements. By specifying usage parameters for education, healthcare, and living expenses, we ensure beneficiaries maintain eligibility for SSI and Medicaid while enhancing their quality of life through protected assets.
Probate Administration
Our probate services guide executors through asset inventory, debt settlement, and distribution processes. We emphasize trust administration best practices, including tax compliance, beneficiary communication, and fiduciary duty fulfillment. By maintaining meticulous records and leveraging professional networks, we streamline estate closure while minimizing disputes. Our guidance helps trustees navigate complex responsibilities from tax filings to final distributions.
People
Michael Lichterman
Attorney & Counselor at Law
Michael Lichterman is a Michigan-based estate planning attorney with 15+ years of experience. He specializes in elder law, Medicaid planning, and firearm trusts. A Thomas M. Cooley Law School graduate, he focuses on Whole Family Wealth strategies while serving on legal advisory boards and receiving Super Lawyers recognition.
Questions
What estate planning documents are essential for Michigan families?
Every family needs a revocable living trust, durable power of attorney, healthcare directives, and firearm trust if applicable. These documents ensure asset protection, medical decision-making authority, and smooth succession planning under Michigan law.
How can I protect assets while qualifying for Medicaid?
We use irrevocable trusts, asset conversions, and strategic gifting within 5-year lookback periods to restructure countable assets below $2,000 while maintaining quality care access through Medicaid programs.
Why do I need a gun trust for NFA items?
Gun trusts allow multiple authorized users, avoid probate delays, and ensure legal compliance when transferring regulated firearms. They also simplify succession planning for firearm collections under ATF Rule 41F requirements.
What happens if I don't update my estate plan?
Outdated plans risk asset distribution conflicts, probate delays, and loss of tax benefits. Life changes like marriages, births, or moves require document revisions to maintain legal validity and reflect current wishes.
How do ABLE accounts differ from special needs trusts?
ABLE accounts have $100,000 limits and Medicaid payback requirements, while special needs trusts offer unlimited contributions, flexible investment options, and full control over asset distribution for disabled beneficiaries.
