In-Focus | Published September 19, 2024
SOUTH LYON — Navigating probate can be a daunting task due to the complex process of legally settling an estate after someone passes away. Seeking professional legal advice is essential not only for a smooth and fair resolution but also to protect the rights and interests of all parties.
Attorney Julie A. Paquette and her colleagues, supervising attorney Nicole Laruwe and associate attorney Stacy DeShon, are experts who bring empathy and a personalized approach to each case. Although physically located in Southeast Michigan, they operate statewide and have handled cases in over 50 of Michigan’s 83 county probate courts.
Her practice also includes four paralegals and two administrative staff members.
“As a former social worker, it’s in my heart to help people,” Julie explained. “I enjoy guiding my clients through probate, assisting them with their estate planning and ensuring their affairs are in order. Putting ourselves in our clients’ shoes is one of our strengths, as we guide them through the process.”
She explained that in cases where one sibling serves as the trustee of their parents’ estate and fails to manage it properly, disputes can last for years.
Such was the scenario in one recent case where siblings, after enduring prolonged mismanagement, reached a breaking point and sought her help.
“Our objective is to minimize familial discord while protecting our clients’ rights,” Julie said, adding that she and her colleagues swiftly intervened, securing a court order to correct the trustee’s actions and recover misappropriated funds to ensure each of the siblings received their rightful shares.
“The court also ordered the estate to cover all legal fees due to the trustee’s misconduct,” she added. “Despite the evident strains, the resolution was a significant success because family relationships remained intact.”
Over the years, Julie has expanded her practice to include niche services like recovering dormant accounts.
“We reach out to potential heirs who are often unaware of their entitlements, ensuring these assets don’t simply revert to the government,” she explained. This aspect of her law firm’s work often involves educating and guiding clients through complex legal landscapes to secure what is rightfully theirs.
Julie emphasized the importance of seeking legal advice early in the probate process. Her firm offers free and confidential consultations.
“It’s about knowing your rights and options early on if you learn that you’re the beneficiary of an estate — even if you don’t suspect any wrongdoing — rather than waiting years down the line when it’s harder to reverse a decision,” she said. “Even if you’re the one in charge, as the trustee or executor, you should have an attorney represent you because you could inadvertently bring liability upon yourself.”
The Law Office of Julie A. Paquette is located at 415 S. Lafayette in South Lyon. To set up a no-cost consultation and learn how you can achieve your objectives and secure a better future for yourself and your family, call (248) 648-1148 or visit paquettelaw.com.