Serving Oakland County Families In-Person or via Secure Video
Strategic Estate Planning in Rochester, MI (2026)
Protect your home from the $12,000/mo nursing home trap. Choose a process that fits your life: Visit our private 312 East Street office or complete your Asset Shield™ entirely from home.
2026 Rochester Planning Brief
Choice of Convenience. Certainty of Protection.
In 2026, the Michigan probate threshold remains strictly at $53,000. Most Rochester homes and savings accounts exceed this limit, meaning without a trust, your family is guaranteed a trip to the Oakland County Probate Court.
Whether we meet in our dedicated private office in downtown Rochester (with on-site parking provided) or via our secure virtual platform, our team handles the complex 'Trust Funding' for you—ensuring your shield is active and your family is safe.
The Rutkowski Asset Shield
Don’t Just Draft a Will. Build a Shield.
Generalist lawyers hand you a binder. At Rutkowski Law Firm, we fund your trust for you. We move the assets at the bank so your Rochester home and life savings are actually protected when you need it most.
- Done-For-You Trust Funding :
- We don’t just give you papers; we move your assets for you to guarantee the shield works.
- Medicaid Look-Back Protection :
- Strategies specifically designed for Michigan’s 5-year look-back rules.
- Oakland County Probate Avoidance :
- Keep your family out of the public Rochester courts and save thousands in fees.
"Rutkowski Law Firm recently helped my family to get through the estate planning and Medicaid application process for our ill father. The process was efficient and moved quickly once we were ready to file the application. Gail was incredibly attentive and worked with us every step of the way to make sure we did not leave any stones unturned. We are incredibly grateful to her and their entire team for helping us through this process."
Protection At A Glance
Why a "Simple Will" is often a Rochester Probate Trap
In 2026, the Michigan "Small Estate" threshold is just $53,000. If your home and accounts exceed this—which most do in the Rochester area—your family will be forced into a public court process that averages 6–14 months.
Furthermore, a simple will offers zero protection against nursing home costs. Without an Asset Shield, Michigan’s 2026 divestment penalty divisor of $12,216 means a modest gift to your children today could disqualify you from care tomorrow.
We don't just hand you a binder. We perform the Trust Funding for you—moving your home and accounts into your trust so the "Shield" is actually active. This is how we've protected over $2 Billion in assets for Michigan families.
- Assets Protected
- $2B+
- MI Experience
- 13+ Yrs
The Reality of Waiting
Proactive Planning vs. Crisis Medicaid
In Michigan, the cost of 'waiting to see' is often the loss of the family home. Compare your options in the 2026 legal landscape.
Timeframe for Inheritance
Proactive Asset Shield: Weeks to a few months — smooth private process
Waiting for a Crisis: 6 months to 2+ years — stressful probate proceedings
Cost to Family
Proactive Asset Shield: Minimal legal costs with advance planning
Waiting for a Crisis: High court and attorney fees without a plan
Privacy
Proactive Asset Shield: Private — details remain with your family
Waiting for a Crisis: Public — probate filings open to everyone
Stress on Family
Proactive Asset Shield: Low — your wishes clearly documented
Waiting for a Crisis: High — confusion, conflict, and delays
Trusted by Over 450 Clients with a 4.9 Star Rating
This law firm was very helpful for the documents I requested I want to thank Gail Angie and Andrea for all there help. They were so helpful. I would recommend this firm.
I had a wonderful experience speaking with Chris. He was incredibly responsive and thorough in answering all of my questions and connecting me to the right team members. I also felt an immense sense of compassion and being understood in the challenge of navigating complicated issues. It was a wonderful experience.
Our Proven Process for Rochester Families
We've streamlined the legal process to be virtual-first and stress-free. From your Rochester living room to our finalized Shield.
Initial Discovery Consultation
- Meet with our team virtually or at our Woodward Ave office in Bloomfield Hills.
- Discuss your high-value assets and family goals in detail.
- Determine which Asset Shield™ plan best meets your specific tax and protection needs.
Design & Architecture Meeting
- Work with a Bloomfield Hills attorney to design a tax-efficient estate structure.
- Defuse tax bombs in your IRAs and ensure proper legal segmentation.
- Review documentation to ensure your plan is fortified against Michigan probate.
Professional Partnership Review
- Collaborate with your existing wealth managers and CPAs to align your legal and financial plans.
- Ensure estate tax portability is locked in for surviving spouses.
- Finalize the strategic funding plan to shield your accounts.
The Signing Ceremony
- Finalize your documents in our Bloomfield office or via our secure virtual signing process.
- Review every detail to ensure it matches your family’s vision.
- Execute your plan with a Michigan notary to make your protection legally binding.
Done-For-You Trust Funding
- We perform the heavy lifting. Our team funds your trust for you.
- We coordinate the retitling of your home and financial accounts with your institutions.
- Verify that your assets are officially inside the shield and out of harm’s way.
Annual Legacy Review
- We review your strategy every year to account for life changes and new legislation.
- Stay updated on changes to Federal Tax exemptions and Michigan Medicaid laws.
- Ensure all new assets are properly titled to keep your legacy out of probate court.
Rochester Estate Planning FAQ: 2026 Edition
Guiding the Firm, Protecting Families
Whether you need a will, trust, asset protection plan or are in need of medicaid crisis planning, our team is here to help! We are dedicated to providing you with the best legal representation possible. Call us today to book your consultation.
Meet the Whole Team
Estate Planning for Michigan Families
Don't leave your family with a useless binder.
Most firms hand you a template and expect you to do the work. We provide a Done-For-You process that handles Trust Funding and Asset Protection.
We specialize in protecting your home from the 5-Year Medicaid Look-Back, ensuring your house stays in your family and out of the state's hands. Plan now so you never become a burden to those you love.
For a Call Back: Pick a time for a quick, 15-minute phone call with our intake team. They will gather your basic details and schedule your strategy session with our Customer Success Director. No tech degree or legal preparation required.
Our Offices
Is your home the "anchor" holding up your family's inheritance?
Why real estate often causes the longest probate delays and how to bypass the bottleneck.
Founder / Attorney
The deed-transfer trap you might be walking into
Why adding your child’s name to your home title could create more problems than it solves.
Founder / Attorney
Is your estate plan built for the life you live today?
Why a calendar-based review is outdated—and the three questions that will tell you if your plan is actually working.
Founder / Attorney