Sandra D Glazier P.C.

We work closely with our clients to help them address their individual estate planning goals. You've worked hard to accumulate an estate that you wish to protect and pass on to others, whether that be family, friends or to charity. We are here to counsel you on the options that may be available to help you achieve those goals so that you can make informed decisions and provide direction on the disposition of your estate in the hopes of minimizing family strife and disputes. Whether you have an estate that will be subjected to federal estate tax or not, we are here to help.

Specific Areas of Estate Planning include:

• Estate Planning
  • Preparation of Wills, Trusts, Designations of Patient Advocates, Living Wills, Designations of Funeral Representatives, Certificates of Trust, and Designations of Guardian for a Minor
  • Wealth Management/Trust Administration
  • Family Disputes
  • Mediation and Arbitration Services
  • Contested Wills, Trusts and other Probate Proceedings
  • Post-death Consulting Services

Administration of your estate plan may occur during a period of disability, upon the creation of an irrevocable trust or upon death. Sandra D. Glazier has represented personal representatives, trustees and agents under durable powers of attorney, guardians and conservators to help them navigate the fiduciary duties imposed once one accepts the responsibility to act in these important roles.  She has also advised interest parties and beneficiaries when they have concerns about their rights and whether they are getting the information they may be entitled to receive.

Because we handle drafting as well as litigating estate related issues, we are aware of the potential pitfalls in estate planning documents and statutes that may added to or overwrite terms contained in the estate planning documents.  We are also aware of issues that can occur when documents were improperly executed or otherwise have some claimed defect.  We have appeared in Probate Courts both on the side of requesting that a Court set aside as well as defend an attack against an estate plan.  

The administration of a Trust by a Successor Trustee, after the incapacity or death of the Grantor can provide various challenges as their duties cross an array of legal issues.  Using good and constant communication skills to help create a transparent administration can go a long way in administering a Trust and discharging the duties of a Trustee in an expedient, efficient and timely manner and may help to avoid delays that can be caused by conflicts. Some of the duties may include:

• Review and understand estate planning documents
• Immediately address funeral, burial and related expenses
• Confer with necessary legal, financial or tax advisors
• Address division or securing of personal effects
• Provide statutory notices to beneficiaries
• Comply with statutorily required claims publication
• Identify, accumulate and secure all Trust assets
• Timely address any individual or Trust liabilities
• Comply with tax filing requirements.

Sandra D. Glazier regularly writes for nationally recognized legal publications and presents at national estate planning conferences on issues relating to estate planning and estate and trust administration and has chaired committees at national, state and local bar associations.

Sandra D. Glazier has represented parties in some of the largest probate litigation matters in Michigan. She is known for her expertise in this very specialized area of law. She has handled contests over estate planning documents for proponents and challengers of estate planning instruments and is one of the authors of the ABA's book on Undue Influence and Vulnerable Adults. She has represented fiduciaries as well as beneficiaries with regard to claims of breach of fiduciary duty.

There are a myriad of legal issues involved as a result of estate planning, statutes and Court Rules regarding Probate Litigation. Having someone like Sandra D. Glazier in your corner can help navigate those issues.

Sandra D. Glazier is an AV rated attorney, who has been recognized as a Super Lawyer and Leading Lawyer in the area of Probate Litigation.  She frequently writes for LISI (a nationally recognized legal publication) on appellate decisions implicating Michigan probate and estate planning issues.

Some of the areas that may be entailed in probate litigation include:

• Will Contests
• Contests regarding Fiduciary Appointments
• Trust Contests
• Fiduciary Claims
• Trust Reformation
• Financial Elder Abuse
• Beneficiary Claims
• Undue Influence Claims

Sandra D. Glazier understands that family law issues can be among the most stressful one may encounter, which is why she strives to provide the personal attention you desire and deserve.  She has handled a myriad of complex family law related issues, including issues relating to addressing and valuation of closely held business interests, tax consequences, custody, parenting time, change of domicile, support, and separate property. She also understands that there may be additional issues that require attention when children with special needs are involved.

She has drafted and addressed the enforceability of premarital and other marital property agreements. She has also addressed cohabitation agreements for unmarried couples who want to address how assets they bring with or accumulate during their relationship will be handled in the event the relationship dissolves.

While Sandra strives to facilitate a prompt and amicable resolution of family law issues, she is also prepared to vigorously advocate on behalf of clients, when and as necessary.  She represents clients in all phases of domestic proceedings, ranging from mediation, arbitration, Friend of the Court hearings, evidentiary hearings and/or trials before a judge.

Some of the specific areas of domestic and family law covered include:

• Divorce
• Separate maintenance
• Annulment
• Paternity
• Parenting time
• Legal and physical custody disputes
• Spousal support
• Child support
• Change of domicile
• Property division and associated tax considerations
• Division of retirement, options, and deferred compensation benefits
• Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
• PPOs

Sandra D. Glazier has been engaged by other attorneys to act as a consulting and/or testifying witness in both family law and probate litigation matters. 

In family law, those engagements often center around the intersection between estate planning and family law related issues, including the potential implications of gifts, inheritances, and irrevocable trusts to the division of assets and obligations.

Sandra D. Glazier has been retained as an expert in areas relating to undue influence, fiduciary  duties,  and fiduciary compensation, in Michigan as well as in other states as well as in Canada.