Kenneth V Zichi

Helping Livingston County residents navigate the legal system for 30 years. I focus on Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning and Probate, with a significant portion of my practice also concerning Real Estate and general civil litigation. If you have questions or issues with your home, a cabin up north, or want to insure your family is cared for after you are gone, I'd be happy to meet with you, perhaps bust some myths, and certainly insure YOUR and your family's needs are met. Call for an appointment today!

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

J.D.

1983 - 1986

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

A.B. | History / Communications

1977 - 1981

Honors: LS&A Honors College 1977-1979

Owner

Kenneth V . Zichi J.D.

1991 - Current

Mayor

City of Williamston (Michigan)

2000 - 2010

Newsroom Seminar, WNEM TV/AM - Saginaw MI

March 15, 2013

State Bar of Michigan - Law & Media committee

An hour-long seminar addressing some of the common practical and substantive difficulties journalists encounter in covering the legal system in Michigan.

State Bar of Michigan

Member

1986 - Current

estate and probate section Michigan bar

member

1986 - Current

Law and Media committee - State Bar of Michigan

member

2010 - 2015

Michigan

Since 1986

• Free Consultation
  Telephone [(810) 299-5222] or office conferences, 20 minutes or less. Longer conferences may incur a minimal fee.
• Contingent Fees

Q. Can I pursue a legal claim for father’s death due to alleged negligence by his wife in Michigan?

March 17, 2025

A: Nothing you state raises huge red flags. People with dementia often act just as you describe and loved ones often can't intervene easily to avoid unpleasant outcomes. That said, if you question the veracity of these claims, my FIRST step would be to ask 9-1-1 for verification of the call for an ambulance. They will document if he refused transport, and whether or not they were called. If they match the claims, your case just got REALLY hard to prove.

That said, they MAY require a subpoena to release that information which you can get if you are the personal representative of the Estate, but that requires filing an estate with Probate in the county where he resided. That is not an inexpensive process and will lead to specific required expenditures and reporting to the Court, so I would STRONGLY urge you to consult with a local attorney before taking such steps to assess the costs, and more importantly to review 1) if there are financial damages such that filing an estate otherwise not needed is appropriate and 2) if your suspicions rise to the level of actual 'negligence' if true and whether or not they are a proximate cause of the death if they are AND FURTHER if you can prove the suspicions. Remember YOU would have the burden of proof so it is up to you to prove the case, and 'suspicions' aren't enough. ... Read More

Q. Can a court change annuity beneficiaries post-death in MI?

March 12, 2025

A: They may not be able to change the beneficiary per se, but the Divorce Court and Probate Court both have 'equitable' powers and can "recover" funds paid legally but contrary to prior court orders.

This situation needs to be reviewed by a local probate / divorce attorney to review what happened, figure out why the QDRO wasn't complied with and see what remedies may be available.

It isn't 'over' if someone challenges this properly!

Seek local legal representation!

Q. How do I update the deed to sell my brother's home in Michigan?

March 8, 2025

A: You don't 'update' the deed. You probate the will and it looks like you will also need to probate his wife's estate as well. I strongly urge you to consult with a local (to the county where they lived) licensed probate attorney to walk through what steps may be necessary. Depending on the situation it could be complicated, or simple and there is no way to tell without looking at the documents and exploring the relationships.

For example, if the daughter was NOT from this final marriage, but from a previous relationship, and there was no will from your brother's wife to him, the daughter may need to FORMALLY sign off to disclaim any interest in the house. Again, without seeing the documents it is impossible to say for sure!

Get that local legal advice! ... Read More