Compassionate Estate Planning & Probate Attorneys Serving Battle Creek, Lansing & All of Michigan
Whatever your family or your wishes look like, we're here to help you protect what matters — with clarity, honesty, and real experience in Michigan probate courts.
• Wills • Trusts • Probate • Guardianship & Conservatorship • Bilingual Attorney • Payment Plans Available
• Wills • Trusts • Probate • Guardianship & Conservatorship • Bilingual Attorney • Payment Plans Available
We Handle the Legal Side, So You Can Focus on What Matters
Wood & Associates PLLC provides estate planning and probate representation from offices in Battle Creek and Lansing, serving Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Hillsdale, Barry, Ingham, Clinton, Eaton, Shiawassee, and Jackson counties, and clients across the state of Michigan. The firm handles wills, trusts, probate administration, powers of attorney, guardianship, and conservatorship. Every plan is built around the client's actual relationships and wishes, and a bilingual Spanish/English attorney is available for Spanish-speaking clients..
Estate planning isn't really about documents — it's about making sure the people you love are taken care of, and that your voice is still heard even when you can't speak for yourself. We've guided Michigan families through this process for years, and we treat every plan with the same care we'd want for our own.
Areas of Estate Planning & Probate We Handle
Whether your matter is cooperative or contested, having a clear strategy can reduce stress and protect your rights. Explore the areas we handle most often and see where your situation fits.
Wills
A clear, straightforward way to make sure your wishes are honored and your family isn't left guessing.
Trusts
For families who want to avoid probate and keep more control over how their assets are managed.
Probate
Losing someone is hard enough without navigating court on top of it. We guide your family through the process, step by step.
Powers of Attorney
Because protecting the people you love means planning for more than just what happens after you're gone.
Guardianship
When someone you love needs help with their care or living decisions, we help you become the support they need.
Conservatorship
When someone you love needs help managing their finances, we guide you through stepping in the right way.
Why Families Trust Us With Something This Personal
Estate planning is emotional work, and we never treat it like paperwork. This is the firm's own list of what sets it apart — and every plan we build is handled with all six in mind.
Exceptional communication and responsiveness.
We answer calls live, and chat messages get a callback within about 15 minutes during business hours — because when you're ready to talk about something this personal, you deserve an actual person, not a voicemail box.
Welcoming, real people.
From the attorney handling your plan to the team supporting them, you'll be treated like a person planning for your family's future, not a file number.
Inclusive service, with deep ties to the LGBTQ+ community. Every family, exactly as it is.
Whether you're married, partnered, or building a family the law doesn't automatically recognize, we make sure your actual wishes are protected on paper — not left to assumption.
A bilingual Spanish/English attorney on staff — a rare asset in this region.
Spanish-speaking clients can work through their plan directly with an attorney, not just a translated page. (Front-desk reception is not currently Spanish-speaking — let us know when you call, and we'll connect you with an attorney who speaks Spanish.)
Proven results and experience.
Our attorneys have guided Michigan families through wills, trusts, probate, guardianship, and conservatorship matters for years, and we bring that same experience to every plan we build.
Flexible payment options.
A third-party Pay Later financing option means cost doesn't have to decide whether your family gets a plan in place.
The People Behind Your Case
Every plan here is built by real people, not a call center and not a rotating cast of strangers. Meet a few of the attorneys and staff who might be the first friendly face you see.
Kent Wood II
President & Founder
Brigette Booser
Attorney and Counselor
Paul Umlauf
Attorney
Jennifer Reed
Attorney
Jami Rosado
Senior Paralegal
Hannah Robinson
Attorney
Sarah Hayes
Legal Secretary
Kent Wood II
President & Founder
Brigette Booser
Attorney and Counselor
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to create a will or trust in Michigan?
Costs vary based on complexity — a straightforward will typically costs less than a full revocable living trust, which involves more drafting and asset transfer work. Wood & Associates provides clear, upfront pricing during your consultation, and a no-credit-check Pay Later financing option is available so cost doesn't have to delay getting your plan in place.
What happens if I die without a will in Michigan?
If you die without a will in Michigan, state intestacy law decides who inherits your property, typically your spouse and children in set proportions — not necessarily what you would have chosen. Michigan intestacy law also doesn't provide for unmarried partners at all. A will lets you control that outcome instead of the state.
Does Wood & Associates provide estate planning for LGBTQ+ couples and non-traditional families?
Yes. Wood & Associates provides the same thorough, respectful estate planning representation to every client, regardless of family structure, including LGBTQ+ couples, unmarried partners, and blended families. Every plan is built around your actual relationships and wishes, not assumptions about what a family should look like.
What's the difference between guardianship and conservatorship in Michigan?
Guardianship gives someone legal authority over a person's care and living decisions, while conservatorship gives someone authority over that person's finances and property. Michigan courts can appoint the same person as both guardian and conservator, or two different people, depending on what the situation and the court determine is appropriate.
How long does probate take in Michigan?
Probate timelines in Michigan vary, but a straightforward estate using the standard probate process often takes several months to close, while more complex or contested estates can take a year or longer. Michigan's simplified small-estate procedure can resolve smaller estates faster. Wood & Associates gives you a realistic timeline at the start.
Do unmarried or domestic partners have inheritance rights in Michigan without a will?
No. Michigan intestacy law does not recognize unmarried or domestic partners as heirs, no matter how long the relationship lasted, so without a will or trust, an unmarried partner could inherit nothing. This makes estate planning especially important for unmarried couples who want to protect each other legally.
Serving Our Counties, From Battle Creek and Lansing to All of Michigan
Estate planning is personal, and so is meeting the people who'll be building your plan. Stop by either office, or start with a call — whatever feels most comfortable for you.
2943 W Dickman Road, Battle Creek, MI (269) 841-5426 Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–5:00 PM · Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM · Serving Calhoun County and extending into Kalamazoo, Hillsdale, and Barry counties.
901 N. Washington Ave., Lansing, MI (517) 481-4023 · Toll-free (888) 209-7348 Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–5:00 PM · Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM · Serving Ingham County and extending into Clinton, Eaton, Shiawassee, and Jackson counties.
Talk with a local attorney team today
Planning ahead is one of the most caring things you can do for the people you love.
However you're most comfortable reaching out — a call, a chat, a text, or a quick form — we're ready to help. Walk-ins welcome during business hours; consultations by appointment.