Author: Benjamin W. BryantJ.D., University of Michigan Law School On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion in Obergefell v. Hodges, holding that the Fourteenth Amendment requires a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex…
Author: Ashley L. Wilson Northern Michigan transforms into a frozen tundra during the winter months. While many of us would rather stay inside and hibernate when winter storms strike, most of us are forced to face the treacherous conditions. In doing so, we put ourselves at risk. The good news is, Michigan’s No-Fault Act offers protection…
Author: Daniel J. Dingeman This past year, the Michigan Supreme Court opened the door for many more Michigan homeowners to be eligible for a significant tax refund from the State of Michigan. In Gardner v. Department of Treasury, the Court reversed a lower court’s decision that the state real estate transfer tax exemption only applies…
In recent months, tall buildings, development, and affordable housing have been at the epicenter of discussion and debate in the Traverse City community. Traverse City’s economy is based, in large part, on the service industry and light manufacturing, but property values are driven by the high demand for residential real estate. This unique dichotomy has created a housing imbalance and…
State Bar of Michigan Real Property Law Section e-Newsletter Michigan townships have authority to regulate inland lakes via riparian rights that attach to the adjoining water. Township of Yankee Springs v. Fox, 264 Mich App 604, 606 (2004). Unlike inland lakes, however, the State of Michigan holds title to the center of each Great Lake bordering Michigan, and…
On January 15, 2015, Governor Rick Snyder signed a series of bills that implemented a number of changes to the Michigan Nonprofit Corporation Act. Many of the changes could have a major impact on the way a nonprofit organization is governed. This article contains a summary of the significant changes that may warrant amending the…
We recently posted an article that outlined new exemptions for residential real estate owners to transfer property to relatives without triggering an “uncapping” of the property taxes. Following that recent change in Michigan law, there was some debate within the legal community regarding the continued viability of transfers via one popular estate planning tool—the ladybird…
A recent change in Michigan law offers important new planning opportunities for owners of cottages and other residential family property. The change has made it significantly easier to transfer residential real estate (including recreational lands) from one generation to the next without unfavorable tax consequences. Specifically, the recently enacted law provides new exemptions for residential…
Dingeman & Dancer, PLC obtained a $1.9 million recovery for a personal injury case involving a motorcycle accident in Grand Traverse County. A local man suffered severe injuries in the crash when a vehicle turned in front of the motorcycle he was driving. The vehicle driver failed to yield the right of way to the…