Check your estate plan after divorce!
What does an estate actually mean? Have you noticed that lawyers use the word “estate” a lot? Probate estates, trust estate, marital estates, etc. An estate refers to a certain bucket of total assets and debts, and there are special rules that apply to that bucket. The rights of different estates are interwoven, and a […]
An open letter to Delta County and Schoolcraft County leaders and innovators: Join me to bring legal services to your community
Hello innovators and leaders across the UP! Not sure if we’ve met, yet. I’m Erica Payne and I’m an attorney, based in Marquette since 2012. I left my traditional firm in 2022 after chronic pain made it an uncomfortable place to work, and I opened my own firm, Taproot Law, in 2023. While I still […]
Where real estate meets the legal system: Gamifying together to better understand client needs
A collaboration opportunity Dickinson County realtor, Katie Cascioli, and I get together for dinner every few months. Since the beginning of time, she’s been my cousin-from-another-grandma. Our dads were besties, and we grew up together. As adults, we are friends and colleagues. We talk about everything from business to philosophy. No matter where the conversation […]
Your Questions Answered: Suing a sibling-personal representative for information
We love getting your questions! After Erica’s last blog post “The power struggle between siblings in probate is real,” we received the following question. We hope Erica’s response helps readers who have similar questions! Dear Erica, My dad passed away and my sister is the personal representative. The probate is opened, but she won’t give […]
The Truth about Free Initial Consultations
Free initial consultations can be tempting, especially when you think you’re getting free advice from an expert. Unfortunately, these kinds of consultations don’t usually turn out that way. The truth about the free initial consultation is that it is a tool that lawyers use to size up a potential client for a long-term relationship. The […]
Taproot takes a note from the classroom: Reframing legal services with coaching and Make-it-Legal
I’ve shared here before that I used to be a teacher. One of the things I HATED about teaching was grading. I’m talking about the kind of grading that requires sifting through stacks of paper, reading in isolation, and giving written feedback that students might not always read or understand. One of the things I […]
The UP Tour kicks off with a visit home
Taproot recently sponsored the Bass Festival in Crystal Falls to start my UP Tour. This was a special way to kick off the tour because it started in my hometown. In addition to going to the Bassfest, I was also able to see familiar faces at my 20th high school reunion. I was welcomed home and got […]