Lorrie Miller Law, PLC

Written by Melissa McCance

We’ve all heard those shady lawyer jokes, but the truth is that many—possibly most—people will need the services of an attorney at some point in their lives. A knowledgeable attorney can save you a great deal of heartache and expense by ensuring that important issues are discussed and provided for regarding your estate and your care in your advanced age. Lorrie Miller of Lorrie Miller Law in Hillsdale is just such a person.

Raised in Quincy and a graduate of Quincy High School, Lorrie received her undergraduate degree from Spring Arbor. She attended Regent University School of Law in Virginia and married her husband while living there. When they were expecting their first child, they returned to Michigan.

Lorrie worked part-time for 16 years while her children were younger doing estate planning. This was followed by joining a law firm for a few years, and, while she enjoyed her time there, she wanted to have her own practice. The Hillsdale office opened in January 2022, and she knows she made the right decision because she is loving her new situation. The focus of Lorrie’s practice is estate planning, estate administration, probate work, and elder law.

Estate planning involves more than just putting things in order for after you’re gone. Circumstances can arrive that affect the living, and it’s much better to think about the variables and make decisions before those situations arise. For example, long-term care insurance helps offset the cost of services such as nursing homes, residential facilities (like assisted living) and a variety of in-home care services. It can be difficult— sometimes impossible—to purchase this insurance at the time it’s needed, so advance planning is essential.

It’s better to make decisions as to who will have power of attorney and/or medical power of attorney when you aren’t stressed by extreme medical, emotional, or financial pressures.

The same applies to deciding who will administer your estate after you’re gone and how that estate will be distributed. And Lorrie wants everyone to understand this: if you do not decide and have those decisions properly documented, the state will decide all these things for you. “People need to realize that a judge who is not acquainted with you or your family members could be deciding who will be in charge of your care,” she cautions.

Working with an attorney to settle these issues in advance not only protects your assets and ensures things will be handled as you wish, but it allows you to discuss your decisions with those affected by them. “I’ve found that a great deal of stress, bickering, and unhappiness can be avoided if people make these plans and share them with their family members,” says Lorrie. “It’s also important to make sure you list your assets and update that list as needed. It makes it much easier to administer your estate.”

Lorrie also wants everyone to be aware that estate planning is not just for older individuals. Younger people, especially parents of minors, should consider this step as well. It’s critical that parents nominate a guardian or guardians for their minor children should something happen to the parents. Just as with your assets, if you do not have this in place, the court will decide who gets your children. Not a comforting thought!

Elder law essentially begins with estate planning but also encompasses determining if and when it’s time for assisted living or nursing home care. An attorney knowledgeable in elder law can help with preserving assets and connecting the individual to assistance programs, if necessary. There can also be the question of competency if someone is struggling to manage his or her life— is it time to establish guardianship? You may also need an attorney’s help if there’s a possibility of elder abuse.

Lorrie emphasizes that the thrust behind this advance planning is twofold. First, that the issues surrounding how your final years are managed and how your estate is administered after your death are thought through and decided upon while you have the time to do it thoroughly and without the pressure of circumstances demanding immediate action. Second, as mentioned, advance planning allows you share your choices and your reasons for making them with those who will be affected. This gives you time to work through any questions or concerns your loved ones might have.

Besides loving the law and the logic of its processes, Lorrie says that her greatest satisfaction in what she does comes from serving her clients.

“I like working with people, getting to know them, learning about their situations. And it makes me happy to know that I’ve helped them. Once we work through all the issues, make the decisions, and everything is documented and settled, I know that I’ve relieved a lot of anxiety and given them peace of mind. That’s no small thing.”

Lorrie Miller Law is located at 3222 West Carleton Road, Suite A, in Hillsdale. You can reach her by calling 517-278-2505 or emailing her at LMiller@HillsdaleLaw.com. Visit her website at www.HillsdaleLaw.com.