This information and our toolkit are provided as general information only. They are not designed to take the place of talking with an attorney. These resources are based on Michigan law and may not apply outside of the state. If you are a Michigan resident, age 60 or older, please call our Hotline 1-800-347-5297 for free legal advice. We can also help long distance caregivers or older adults calling about Michigan law that may affect them.
If you would like to learn more, please feel free to download the publications. You will need Adobe Acrobat to view some these brochures. You may download it for free from Adobe's Website.
DEBT
- Answering a Collections Complaint
- How to Talk to Bill Collectors
- Bankruptcy
- Do Not Contact Letter
- Garnishment
- Objections to Garnishment
- Debtor Protection Kit
- Cosigning a Loan
- Credit Card Facts for Elder Americans
- What To Do If A Cosigned Loan Goes Bad
- Dividing Debt in Mediation
- Protecting Social Security and Other Benefits from Garnishment
- Debtor Protection Kit
CONSUMER
- Home Equity Loans
- Home Repair Frauds
- Home Improvement: Correct Work That Was Done Poorly (sample letter)
- Home Improvement: Break a Contract for Poor Work (sample letter)
- Item Pricing Rules
- Your Rights as a Utility Customer
- Buyer's Guide to Auto Insurance
- Small Claims Court
- Small Claims Court (Spanish)
- Small Claims Court (Spanish) - Audio
- Small Claims Court (Arabic)
- Small Claims Court (Arabic) - Audio
- Dealing with the Broker
- Annuities
- Broker Check
- Fraud, Forgery, and ATM Card Activity
- Fraud Alert Removal Instructions
- Fraud Alert (sample letter)
- Fraud Alert Removal (sample letter)
- ATM Card Fraud (sample letter)
- Unauthorized Electronic Fund Transfer (sample letter)
- General Fraud Notice to Bank (sample letter)
- Notice of Forgery to Bank (sample letter)
- A Victim's Guide to Predatory Lending
- Annuities -- A Good Investment for Older Adults?
- Mediation
WILLS, PROBATE, POWER OF ATTORNEY
- Article on the Durable Power of Attorney
- Lady Bird Deed
- What If I Do Not Have a Will?
- Do You Really Want to Avoid Probate?
- Living Trusts
- Peace of Mind: A Publication from the Michigan Legislature
- Don't Trust a Trust Kit
- Guardianship
- Statutory Will
- Statutory Questions
- Will
- Will (Spanish)
- Will (Spanish) - Audio
- Will (Arabic)
- Will (Arabic) - Audio
- The Most Important Letter You May Ever Write (Arabic)
- Durable Power of Attorney
- Durable Power of Attorney (Spanish)
- Durable Power of Attorney (Spanish) - Audio
- Durable Power of Attorney (Arabic)
- Durable Power of Attorney (Arabic) - Audio
- Preparing for Your Future: Online guide to getting your affairs in order
- Annuities: Are They Right For Me?
- Questions & Answers about the Designation of Patient Advocate
- Power of Attorney Abuse
- Revoking or Ending a Power of Attorney (sample letter)
- Do You Really Want to Avoid Probate?
- Whose Death Is It Anyway (a DVD to purchase)
HOUSING/LANDLORD/TENANT
- Eviction
- Eviction (Spanish)
- Eviction (Arabic)
- Eviction (Arabic) - Audio
- Home Equity Loans
- Home Repair Frauds
- Condominiums
- Buyers' Guide to Home and Renters Insurance
- Your Rights as a Utility Customer
- Buying and Selling a Home
- Home Workers
- Landlord/Tenant Repairs
- Lease
- Mobile Home Tenants Rights
- Security Deposit
- Dealing with Building Contractors
- "Get out of my house!" - How to Evict an Unwanted Roommate
- Issues of the Elderly Tenant
- Understanding Rising Property Taxes in a Declining Market-Presentation by Michigan Tax Tribunal
- Mortgage Foreclosure
- Homestead Poverty Exemption for Property Taxes
- Lady Bird Deed
INCOME/PUBLIC BENEFITS
- Medicare Scams: What You Can Do To Protect Yourself
- Medicaid: Countable Assets and Spousal Impoverishment
- Federal Income Tax on Social Security Benefits
- Medicaid Liens
- Social Security Benefits
- AARP's new Medicare Donuthole calculator
- Tax Tips from the Legal Hotline
- Not All Tax Services Are Created Equal
LONG-TERM CARE
- Hospital Discharge Planning
- How to Choose a Nursing Home
- Your Rights as a Nursing Home Resident
- Medicaid: Countable Assets and Spousal Impoverishment
- Medicaid Liens
- Medical Records
OTHER
Resources for Professionals- Do You Have a Healthcare Power of Attorney?
- Grand Parent Visitation Rights
- Divorce
- Pooled Trust
- What to do if you are a Victim of ID Theft
- Car Repair
- Information on the "Lemon Law"
- Do you know what a "Yo-yo car sale" is?
- Crime Victim Compensation
- The disability.gov Website--New and Improved
- Is Someone Moving in with Aunt Millie?
- Senior Driving