Can You Turn Your Michigan Lake House into a Short-Term Rental?

If 2020 and 2021 have taught us anything, it is how important it is to get away from home sometimes. Many Michigan families own property up north or on the lakeshore. These homes away from home can provide a great get away, but they often sit empty f… Read More
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7 Do’s and Don’ts for Homeowners’ & Condo Association Dues Collections

Acting as a homeowners’ or condo association board member often involves making demands of your neighbors. When those demands take the form of unpaid association dues collections, you need to be careful. Make certain your HOA or COA is followin… Read More
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Construction Liens: What General Contractors Need to Know to Get Paid

Running a commercial construction company involves big risks. General contractors often put forward substantial resources in materials and labor, trusting their customers to honor their real estate improvement contracts. When they don’t, you ma… Read More
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Michigan’s Right to Farm Act: Is Your Family Farm Protected?

Michigan has a long history of family farms and closely held agricultural businesses. However, depending on where that farm is located, Michigan’s Right to Farm Act may or may not protect you from local ordinances limiting how you do business.… Read More
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Why Your Estate May Need a Quiet Title Action

Quiet Title Actions Problems with real estate transfers can hold up the probating of a loved one’s estate. Beneficiaries who are depending on their inheritances can find access to those assets blocked by clouds the titles of real property withi… Read More
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Great Lakes Riparian Rights: Who Owns the Shore?

Michigan has thousands of miles of shoreline, on the Great Lakes and over 10,000 inland lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water. However, limits on Great Lakes riparian rights can affect the way you use and develop your property, and which governmen… Read More
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Michigan Marketable Record Title Act: What to Know about the Recent 2020 Amendment

Author: Michael King Introduction Interests held in real property are often extremely valuable to the interest holders, and can affect the character and uses of the land in which they are held. The validity and enforceability of such property interes… Read More
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Variance Requests: Navigating Zoning Regulations and the Zoning Board of Appeals

Author: Jake Vande Zande Almost any time you want to do something with your property, zoning is going to play a role in that project. Whether you want to build a new house, add an addition, build a deck or split your lot, you are going to have to nav… Read More
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Michigan Adopts Remote Witnessing and Notarization Legislation

Author: Jake Vande Zande Governor Whitmore signed several new bills into law related to remote witnessing and notarization due to the hardships created by the COVID-19 pandemic, which will be advantageous for people and businesses that frequently wor… Read More
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Michigan Zoning Board Appeals (ZBA) & How to Appeal Unfavorable Decisions

Author: Jake Vande Zande January 13, 2021 As discussed in “Variance Requests: Navigating Zoning Regulations and the Zoning Board of Appeals,” almost any time you want to do something with your property, zoning is going to play a role. Thi… Read More
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