Prepare for the Best, Plan for the Worst

STERLING HEIGHTS — Elizabeth Vincent was a young lawyer 11 years ago — in practice for just a few years, doing estate planning for clients — when the unthinkable happened during an accident over the Fourth of July weekend.

Enjoying the holiday weekend with her fiancé in anticipation of their upcoming wedding, she decided to ride with him on the family ATV. Wearing a helmet ended up being a lifesaving decision as they never made it to their destination and Vincent sustained injuries that would result in her spending her wedding and the months that followed in a wheelchair while recovering from her injuries.

Those memories aside, Vincent reflects about what could have made a bad situation much worse, without her own estate plan in place.

“I was in a position where if I didn’t have a powers of attorney in place, it could have potentially been an ugly battle over control of my assets” she said. “It made me personally realize how important it is to have that done, even in my late 20s.”

Through her own practice, the Vincent Law Office, Vincent specializes in comprehensive and custom estate planning.  That includes not only helping her clients avoid probate court but also making sure they have the critical documents at the ready during their lifetimes.

“It’s about making sure a trusted person, whether it’s a family member or a friend, gets my clients the help they need while they’re alive, and making sure their voice is heard and honored when they cannot speak for themselves or after they’re gone,” Vincent said. “I always tell people, don’t be me. Don’t put it off and think you won’t need it for decades. I’m proof that is very much not always the case. You never know what’s going to happen tomorrow.”

Estate planning, including financial powers of attorney, medical powers of attorney, last wills and testaments, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, Medicaid trusts, and special needs planning are among the services she offers. Additionally, she assists small business owners with establishing and maintaining their businesses through proper documentation.

“I look at a client’s whole personal picture with no judgement to help make sure their needs are met.”

The Vincent Law Office is located at 13854 Lakeside Circle, Suite 206, in Sterling Heights. For more information or to set up a consultation, call (586) 229-1992 or go to vincentlawoffice.com.