Kenneth V Zichi

Helping Livingston County residents navigate the legal system for 30 years. I focus on Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning and Probate, with a significant portion of my practice also concerning Real Estate and general civil litigation. If you have questions or issues with your home, a cabin up north, or want to insure your family is cared for after you are gone, I'd be happy to meet with you, perhaps bust some myths, and certainly insure YOUR and your family's needs are met. Call for an appointment today!

• Free Consultation
  Telephone [(810) 299-5222] or office conferences, 20 minutes or less. Longer conferences may incur a minimal fee.
• Contingent Fees

Michigan

Since 1986

Owner

Kenneth V . Zichi J.D.

1991 - Current

Mayor

City of Williamston (Michigan)

2000 - 2010

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

J.D.

1983 - 1986

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

A.B. | History / Communications

1977 - 1981

Honors: LS&A Honors College 1977-1979

State Bar of Michigan

Member

1986 - Current

estate and probate section Michigan bar

member

1986 - Current

Law and Media committee - State Bar of Michigan

member

2010 - 2015

Newsroom Seminar, WNEM TV/AM - Saginaw MI

March 15, 2013

State Bar of Michigan - Law & Media committee

An hour-long seminar addressing some of the common practical and substantive difficulties journalists encounter in covering the legal system in Michigan.

Q. Handling a disinherited sibling contesting a will in Michigan

August 27, 2025

A: You are asking for complicated estate representation by an 'online' forum. We can't do that, and it certainly sounds like you absolutely NEED a local attorney familiar with your Probate Court and judge(s) to help you proceed.

There are a myriad of things you may need to do to prepare, and probably a few things you should NOT do, so get that local legal help to insure you're 'pushing the right buttons'. Challenging a written will with 'parole evidence' is never easy, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't make the effort to respond properly to his challenge. You don't say what kind of lawsuit is pending, but from your context it sounds like it was NOT filed in Probate Court, so again, there are complications and it makes sense to have a local attorney representing your interests! If your brother actually DID perform labor to help you clean things up after their passing, he may be entitled to compensation for that work -- or he may not, but that may be one avenue for negotiation to help smooth things over. Again, a local attorney can help and perhaps allow you to 'distance' yourself from the conflict between family members and allow someone ELSE to 'be the bad guy' and make it easier for you to get along in the future.

Good luck, but don't be afraid of hiring professional help! ... Read More

Q. Can my incarcerated father appoint a power of attorney despite prison restrictions?

August 27, 2025

A: I've never known a jail unwilling to allow a local licensed attorney to visit with a resident in a 'contact' area to allow signing documents of any kind. It is quite common. Have you consulted with a LOCAL attorney? They will know both who to talk to and how to set up the conditions necessary to allow for what you're asking here.

I think the point you're missing here is that if YOU are the named agent, YOU cannot be one of the witnesses or agent on the document so YOU shouldn't be the one organizing this, and it is best if you're not present so nobody can claim 'undue influence'. Get that LOCAL legal help, to both draft the document and get it properly executed, and you should have better success. I can't imagine there isn't ONE attorney in the area who can help. Make some phone calls rather than just doing an 'internet search' for an attorney in the state! The only reason I'd shy away from such is if someone from outside my county contacted me. I'm not traveling for 10 hours to do a power of attorney, and frankly, you won't want to pay my cost for losing 1-2 days of other work plus the cost of bringing a witness/notary to do that! Find a local attorney with offices near the jail. ... Read More

Q. Can wife collect land contract payments after husband dies without a will in Michigan?

August 9, 2025

A: Assuming the remaining balance of the land contract is less than the ’spousal share’ under Michigan intestate law, then she likely IS entitled to the income but — and this is crucial — she can’t ‘just’ collect it. There needs to be probate to clarify her rights AND RESPONSIBILITIES and determine if his (now adult?) children are also entitled to something.

Seek local legal help to flesh out all the details!