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. Seeking advice on filing uncontested divorce and requesting spouse to leave marital home in Michigan.

May 13, 2025

A: An uncontested divorce without children CAN be something "DIYable" but when you have property such as retirement plans and real estate to divide the phrase 'penny wise and dollar foolish' comes to mind if you're doing this to 'save money'.

Making a mistake in either of these things can create long term EXPENSIVE issues.

You can certainly look at the 'SCAO' forms available on line to get the legally minimum forms needed but trying to quit claim property or create QDROs to 'waive' the claims on pensions without legal advice is asking for issues.

So yes, go to the Michigan self help page for divorce (https://michiganlegalhelp.org/resources/family/filing-divorce-without-children) but use that as a STARTING POINT to interview local divorce attorneys who can also do deeds and help you work with a QDRO drafting service appropriate to your pensions .... ... Read More

Q. Can I make a contract to search a sold property for hidden money?

May 13, 2025

A: Generally speaking, you can enter into a contract to do anything so long as it is not illegal or against public policy.

So, no, you can't legally enter into a contract to murder someone, but you CAN enter into a contract to search a property with the owner of that property on whatever terms and conditions the two of you agree upon.

But this begs the question. What is the origin of that money? Was it stolen? Squirreled away after years of hard work because someone didn't trust banks? Counterfeited? "Finding" that money may or may not lead to legal issues depending on the origin of the funds!

MORE to the point, why would anyone who owns a piece of real estate let someone randomly search when THEY could do that and not have to split the money. Unless you have 'special knowledge' (a 'treasure map' if you will) this makes little sense so a 'search' is not what you're looking to facilitate. "Recovery" is the word you're looking for, and if you're talking about a significant sum, all sorts of red flags pop up.

I'd consult with a local lawyer to help both in drafting whatever paperwork makes sense and to review the whole idea in the first place. ... Read More

Q. Can I sue my brother for theft or wrongdoing in managing my mother's estate without a will in Michigan?

May 13, 2025

A: I agree with Mr Soble but I would add that CAN you sue is a very different question than SHOULD you sue.

People get confused about this a lot, and the short answer is almost always 'yes you can sue, but you probably shouldn't' SOMETIMES you cannot sue, and sometimes it is a good idea, but you're never going to get a reliable answer asking this in an on line forum -- you need to consult with a local experienced attorney to review all the facts, let you know what additional facts you need to find out, and THEN they can help you decide what your best course of action will be.

Get that local advice and look into the additional facts you may need. If there is a mortgage against the house, it may not make any sense to try to 'redeem' it -- or it may. The specific facts matter, and discussing such specifics in a public forum like this is generally a bad idea! ... Read More