Jerry Carvey decided to give Bob Lytle the day off and took the reins to lead us in some wintry tunes. Things started a bit... frosty when he and our pianist, Paula D'Ambrosio, couldn't quite agree on what we should sing. After some back-and-forth, they landed on page 14—where, surprise, the only song was Walking in a Winter Wonderland. The rest of us weren't precisely scratching our heads, but hey, they got there eventually. The second song, Button Up Your Overcoat, was delivered with slightly less drama. Singing this week was particularly robust.

 

Ryan Deel joined the Rochester Hills Public Library Board in 2014 and was elected to a full term in 2015. In 2017, he was elected as the City of Rochester council member for District 4 and re-elected in 2021. In 2019, he was unanimously chosen by the city council as Council President, a role he has continued to hold through annual re-elections. From 2006 to 2024, Ryan served as the judicial staff attorney to Chief Judge Linda S. Hallmark of the Oakland County Probate Court. He now practices law privately alongside his wife, Melinda.

Probate cases account for 25% of the matters in the County's court system, with most estates being settled amicably. However, about 1% require court intervention. Over his 18 years of service, Ryan observed recurring issues in cases related to:

• Developmentally disabled individuals
• Guardianships and conservatorships for adults
• Increased instances of grandparents raising grandchildren due to the COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol, the opioid crisis, and poor mental health
• Estate and trust management
• Registration of foreign births
• Recording or backdating of secret marriages
• Wills stored with the County for safekeeping

While most estate plans and wills are well-drafted, family conflicts can arise. Challenges include questions of testamentary capacity, undue influence, lost or conflicting documents (e.g., the Aretha Franklin case), disputes over gifts given during a lifetime, trust or estate administration, breaches of fiduciary duty, and complex issues in blended families or with financially irresponsible individuals. Other contentious matters include sibling disagreements, caregiving claims, division of business assets, and trustee denial of funds.

Ryan encourages individuals to address potential sources of conflict proactively during estate planning. Discussing concerns such as these with an attorney can help prevent future disputes. He also highlights the importance of planning for incapacities, an area often less emphasized than death planning. Additionally, individuals should stay informed about Michigan's updated laws regarding powers of attorney.