Protect Your Family's Up North Legacy
- Protect Legacy
- Avoid Disputes
- Stop Probate
Leave a Legacy, Not a Headache
Don’t Let Family Conflict or Poor Planning Threaten Your Cottage’s Future
Don’t let family conflict or poor planning turn your cherished cottage into a source of stress. Without a clear plan, disagreements over scheduling, expenses, or ownership can arise, jeopardizing the property’s future. A Cottage Trust creates structure, fairness, and clarity, ensuring your family enjoys the cottage for generations without unnecessary disputes.
Instant download
Claim Your Free Michigan Cottage Trust Starter Kit
18 pages of important information that every vacation property owner needs to know.
Coming April 1, 2025
the Michigan Cottage Trust
Legacy Builder
The Michigan Cottage Trust Legacy Builder is a simple, affordable solution for families looking to preserve shared ownership of a cottage or cabin—helping to avoid conflict and keep the property in the family for generations.
Together, these resources provide everything needed to make smart, confident decisions and protect a family’s Up North legacy—now and for future generations.
Unlike generic templates, these are the very same trust documents developed over 30 years of hands-on legal experience with Michigan families.
The book will be available as a standalone purchase on Amazon for $59 starting April 1, 2025.
The full Michigan Cottage Trust Legacy Builder platform will also launch on April 1st, available exclusively here for a special introductory price of $995 (normally $1250).
The Legacy Builder includes access to the online course, the complete guidebook, and the full set of Cottage Trust legal documents, including a customizable trust and recordable deed.
3 Powerful Tools
Legacy Builder
Comprehensive Guidebook
A 250-page, in-depth resource filled with charts, diagrams, and clear explanations. This guide is the most complete reference available on the topic of shared vacation property ownership and Cottage Trust planning.
Step-by-Step Online Course
An easy-to-follow video course that walks users through each step of creating a functional Michigan Cottage Trust. With over two hours of content broken into short, practical lessons, the course makes even complex decisions approachable and understandable.
Cottage Trust Builder Platform
An intuitive, user-friendly tool that generates a fully legal Michigan Cottage Trust by guiding users through a simple questionnaire. It also provides supporting documents, including a recordable deed to transfer the property into the trust.
Creating our Cottage Trust was the best decision we made. It brought our family together, eliminated future conflicts, and gave us peace of mind knowing our cottage will be cherished for generations.
Bob & Eileen
Trout Lake, Michigan
A Cottage Trust Offers Protection From:
Family Disputes
Arguments over scheduling, maintenance, or control can fracture family relationships. A Cottage Trust establishes clear rules, roles, and dispute resolution methods to keep the peace.
Forced Property Sale
If a beneficiary wants out—or faces financial pressure—they could force the sale of the property. A Cottage Trust includes buyout provisions and restrictions on sales, helping to keep the cottage in the family.
Divorce or Creditors
Without proper protection, a beneficiary’s interest in the cottage could be drawn into a divorce settlement, bankruptcy, or lawsuit. A Cottage Trust can shield the property from personal legal or financial troubles of individual family members.
Long-Term Care Costs
If an owner ends up in a nursing home, their share of the cottage could be treated as a countable asset. With a Cottage Trust, ownership is structured to reduce the risk of the property being lost to Medicaid estate recovery.
Unequal Contributions
Unpaid taxes, maintenance costs, or repairs can cause tension and legal issues. A Cottage Trust clearly outlines who pays what, and how financial responsibilities are shared.
Probate Court Delays
Passing a cottage through a will often leads to probate—slow, costly, and public. A Cottage Trust avoids probate entirely, ensuring a smooth, private transfer to the next generation.
315 North Main Street
Davison, MI 48423