The City of Detroit, in partnership with the Elder Law & Advocacy Center and the Detroit Public Library, is launching a new series of free estate planning workshops aimed at helping residents safeguard their assets and preserve generational wealth. Set to begin this spring, the “Life and Legacy” program will be held at 20 library branches across the city through the summer.
The series aims to arm Detroit residents with vital estate planning tools, such as wills, powers of attorney, and Ladybird deeds, that can help families avoid legal limbo and ensure smoother transitions of property and assets from one generation to the next.
Council Member Scott Benson of District 3, Chair of the City’s Wealth Generation Task Force, is leading the charge.
“A key finding of our task force was the significant gap in estate planning among Detroit families,” Benson said.
“This lack of planning has directly impacted the ability of Black families to build and retain wealth, especially when it comes to passing down real estate.”
Workshops will include not just education but also on-site access to legal professionals who will help attendees draft and execute official Life and Legacy documents, at no cost. The program underscores the city’s growing commitment to financial equity and stability for all Detroiters.
Margaret Bruni, Director of Public Services at the Detroit Public Library, emphasized the importance of this initiative.
“An estate plan is a gift,” she said. “It brings clarity and comfort during difficult times and ensures that your home and assets are handled the way you intended. We’re honored to host these sessions and provide even more resources to our community.”
In addition to the Life and Legacy series, DPL offers a wide array of financial education tools, including books, digital databases, and programming on budgeting, investing, and retirement planning.
The workshops are free and open to the public, but advance registration is strongly encouraged.
2025 Life and Legacy Estate Planning Workshop Schedule:
May 17 – Main Library, 2:00 PM
May 20 – Chase Branch, 6:00 PM
May 21 – Jefferson Branch, 5:30 PM
May 29 – Conely Branch, 6:00 PM
June 6 – Jefferson Branch, 3:00 PM
June 9 – Hubbard Branch, 6:00 PM
June 10 – Lincoln Branch, 2:00 PM
June 17 – Wilder Branch, 4:00 PM
June 24 – Franklin Branch, 6:00 PM
June 25 – Chandler Park Branch, 4:00 PM
July 2 – Edison Branch, 4:00 PM
July 8 – Bowen Branch, 6:00 PM
July 15 – Knapp Branch, 6:00 PM
July 21 – Redford Branch, 6:00 PM
August 4 – Duffield Branch, 11:00 AM
August 5 – Chaney Branch, 6:00 PM
August 6 – Parkman Branch, 6:00 PM
August 21 – Douglass Branch, Time TBD
August 22 – Elmwood Park Branch, 5:00 PM
August 27 – Campbell Branch, 5:00 PM
As Detroit works to close the racial wealth gap and foster long-term economic equity, the Life and Legacy series represents a bold step forward, offering Detroiters the tools they need to protect what matters most.
Attendees can sign up via Eventbrite, https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/estate-planning-workshops-4261823
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