Areas of Practice
Estate Planning
At Cross + Compass, PLC, we focus on estate and trust law for Northern Michigan families. Whether you’re creating your first plan or updating an existing one, we guide you through wills and trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, beneficiary coordination, and practical steps that keep everything working when it matters most.
You’ll get plain-English advice, predictable pricing, and a plan tailored to your values—coordinated with your financial and tax advisors and reviewed as life changes. Our mission is simple: protect what you’ve built and provide clarity for the people you love.
Planning Today for Peace Tomorrow.
Real Estate
At Cross + Compass, PLC, we assist clients with the full range of real estate law in Northern Michigan. Whether you’re buying your first home, selling property, resolving title issues, or handling commercial transactions, we provide clear, practical guidance every step of the way.
Our work includes purchase agreements, closings, easements, boundary disputes, landlord–tenant matters, and the legal details that can protect your investment long after the deal is done. You’ll get straightforward advice, timely communication, and documents that stand up when tested.
Our mission is simple: help you move forward with confidence in one of life’s most important assets—your property.
Estate Administration
QDROs
Settling a loved one’s estate can feel overwhelming during a difficult time. At Cross + Compass, PLC, we provide clear, compassionate guidance through every step of probate and trust administration. With over a decade of experience in trust and wealth services, we understand both the technical details and the human side of the process.
We are passionate about this work because we’ve seen firsthand how careful, thoughtful estate administration can ease stress for families and honor the legacy of those who came before. Our goal is to shoulder the legal burdens so you can focus on what matters most — family, healing, and moving forward.
From gathering assets and paying debts to distributing property according to a will or trust, we ensure each step is handled with professionalism, efficiency, and peace of mind.
At Cross + Compass, PLC, we guide clients through the complex rules of Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs). A QDRO is a specialized court order that allows retirement benefits—such as pensions, 401(k)s, and other qualified plans—to be divided in a divorce or legal separation.
Because retirement accounts are governed by strict federal law, a QDRO must meet detailed requirements to be accepted by both the court and the plan administrator. We work closely with clients and advisors to ensure these orders are properly drafted, approved, and implemented—protecting your rights and avoiding costly mistakes.
Our mission is to provide clarity in a process that often feels overwhelming, so you can move forward with confidence.