Insights & Legal Updates
Commentary on Michigan property law, water law and riparian rights, business matters, taxation, estate planning, and other legal issues.
Plain-language analysis of recent rulings, legislative changes, and practical guidance for individuals, property owners, and businesses.
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Michigan Supreme Court Reinforces Public Trust Protections in Line 5 Tunnel Decision
Read More →: Michigan Supreme Court Reinforces Public Trust Protections in Line 5 Tunnel DecisionOn July 31, 2026, the Michigan Supreme Court vacated the Michigan Public Service Commission’s approval of Enbridge Energy’s proposed Line 5 tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac and returned the matter to the Commission for further proceedings. In re Application of Enbridge Energy to Replace and Relocate Line 5, Nos. 168335-9 and 168346 (Mich, July…
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U.S. Supreme Court Clarifies Compensation in Tax Foreclosure Cases: What Pung v. Isabella County Means for Property Owners
Read More →: U.S. Supreme Court Clarifies Compensation in Tax Foreclosure Cases: What Pung v. Isabella County Means for Property OwnersBy: W. Dane Carey The United States Supreme Court has issued another significant property-rights decision following its landmark ruling in Tyler v. Hennepin County. In Pung v. Isabella County, the Court addressed an important question left unresolved by Tyler: when a government forecloses on property for unpaid taxes, is the owner constitutionally entitled to the…
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Ownership of Submerged Bottomlands in Michigan: Is Your Neighbor’s Dock on Your Property?
Read More →: Ownership of Submerged Bottomlands in Michigan: Is Your Neighbor’s Dock on Your Property?For many Michigan waterfront owners, the property line shown on a survey answers only part of the ownership question. The visible, dry-land boundary may be clear. But what happens when that boundary reaches the water?
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Great Lakes Shoreline Rights in Michigan: Public Trust, Private Ownership, and Local Regulation
Read More →: Great Lakes Shoreline Rights in Michigan: Public Trust, Private Ownership, and Local RegulationMichigan’s Great Lakes shoreline is one of the state’s most important natural and legal resources. It is also one of the most misunderstood.
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Unreasonably Long Docks in Michigan: How Long Is Too Long?
Read More →: Unreasonably Long Docks in Michigan: How Long Is Too Long?Michigan lakefront property often comes with one of the most valuable rights a property owner can have: riparian access to the water. For many owners, that includes the ability to install a dock, place a boat hoist, moor a boat, swim, fish, and enjoy reasonable use of the lake.
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Access to the Water from a Public Road in Michigan
Read More →: Access to the Water from a Public Road in MichiganMichigan is defined by water. From the Great Lakes to thousands of inland lakes, rivers, and streams, waterfront access is part of life in this state. But access to the water is not always as simple as walking down a road that appears to end at a lake.