AG suspends Macomb probate public administrator, leaders want law changed

(WXYZ) - 7 Investigator Heather Catallo first exposed a troubling pattern of certain public officials and real estate brokers taking over estates, often leaving rightful heirs with very little. Now, some top Oakland County leaders are taking bold steps to stop this practice.

The 7 Investigators also have a major update to our first probate court investigation that focused on Macomb County Public Administrator Cecil St Pierre.

After Catallo’s first story aired, the Michigan Attorney General’s office started their own investigation into St. Pierre, and confirm that several people filed complaints against the lawyer.

Now the Attorney General has suspended Cecil St. Pierre indefinitely from his Public Administrator duties.

St. Pierre says he “made a business decision not to do Probate Asset Recovery files prior to the suspension.  I have followed Best Practices and everything I have done has been approved by the Probate Judge and court.  I have been informed about the suspension.”

St. Pierre also told us in an e-mail that he “will investigate the issue with the Attorney General’s office and hopefully resolve any issue or complaints.”

“How can they lay their head down on their pillow at night, hurting people like that,” said Joanne Zaremba.

She’s one of several rightful heirs who say they were blindsided when someone else opened a probate estate in a deceased relatives name.  That meant Joanne could have lost her late mother’s home to a stranger. And she’s not alone.

“We were summoned to court – someone opened a probate estate in his name,” Kristin Rekowski told Catallo in November 2016.

Here’s what’s going on: Real Estate Broker Ralph Roberts has teamed up with some Attorney General-appointed lawyers called Public Administrators.  In Oakland County, court records show he regularly works with Kemp Klein attorney Barbara Andruccioli to open probate estates.  (Click to Continue)

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AG suspends Macomb probate public administrator, leaders want law changed

See Also:
Are Probate Court Claims Being Used to Take Homes From Rightful Heirs?

Families Say Local Realtors, Attorneys Cashing in on Estates of Their Recently Passed Loves Ones

Tips You Need to Know to Take a Loved Ones Estate Through Probate