Under Minnesota Law, the family of the deceased Loved One has three years after the death to file a probate proceeding in district court.
There are a number of circumstances when you may have not gotten around to starting the probate.
Is It Too Late to File Probate?
Can I Stop My Kids From Fighting After I Die?
You may already be aware that the death of a relative can bring out raw emotions in most people. Some may withdraw or prefer to remember their loved ones in solitude. Others might let negative emotions take hold, including anger or entitlement. You and other Minnesota residents may want to keep your loved ones from fighting over your estate after your death.
Probate court is part of the normal process of a will. However, probate also comes into play if family members disagree over the terms of a will. Someone may have been disinherited or feel like he or she was slighted. A relative who cared for you in your final years may feel like he or she deserves more than an equal share of the assets. Your children and grandchildren may be confused over which heirlooms they were meant to have or might disagree over who gets what.
How intestate succession can affect an estate
Death is not always an easy topic to discuss. Though an estate plan can be beneficial to virtually anyone, some parties do not see the full value in it.
If you are considering an estate plan, it is important to understand the important aspects of it, such as the will. Without a proper will in place, intestate succession will generally apply to the estate, which has its own unique applications.
Should I Rip Up My TRUST?
If you have a family Trust, it may be serving your family and your finances well.
On the other hand, the Trust may be needlessly costing your family a large amount of money now or in the future.
In that case, you should consider dissolving the Trust.
Typical Debts That Are Paid in Probate Proceedings
You may feel relieved to know that your adult children will probably not inherit your debts when you die unless they have co-signed on a loan or credit line. However, this is not to say that your debt will not affect them.
During probate proceedings, one of the duties of the personal representative (also known as the executor) of your estate is to pay off your debts using the assets you have left behind. But which debts will be a drain on your children's inheritance?
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WIFE'S PROBATE RIGHTS IN SHORT-TERM MARRIAGE
"That woman was only married to Dad for six months before he passed away. Why should she get anything?" That is a question we have heard a number of times in probate cases. It is a difficult subject for many families when the parent has children from a prior marriage, marries a second time and then passes away without a will.
Estate Plan Should Include Nursing Home Option
No one likes to think about having to enter a nursing home. The idea can seem especially unfathomable when you are in good health, no matter your age. However, the odds that you will never have to go into a nursing home are not something you want to gamble with. Why?
For one thing - and most importantly for quite a few people - a lack of planning could lead to you selling your house and other assets rather than leaving them to your children or other heirs, as you would prefer. In fact, you could have nothing left to probate. It is important to understand that planning for a nursing home does not mean absolutely having to go live in one. It only means being ready for that eventuality financially and legally should the need arise, as it does for many people.
Does my special needs child need a guardianship?
Planning for your child’s future can be stressful, but that stress further compounds when your child has special needs. The designation of special needs encompasses a broad spectrum of cognitive disabilities and when children near legal adulthood it can be difficult to decide whether or not to seek guardianship over them.
If your child is a minor you still have guardianship over them and can make legal, medical and financial decisions for them, but once they turn 18 your authority abruptly ends. Not every disabled child needs to have a guardian, yet in some cases guardianship is an obvious choice.
Will my Doll Collection Have to Go Through Probate?
Understanding the probate process and what assets it involves will be part of the discussion when you meet with an attorney to prepare your will. For example, if you want to know whether your collection of vintage dolls will be subject to probate, the short answer is yes.
Personal property that belongs to you alone will usually pass through probate, but there is a way around that.
Estate Plan Fit for a Prince?
During his lifetime, the late and great Prince of Minnesota had amassed what many expect to be a very significant estate. According to Forbes.com, estimates suggest Prince's net worth is over $300 million. Prince smartly took measures protecting his ownership rights to his music. He retained control of his art, including performance royalties, publishing rights and more.
A large estate with no will or trust
