If you have an aging parent, you likely want to encourage him or her to write an estate plan. Doing so gives your mother or father control over what happens to assets after death. If your parent has some wealth, estate planning also ensures that you receive your fair...
I wrote the book on Minnesota probate.
Year: 2019
Estate of wealthy retired aerospace executive disputed
Any beneficiary has the legal right to contest a will or trust executed in Minnesota or anywhere else in the U.S. When heirs believe the deceased intended to leave them a particular asset or property, they may initiate a dispute through the probate court. To succeed,...
The timely handling of the probate process
Your loved one has passed on, and you’re ready to put their estate quickly to rest. Unfortunately, going by the book means their affairs could take months to resolve. While each probate case is different, the average time to settle an estate is nearly 16 months....
Undue influence may invalidate your loved one’s estate plan
If you have an aging father, you may have had a few conversations about his end-of-life wishes. For a variety of reasons, creating a comprehensive estate plan is an effective way to ensure your parent keeps some control over what happens to assets after death. Still,...
The duties of executors of wills in Minnesota
Choosing to become an executor, now called a “personal representative,” for someone’s last will and testament can entail a lot of responsibility, depending on the complexity of that person’s estate. If the majority of the estate is subject to Minnesota probate...
Will I be responsible for a parent’s debt?
Thinking about the future passing of an aging parent can be extremely difficult. You may also wonder about the state of their financial affairs and what will happen after they're gone. This uncertainty is not uncommon. Elderly care and medical bills can quickly add...
Establish power of attorney early for an aging parent
With an increasingly elderly population and a rise in multigenerational living, many Minnesotans are choosing to take on power of attorney in order to help aging parents handle their finances. This important estate planning tool allows a son or daughter to act on...
THE STRANGE JOURNEY OF FRANZ KAFKA’S RECENTLY RECOVERED MANUSCRIPTS
The Last Will and Testament of a friend of Franz Kafka, recently proved decisive in the release of previously unpublished works of the 20th century literary master.Franz Kafka was the author of such masterpieces as The Trial, The Castle, and The Metamorphosis.When...
Tom Petty’s estate signals the importance of precise language
In creating an estate plan, many hope to preserve their own wishes, avoid future feuds between loved ones and more. However, even those with meticulously planned estates throughout Minnesota may fail to avoid a future dispute without clear, precise language.Late...
Keeping a family business in the family
It is many business owner's or founder's wish to pass the company along to their children. It often becomes even a more critical issue when a company has been in the family for multiple generations. In decades past, the transition of ownership was simply something...