Estate planning is an important part of life. However, many people of all ages put it off – sometimes indefinitely. Some of the most common reasons people put off estate planning are described here. Misconceptions about estate planning Some people don’t think about...
I wrote the book on Minnesota probate.
Estate Planning
Why is a bond a good idea for a personal representative?
Every state has its own rules when it comes to the obligations placed on the personal representative of an estate. Here in Minnesota, a bond isn’t necessarily required of a personal representative. However, you should think long and hard about the issue before you...
How retiring adults can protect themselves and their heirs from debt
Adults in Minnesota who are preparing for retirement need to consider not just what resources they currently have but also whether those assets might be vulnerable if they experience financial challenges later in life or if creditors engage in collection activity...
What happens if you die without a will on record?
There is always another excuse that someone can find to justify putting off estate planning a little bit longer. At first, they went to wait until after their wedding. Then they want to wait until they have stopped adding children to the family. Realistically, anyone...
How to pick the right executor for your estate
Being an executor of somebody’s estate is a big job, and there are a lot of different things that have to be handled. Far too often, however, people pick their executors based on who is their closest relative – whether that’s a spouse or an adult child – instead of...
3 reasons to add powers of attorney to your estate plan
Powers of attorney are legal documents that give one adult the right to act on the behalf of another legal adult. Some people draft powers of attorney to transfer Financial authority to a person they trust in the event of an emergency. Other people create powers of...
Dividing up family heirlooms (without dividing the family)
You’ve spent a lifetime building up your assets and your home is filled with curiosities, collections and family treasures. When you’re making your estate plans, dividing up the bank accounts, insurance policies and investment accounts is usually pretty easy. Dividing...
How strategic gifts can impact your estate tax risks
The federal government and the state of Minnesota assess estate taxes in some situations. When people die with millions of dollars in personal property, their estate will likely have to pay taxes based on the overall value of the estate. Exactly how much someone owes...
Preparing for Medicaid or medical assistance with estate planning
Now that you’re getting older, it might start making sense to update your estate plan more regularly and to make sure it is designed in a way that makes sure you have what you need in the case that you have to qualify for Medicaid or other medical services. Your...
4 times you need to update your existing estate plan
Your estate plan helps protect your family and lets you sleep peacefully at night knowing you will leave no unresolved issues if you die. You may have invested many hours of careful consideration into the estate plan you created. It is normal to expect those documents...