Recently, there has been a rise in electronic or digital wills. People choose to create or update their estate plan using the internet or software instead of working with an attorney in an office. These documents allow people who possibly can't leave their homes to...
I wrote the book on Minnesota probate.
Estate Planning
Keep your estate plan from causing a family fight
Creating an estate plan is an essential part of planning your future, but many people do not even have a will. A recent study from Caring.com discovered that among every 10 Americans, only four have a will or a trust. Creating an estate plan can protect your wishes...
Estate planning to avoid fights in a blended family
There are many different factors that can complicate estate administration and planning. Complicated assets, legal ownership of a business and unusual family dynamics are all issues that could make planning your estate more difficult. Blended families are a common...
What happens to an intestate relative’s assets?
When a loved one passes away, you may find that they lack an estate plan. This document would have detailed their intentions for disbursing their property upon their passing. Without one, you will likely find yourself confused about where their assets will go. The...
Providing for your children after remarriage
If you have children from a first marriage, entering into a second or third marriage has implications for their ability to inherit your estate. If you die without a will in Minnesota, your spouse will receive the first $225,000 in assets from your estate plus half the...
Blended families, estate planning and the family home
Many people put off estate planning. Perhaps they prefer not to think about death while they are young and healthy. The old saying goes, “failing to plan is planning to fail.” That is a very accurate statement when it comes to estate planning. If people in your life...
Estate planning mistakes even celebrities make
Establishing, maintaining and updating, when necessary, a Minnesota estate plan represents one of the most loving things you can do for your family. It also represents the one sure way by which you can make your preferences known. Unfortunately, many people, including...
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,...
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...
Man caught after faking his death
There have been many sensational news stories and countless movies over the years involving people faking their own death. There is the classic premise to avoid capture by fellow thieves or law enforcement. However, a man who once called Plymouth, Minnesota, home did...