I wrote the book on Minnesota probate.
As a business owner, safeguarding your interests and those of your business is paramount. You don't need to wait until the inevitable happens before you put your affairs in order. If you own a business, one of the most pertinent questions you want answers to is how...
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...
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...
The validity of a will is a topic of paramount importance when it comes to estate administration and inheritance. Families, at times, find themselves in situations where they feel compelled to challenge the legitimacy of a will. While probate litigation can make the...
When you decide to create a will, you do so for one main reason: to articulate your wishes with respect to how you want to have your estate distributed when you die. And when you get it right, a will can help you achieve that goal and more. Without one, on the other...
Some people make it a practice to routinely review their estate planning paperwork every few years. Others experience a major life event that they recognize will make their paperwork outdated and possibly invalid and update it accordingly. Regardless of the reason...
The main parties interested in probate proceedings in Minnesota are usually the beneficiaries of an estate and the person serving as the personal representative or executor of that estate. The closest friends and family members of the individual who passed may expect...
There are many different components to the estate planning process, and not everyone needs to engage in each separate approach. For example, crafting a will is very important when someone has sizable assets or dependent family members, but less so for a young, single...
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...
When someone dies in Minnesota, all of their property and responsibilities transfer to their estate. Their estate will pay their taxes and settle their debts. The estate will own their property until it transfers to a creditor or beneficiary. Therefore, the person who...