I wrote the book on Minnesota probate.
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...
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...
Drafting documents to talk about the guardian for your children and the distribution of your property after your death is a responsible choice. It is even more beneficial for you to also address the possibility of some medical emergency in the future where you don't...
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...
Did a family or friend recently begin estate planning and asked you to be their executor? If this is your first time hearing about an executor, you may be wondering what the role entails. An executor shouldn’t be confused with an executioner, which would pose all...
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...
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...
A will is a powerful legal document that determines who inherits from an estate and possibly gives someone authority over minor children when their parents or guardians die. Individuals create wills to provide for their loved ones when they die and to have a lasting...
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...
No one wants to think about leaving behind their pets when they die. They also don’t want to imagine a time when they can’t be there to take care of them because they’re too ill or injured to do so. Unfortunately, those things do happen, and pets can end up being...