I wrote the book on Minnesota probate.
Putting together a comprehensive estate plan can mean needing to consider issues that you would otherwise prefer to avoid. Planning for your death means that you have to reflect on your own mortality and on what will happen to the people you love if you aren't there...
While the American divorce rate is on the decline, separation remains common among U.S. couples. The American Psychological Association estimates that between 40 and 50% of marriages nationwide ultimately end in divorce. Naturally, many parents eventually remarry and...
Protecting your wishes can be as easy as creating a living will. A living will is a document that helps you state what your wishes are if you become seriously ill or impaired. Most people know what their wishes are if they’re hurt and able to speak for themselves, but...
When a person has a second or third marriage, he or she must carefully craft an estate plan to avoid arguments that may arise about inheritance. The situation becomes even more complicated when someone has children from several different relationships. Review the...
If you have recently lost a loved one, you will know that in addition to coping with the loss of one of the most important people in your life, you will also experience the loss of aspects of yourself and your own identity. This experience can be very disorientating,...
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...
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...
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...
At some point in your life, there’s a chance that a loved one could name you as the executor of their will. While they’re living, this doesn’t sound like that big of a deal. However, upon their passing, you’ll find yourself dealing with a variety of responsibilities....
When your loved one dies, you may have expectations as to what you will inherit from him or her. But what if the deceased’s Last Will and Testament fails to make the inheritance provisions for you that you expected? Can you challenge the will? Challenging a will can...