Though it’s rare to hear good news out of the Internal Revenue Service, for those worried about the potential pain of estate tax, a recent announcement may just qualify. That’s because the IRS revealed earlier this month that the estate tax exemption amount would climb in 2015. To find out more about the estate tax…
Author: Flanders Law Firm LLC
Minnesota Probates & Medical Assistance
In every new Minnesota probate administration consult I do, I ask clients whether their loved one received or has applied for medical assistance. Why? Because medical assistance issues often come up in a probate or estate administrations. When people receive state-funded money for payment of hospice care, hospital stays, and long-term care, etc., during their life, the…
Minnesota Wills & Trusts: How Can Moving Impact Your Estate Plan?
Today it’s increasingly common as families grow and change to relocate geographically once or even several times over the course of a lifetime. Jobs, marriage, divorce, grandchildren, retirement, health issues and many other factors can result in moves that present potential estate planning issues. Why does a move matter? You may be confused at this…
Joan Rivers’ Estate Plan Revealed | Minnesota Wills & Trusts
It’s been a bad year in terms of celebrity deaths and estate planning mistakes, with several famous actors and musicians passing away. Though sad for family members and fans, it has been a good year for nosey readers curious about the private financial status of these famous individuals. From Robin Williams to Phillip Seymour Hoffman,…
What is probate?
As an estate planning lawyer, I have been asked “what is probate” on more than one occasion. I’ve also tried to answer that question on this blog. Probate is the process by which the instructions contained in a person’s Will are administered in the court system. It is not something to be scared of. It is…
The Complete Beginners Guide to Medical Assistance and Probate in Minnesota
The title of this post may be a little misleading. I apologize. This article highlights some very basic things about medical assistance as it relates to probate in Minnesota. The law firm plans on making a series of posts about this medical assistance in Minnesota. Covering the entire subject in one article would be very difficult…
MN Wills & Trusts | Learn More About Leaving Money To Your Children And Not Their Spouses
Though it may sound a bit harsh, the reality is that lots of concerned parents are eager to learn more about how future inheritance money can be used to protect their children and not inadvertently benefit their sons or daughters-in-law. Divorce is a real possibility and most people would hate to think the money they…
Minnesota Estate Planning Law | Estate Plan Details Released After Robin Williams
A recent article by CNBC discussed some details that have emerged in recent days about Robin Williams’ estate plan. As we’ve discussed now several times, the details of some celebrities’ estate plans (or lack thereof) get leaked when papers are filed publicly, often as part of the probate process. In this case, friends have come…
Minnesota Probate Law | How Much Does Probate Cost And How Long Does It Take?
It’s quite common to hear people complain about the pain of the probate system. Probate is commonly understood to be a long and expensive process, one that wastes time, money and energy. Though many people may be familiar with such common complaints, few understand how long the Minnesota probate process really lasts and how much it can…
Minnesota estate planning and probate tidbits | Several Important Celebrity Estate Planning Lessons
Minnesota estate planning is no different from estate planning done in other states and for other (famous) people. We’ve discussed some celebrity estate planning mistakes before, often using the high-profile cases as examples for what others should avoid doing. Recently, an article appeared in a California newspaper discussing some estate planning lessons learned from the stars….