While most of us feel were doing well just keeping up with our life insurance policy premiums, the fact is that once you reach your early 50s, everyone needs to make a decision about possibly buying long term care insurance, too. After all, its been estimated that some 70% of those over age 65 will…
How to Get Letters Testamentary in a Minnesota Probate
Perhaps the number 1 question that the law firm receives is: how to get letters testamentary? The question usually stems from a failed trip or telephone call to the bank. The bank is usually the place where the deceased person kept their money – be it a savings, money market, or checking account. The bank…
How Early Estate Planning Can Help You Meet Your Long-Term Goals
How Early Estate Planning Can Help You Meet Your Long-Term Goals Far too often, many of us fail to create our first Minnesota estate plans until were approaching middle age or have fully passed through those years. Thats unfortunate because every adult needs a Medical Power of Attorney a serious illness can strike at any…
MN Special Estate Planning Needs: Older Single Adults Without Children
Now that most firms have had adequate time to start offering all of their estate planning tools to same-sex married couples after the passage of new laws, its time to revisit the special needs of older single adults many of whom are without children. Recent statistics indicate that 53% of all women and 26% of…
Minnesota Probate | Wills and Trusts
Most of the people that contact our office havequestions about whether a probate is necessary, how much it costs, and what they can do about it. Much of the initial conversation involves a discussion aboutwhether or not the deceased person had a Will or a Trust – or both. Because we have received many questions…
Minnesota Estate Planning: Choosing Charities as Beneficiaries
When drawing up estate plans, most people gather together all documents proving what they own and then make a list of their intended beneficiaries. This list usually includes loved ones and friends although it may also name one or more charities as beneficiaries. While some of us may just give to charities to offset tax…
Minnesota Wills & Trusts | Openly Discussing Death Can Greatly Benefit Each Family Member
Before another close family member dies, set aside time to seriously discuss with each other all of your basic end-of-life concerns, values, and needs. Your closest relatives (or friends who will be acting as your legal caregivers) need this information so that one day, they wont have to face unnecessary crises and sleepless nights wondering…
Minnesota Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning | The James Brown Estate: A Set of Complex Relationships & Interests
Perhaps most of us remember James Brown as the Godfather of Soul who sang such hits as I Got You (I Feel Good), Papas Got a Brand New Bag, and I Got the Feelin. He often moved about on stage in a rather flashy manner that others tried to imitate. Yet despite all of the…
MN Estate Planning | Married Same-Sex Couples Now Have Access to All Estate Planning Tools
The U. S. Supreme Courts recent landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges not only made it lawful for same-sex couples to marry in all 50 states, it also opened the doors for these couples to obtain all of the same-sex estate planning advantages once only available to married heterosexuals. Most gay couples are now sighing…
Minnesota Wills & Trusts | What to Expect When You Formally Execute Your Will
After youve met with your Minnesota estate planning attorney to decide how to use your Will to transfer all of your funds and property to your beneficiaries, youll need to return to his office later to sign everything. Fortunately, all of the hard work has been done and youll be given the chance to carefully…