If you’ve taken the important step of meeting with a Minnesota estate planning attorney you should be congratulated. It’s an important step that far too many people put off. But now that the plan is drafted and formally prepared, you may be wondering who you should tell, if anyone. There are two basic strategies that…
Minnesota Estate Planning Law: How Does The Gift Tax Work?
As many people age they want to experience the happiness that comes from seeing those they love taken care of. Though passing money along through a will is one means of achieving this end, others prefer to take a more direct approach and give money to loved ones while they are still alive. It might…
Minnesota Estate Planning: What Is Simultaneous Death?
Though the thought is a terrible one, it’s also not unheard of: a couple dies together in a horrible accident with no will to handle the distribution of assets. While the case is certainly tragic and estate planning would likely not be the first issue to spring to mind, the fact is the case presents…
Minnesota Estate Planning Law And The Trouble With Living Wills
As we’ve discussed here before, Minnesota law allows for the creation of health care directives, something that is similar to the living wills that are used in other states. A recent Yahoo.com article discussed some of the problems associated with living wills. Though health care directives can be more comprehensive than living wills, many of…
Minnesota Estate Planning Law: Guardianships In Minnesota
A few weeks back we discussed conservatorships in Minnesota and how they operate. Let’s now turn to a related subject: guardianships. As we mentioned, conservatorships exist when a person is unable to manage their financial affairs. Judges then appoint another person to make financial decisions for the protected person. So what’s a guardianship? Keep reading…
Minnesota Estate Planning Law: Minnesota Conservatorship
It can be a difficult day when you realize that a loved one is no longer able to independently manage his or her affairs. Though it can be hard, and is sometimes met with resistance, it’s often essential that family members take action to protect that person from him or herself. While guardianships exist to…
Minnesota Estate Planning: What Makes A Will Invalid?
We’ve discussed the idea of challenging the validity of a will before, including some creative ways to prevent such challenges like no-contest clauses. This time let’s discuss the subject of a will’s validity but from another side, let’s focus on some of the issues that can make a will invalid and how to avoid them….
Minnesota Estate Planning: What’s The Difference Between A Will And A Trust?
If you’re reading this article chances are you have heard the terms “will” and “trust.” Though the words are frequently bandied about, they are often used without much explanation. While most everyone is passingly familiar with the terms, it’s likely that few truly understand the differences between the two important Minnesota estate planning tools. The…
Minnesota Estate Planning And The Purpose Of A No-Contest Clause
The last thing anyone wants to imagine is that once you’re dead and gone your loved ones members turn on each other and fight over the estate. That is why Minnesota estate planning is so important. The unseemly thought of family members bickering or even suing one another for a larger share of an estate…
Minnesota Estate Planning: What A Will Won’t Do
Minnesota Wills are wonderful things. We’ve discussed before how important it is to create and update a Minnesota will and how a proper estate plan can help to ensure that your wishes are carried out after you’re gone. While the benefits of a will are undeniable, the fact is wills do not do everything. Though a…