When you visit an attorney to make an estate plan and sign your will, they will also suggest you make a living will, also known as a healthcare directive, and sign a healthcare power of attorney. Thes...
What is a Living Trust?
When people plan their estates, one favored mechanism used by estate planning experts is to transfer assets is a “Revocable Living Trust.” You certainly don’t have to be incredibly wealthy t...
Why You Need to Update Your Estate Plan After Divorce
When you start the process of getting a divorce, your attorney will also recommend you update your estate plan (or put one together if you’ve never had one). Otherwise, if you die without updating y...
Staying Up to Date with Estate and Gift Tax
Planning your estate is an important life step and something that you may need to revisit numerous times over the years. Estate planning is closely tied with giving financial gifts during your lifetim...
What Happens When a Couple Needs an Attorney
If you’re looking to start or buy a business or engage in some other transaction with a family member, especially a spouse, it is wise to bring an attorney into that conversation early on. In many c...
The Elder Abuse Laws of Minnesota
Minnesota law defines “Elder Abuse” as the mistreatment, neglect, or exploitation of an older, vulnerable person. Such abuse usually takes place within the home or in a residential facility, and t...
What’s Hot in Estate Planning Right Now May Surprise You
Estate planning has truly evolved over the past 20 years. Gone is the uncertainty about federal estate taxes and the absolute requirement for married couples to use complex trusts to minimize these ...
Where is the Best Place to Store Your Original Estate Planning Documents?
Estate planning attorneys are often asked where original estate planning documents – wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives – should be stored for safekeeping. While there...
Is a Payable on Death Account Right for You and Your Family?
Payable on death accounts, or “POD accounts” for short, have become popular for avoiding probate in the last decade or so. What is a POD Account? A POD account is a type of bank account authorized...
It’s Not Just About Death and Taxes: The Essential Legal Documents You Need for Incapacity Planning
Comprehensive estate planning is about more than your legacy after death, avoiding probate, and saving on taxes. It must also be about having a plan in place to manage your affairs if you become menta...