One of the main benefits of estate and trust planning is the avoidance of probate proceedings. But what does that mean? And why should you want to avoid probate in the first place? The main reason to avoid probate in Minnesota is simply that it’s a long, public, and costly process that could have … [Read more...] about Why Do You Want to Avoid Probate in Minnesota?
Probate
Strategies to Help Your Family Avoid Central Minnesota Probate Court After You Pass Away
Even those who don’t fully understand the probate process are pretty clear about the fact that they want to avoid it. As a Central Minnesota probate lawyer, I see so many cases where probate could have been shortened or avoided altogether if only people had more information. Probate is a legal … [Read more...] about Strategies to Help Your Family Avoid Central Minnesota Probate Court After You Pass Away
How Long Does It Take to Settle an Estate in Minnesota?
One of the most common questions asked when it comes to settling an estate in Minnesota is, “How long is this going to take?” The answer to that question is, of course, going to vary depending upon several factors. In some situations, Minnesota probate may just take several weeks or a few months; in … [Read more...] about How Long Does It Take to Settle an Estate in Minnesota?
When It Comes to Cryptocurrency, Estate Planning Is a Must!
You’ve most likely seen articles and news segments about cryptocurrency. The most popular form is Bitcoin, but there are several others on the horizon. What is cryptocurrency? For the uninitiated, cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security, making it … [Read more...] about When It Comes to Cryptocurrency, Estate Planning Is a Must!
Here’s What REALLY Happens If You Don’t Have an Estate Plan in Place
What really happens if you don’t create a will, trust, or other estate planning documents and essentially keep your head in the sand? Any Monticello estate attorney will tell you, the honest truth is that you make things much harder, more costly, and more time-consuming for your loved ones if … [Read more...] about Here’s What REALLY Happens If You Don’t Have an Estate Plan in Place
5 Most Infamous Estate Planning Battles
When done properly, an estate plan affords peace of mind to those creating it and leaves behind a legacy for their loved ones. But, sometimes estate planning can go awry – and it’s usually due to eccentricities held by either the creators of the estate plan, the beneficiaries, or both. To give a … [Read more...] about 5 Most Infamous Estate Planning Battles
Issues to Consider with an Out-of-State Probate
It’s become more and more common now to see clients come in with estate planning or probate cases that involve multiple states. From clients with a family cabin across the border in Wisconsin or mineral rights to land in North Dakota to “snow birds” who spend the winters away from Minnesota’s … [Read more...] about Issues to Consider with an Out-of-State Probate
Estate Planning for Your Minnesota Small Business
When it’s time to start your estate planning process (that time is right now, by the way), entrepreneurs need to remember to take their small businesses into consideration. Whether you own the entire business outright and work for yourself or you simply own a portion of the entity, you will … [Read more...] about Estate Planning for Your Minnesota Small Business
The Role of the Personal Representative in Minnesota
What used to be called the “executor” of the estate is now known as the “personal representative.” The Personal Representative has a very big job of finishing up the decedent’s business, such as taking care of taxes and keeping the bills paid; not to mention the much more commonly recognized job of … [Read more...] about The Role of the Personal Representative in Minnesota
