Estate planning, elder law, family transitions, business planning – the legal issues that affect your family are always evolving. Jennifer writes regularly to keep you informed, educated, and empowered. Browse the latest articles below, or search by topic to find what you’re looking for.
Estate planning often revolves around leaving assets to family members, but what if you want to leave your estate to someone who isn't related to you? Many people have close friends, caretakers, or even charitable organizations that hold a special place in their hearts. In this blog post, our Minnesota will and trust attorneys will explore the essential...
As a Minnesota will lawyer, I've seen firsthand how substance abuse can impact families, leaving parents heartbroken and unsure of how to protect their loved ones while preserving their legacy. In my experience, many parents want to leave an equal inheritance to all their children, but when one child is struggling with addiction, it can significantly...
There’s a lot of bad information on the internet that directs parents of children with special needs to completely disinherit their child in order to maintain his or her eligibility for government benefits such as Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and housing assistance. While such a blunt move would accomplish the goal of preserving government...
If you have a child with special needs, you may be tempted to assume that if something happens to you or your partner, your other children will take care of their sibling. However, it's important to take the time now to create a legal plan for your child so that they are always protected no matter what happens. This includes creating a Supplemental...
As part of the estate planning process, Minnesota trust attorneys will always encourage clients to have open conversations with the person they intend to appoint as their Successor Trustee to ensure that they actually want the job if called upon. There are many responsibilities that a Trustee may be asked to handle (dealing with heirs, paying bills,...
When it comes to estate planning, many people wonder if they can simply write their wishes down in an email and have it be considered a legal Last Will and Testament. While it's true that technology has made it easier than ever to communicate our wishes and desires, an email is not typically sufficient to create a legally binding will. In order for a...
Helping parents to choose a guardian who can raise their children in the event of an untimely death is one of the most important jobs a Minnesota estate planning attorney has. Rather than leaving the decision to a judge (who may choose guardians the parents would never want), working with an estate planning attorney and putting the proper legal...
While the Last Will and Testament is an important estate planning tool, Minnesota trust and estates lawyers want clients to be aware that there are certain things it won’t accomplish. To start, a Last Will and Testament will only come into effect after you’ve passed away, which means that it cannot be used to handle any of your financial or medical affairs...
You can donate retirement accounts, such as an IRA, by distributing the proceeds to charity. However, the tax benefits for donating this way are minimal. A tax-efficient donation strategy is to contribute your retirement fund directly to a charitable organization as part of your estate plan. Options for Donating an IRA The two primary options for...
Some seniors don’t expect to remarry after a divorce or the death of a spouse. However, life is full of surprises. You could meet someone at any age, even during your retirement years. Many older adults bring various assets and debts into a new relationship. They might also have children from a previous marriage, one or multiple businesses, and collections...
Service dogs are specially trained to provide assistance to children with disabilities. They can be taught to support kids in a variety of unique ways that help with daily living and even help in an emergency situation. For families with disabled children, service dogs can be a lifeline. The Various Ways Service Dogs Can Help Disabled Children Service dogs...
Federal estate tax law includes a provision called portability. This provision only applies to married couples. It allows the surviving spouse to use any part of their deceased spouse’s unused estate and gift tax exemption. Including portability in an estate plan protects the surviving spouse from significant estate tax bills if the deceased spouse’s...