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.
While many people consider a “simple will” an important part of taking care of their family after their death, they forget to consider including a versatile option: Trusts. Trusts come into being through a person’s will or a separate legal document establishing that trust. A person who creates a trust is called a “grantor” or “donor.” When a trust is...
Parents and caregivers of special needs children in Minnesota understand the importance of planning ahead to ensure the future care of their loved one. For most families, this includes working with a special needs lawyer to create trusts and other legal documents which provide for the continuing care of the child when their parent is no longer able to do...
The best thing you can ever give someone you love is peace of mind. Stress and uncertainty can take a toll on all of us, the comfort and reassurance that comes from a well thought out plan can go a long way of relieving the burden. Update Your Will. Hire an attorney who will really take the time to explain the documents to you. Make sure your documents...
For many adults in Minnesota, the thought of estate planning conjures up visions of grandma and grandpa putting together a will or a trust to pass down their home or cherished heirlooms to family members. It’s all about providing for our offspring, right? Not necessarily. Even if you are single and/or have no children, sitting down with a will and trust...
While not everyone needs a will, most people could benefit from a will. You could use a will if: You would not want your property divided according to your state’s intestacy laws You would want to leave something to a person not recognized by your state’s intestacy laws (a non-marital partner, a stepchild, a best friend) You or your spouse have children...
While retiling the bathroom floor or installing new switch-plates throughout your house may be great DIY weekend projects, writing your own will should not make your to-do list. In the instance that the tile job is botched, you can hire a professional. If you botch your own will, there is nothing you can do or say about it after you are gone. In case there...
Sometimes the term “estate plan” can be overwhelming. Or people think, “I don’t have very much, I don’t need an estate plan” Estate planning is just the concept planning for the care of our children, our families, and our assets in the event of our incapacity or death. You don’t need to have a million dollar estate to need an estate plan. My most common...
The term “estate planning” has a tendency to send many people in a panic -too complex, full of legal lingo and complicated tax concepts. In his article Estate Planning Without Anxiety Peter Keating with SmartMoney Magazine does a good job of explaining the basic concepts. There are four simple steps you should be aware of when working on your estate plan:...
There are two big misconceptions when it comes to estate planning: 1. Only the rich need to worry about estate planning 2. Only people with kids need to worry about estate planning. When it comes to estate planning, young adults with minimal assets and no children are all too often overlooked. Unfortunately, failure to get the essential documents done can...
Buying a house can be an exciting, and overwhelming, time. For couples purchasing real estate there are some legal consequences they should be aware of. All too often these consequences are not considered until the relationship has soured and a court case is imminent. Here are 5 things that couples need to know before buying real estate. 1. Being...
Planning your estate with an attorney in Minnesota is an important step in protecting your assets, your wishes and the people who matter to you the most. There are a number of options available, as any estate planning lawyer can tell you. Do you need a will? A trust? Is it possible you don’t need either? It’s very rare that a person in Minnesota wouldn’t...
As an estate planning and family law attorney I cannot urge people enough to make sure their wishes are documented and, more importantly, their families are protected and prepared. A valid Health Care Directive is a critically important document that is so easy to get. It can truly make a world of difference for your family during what is an already...