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.
Across the country, folks often put off their estate planning for many reasons. Whether it’s facing your own mortality, or that of your parents, the prospect of needing a will or trust isn’t something that many of us want to think about. The reality, though, is that when we continue to put off the estate planning process, things only tend to get more...
Many people desire to pass down their personal home for the benefit of their children after their death. Yet when you take a true accounting of the taxes and other costs your loved ones may face, it’s often becomes clear that your heirs stand to inherit much less than you probably hoped. That’s why many of estate planning clients in are interested to know...
Do you have a cherished cabin, vacation home, or other property which you wish to pass down to your loved ones someday? Surprisingly to many people, leaving a home to family members can create a number of unexpected consequences for those who don’t fully weigh their options and plan far enough ahead. The vacation home may be very valuable, in terms of...
For many small business owners in Minnesota, typical business planning centers on where you are now and how to ensure growth in the future. What often goes overlooked, however, is how to properly protect your business after you are gone. Sure, you may have thought about who will take over in the event of retirement, but have you thought about what would...
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:...