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.
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...
There are many circumstances that can impact an estate plan, not the least of which is your marital status. Spouses are granted a wide variety of rights to each other’s property in the event of death or divorce. While the laws do vary from state to state, there is often a difference in how marital property is treated compared to non-marital or separate...
Most people think of marriage as a declaration of love and commitment, not as a legal contract that defines the financial and familial obligations of each party. That is, until they start negotiating a divorce settlement and discover their state’s policy on the division of marital property and spousal support. Although not every couple establishes a...
Discussing your desire to establish a prenuptial agreement with your future spouse has the potential to be a complete disaster, but approaching the topic with the comfort of your partner in mind can help alleviate much of the stress associated with the process of creating a premarital agreement. A prenuptial agreement is a legal document drafted and signed...
Marriage is a commitment, but in theory, it’s supposed to be a long and happy commitment. In order to give yourself the best chance at future marital bliss, you should have a frank “money matters” conversation with your partner-to-be before you tie the knot. Marrying someone with substantial debts can impact major life decisions like buying a house,...
If you are married for the first time and are working on your estate plan, the decisions about where the assets go are usually easy. Most parents in that situation want their entire estate to go to the surviving spouse, and upon the death of the surviving spouse, equally to their children. There may be difficult decisions about who will serve as guardians...
When a couple is planning their wedding nobody wants to think about divorce. But as a divorce attorney I commonly hear clients say "Why is X happening in the divorce? I wish I would have known that before." I can't help but wonder if we would have happier marriages, and easier divorces, if couples could take a session on Minnesota divorce along with...
Getting married is an exciting life event. But in today’s society with a rise in blended families, later in life marriages, and high divorce rates, more couples are choosing to protect their futures with a prenuptial (antenuptial) agreement. A prenuptial (before the marriage) agreement can determine spousal rights to property in the event of death or...
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...
Wedding planning can be so much fun in Minnesota. There’s the dress, the photographer, the caterer, and the flowers. One area which can get overlooked, however, is the prenuptial agreement. Sure, it might not seem like as much fun as tasting cakes and picking your first dance song, but it is something that needs to be considered in the midst of...