Who Can be an Executor? Technically, an executor is a man appointed to carry out the wishes of someone who has died and manage their estate. If a woman is chosen for this task, she is called an executrix. But for simplicity’s sake, we will refer to administrators of all genders as executors since this...Read More
Where To Begin With Estate Planning What if you are no longer able to control your assets due to health concerns? Your estate plan should detail who can access and manage your assets as your proxy. Ideally, this person or persons should be the same people who will eventually inherit your estate. Everyone should have...Read More
The two most common reasons for not writing a will are procrastination and not wanting to think about our mortality. Unfortunately, death is a part of life, and it can often occur without warning due to accidents or even illnesses like COVID-19. Having a will gives your heirs direction on the “who, what, and when”...Read More
There will be times in your life when it will be necessary to have someone else sign paperwork on your behalf. Thankfully, the law provides a safe legal way to do this through something called power of attorney. Let’s look at some of these circumstances and what can be done to meet your needs. Power...Read More
Most documents within an estate plan involve preparing your family for the event of your passing. There is one document, however, that addresses how to handle your medical care while you’re still alive: the healthcare directive. What Is a Healthcare Directive? A healthcare directive, also known as an “advance directive,” is a legal document that...Read More
A comprehensive estate plan is important to create and update during all phases of life. It protects your assets from unwanted distribution in the event of your death and clarifies your wishes on crucial topics like healthcare, power of attorney and child guardianship. Protect the people you love and the money you’ve worked hard for...Read More
An estate plan outlines your final wishes in the event of your death, including covering how to divide your assets and provide for your children. Should you get divorced, you will want to update your estate plan to help protect you and your family from undesired consequences. Why Is an Estate Plan Update So Important?...Read More
Estate planning is a difficult exercise for most people. It means facing your mortality, making difficult decisions about care in your final days, and dividing your property after your death. A full estate plan takes all of this into consideration, but also incorporates items that only matter while you are living. One such item, a...Read More
It’s that time of year again. Thousands of parents are sending their kids off to college or to their first jobs after high school graduation. Many are looking at each other wondering where the time has gone and how the kids grew up so fast. And many wonder what to do next. While you adjust...Read More
The most common question an estate planning attorney hears is, “Do I really need a will?” As all lawyers do, we hedge our bets and say, “maybe.” Here’s why: Your particular family and financial circumstances dictate whether you should have a will or whether your wishes would be fulfilled under Minnesota’s intestate laws. These laws...Read More