Deciding whether you need a will or a trust can be difficult. Both offer estate planning options, but which is right for you? In this post, I will discuss the benefits of each and help you decide which is best for your needs. The Case for Trusts A Trust Avoids Probate Trusts offer certain benefits…
Continue reading…Estate Planning 101: Why It Is Important For Young Families
A Trusts and Estate Lawyer Talks About the Need for an Estate Plan for Young Families Becoming a new parent is an amazing experience, but it can also be overwhelming. One of the things you need to think about as a new parent is estate planning. Estate planning may not be the most exciting thing…
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The Importance of a Durable Power of Attorney in Incapacity Planning
The fact is that none of us are immune from the possibility of a sudden medical emergency or sustaining a devastating injury in an accident. Such unpredictable events can leave a person incapacitated and unable to manage affairs or make critical medical decisions. The fact that any of us could become incapacitated makes it critical…
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What Is Incapacity Planning?
It may be a scary idea to confront, but the truth remains that not one of us really knows what the future holds. This, of course, can be a source of great anxiety. While the mystery of the future can hold great promise and excitement of the unknown, it can also be overwhelming, to say…
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How Can You Plan for Incapacity?
While estate planning is so often associated with death, it also has a lot to do with incapacity planning. We understand that neither of these topics are things that people really jump at the chance to discuss, but they remain important topics to confront and plan for. In fact, incapacity planning can bring you a…
Continue reading…Should You Add Someone Else to Your Bank Account?
A Minnesota Estate Planning Lawyer Explains Why This May Not Be Achieve Your Goals I recently met with a client who informed me that her daughter had financial power over her matters. ”You mean she has a power of attorney?” I inquired. She responded that “No. She has signing authority on my accounts.” After several…
Continue reading…You Need an Estate Plan!
A Minnesota Estate Planning Lawyer Explains Why Everyone Should Get an Estate Plan It is a startling, though not surprising, fact that an overwhelming number of people have absolutely no documents in place to direct where their assets and estate should go upon their death. Why? The reasons have been surveyed by analysts, but in…
Continue reading…Help Your Parents Plan Now
Minnesota Estate Planning Attorney Urges You to Help Your Parents Put a Plan in Place I live the practice of estate planning because I enjoy helping people. All people. I specialize in the “overlooked” because, well, these individuals and families are overlooked by society and need a fierce advocate on their side. Another specialty area that I…
Continue reading…Health Care Directive, Part 2: How to Create One
You realize that you need to get a health care directive. But how do you create a valid one? A health care directive is a written document that informs other of your wishes about your health care by allowing you to name a person (“agent”) to make medical decisions for you if you are unable…
Continue reading…Health Care Directive, Part 1: Get One Now
When I had surgery a couple years ago I was lucky enough to live in a city where my relationship with my former partner was respected by the hospital staff. The hospital employees didn’t bat an eyelash when my partner accompanied me through all phases of the experience, except the surgery itself. Further, the doctor…
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