Challenges to Minnesota’s trust taxation have weaved their way through the court system. Those who incurred tax liability on trusts fought the taxation and won. After appeals affirmed lower court decisions, the issue was finally submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to rule on the issue, which made the Minnesota…

On June 28th, the Supreme Court denied review of a Minnesota case regarding the state’s taxation of trust income. The 2014 case was about Minnesota’s taxation of the income generated by four trusts. While the trustee, William Fielding, paid the tax bill, he filed suit after he was denied a $1 million refund, which represented…

We love our pets as much as we love our family. Trusts can be set up to take care of our families after we die, but what about our pets? Until 2016, Minnesota had no laws allowing for this sort of posthumous care. In 2016, Minnesota became the last state to allow trusts to be…

There many types of estate planning tools and each one offers benefits and drawbacks. Some tools work better to accomplish certain goals than others. In addition, some individuals or families may not need to utilize certain options, while others will need a variety of more complex choices. Revocable living trusts and wills are similar because…

Writing a Will is something everybody should do.  With a Will, you can name a guardian for your minor children, decide who gets your assets, and appoint someone to sort out your estate.  A properly drafted Will should help maintain family harmony, negate confusion and minimize any time your family has to spend in court. …

Q: How do I provide for my pet’s future care if I die or become disabled first? Your pet trusts you with its life. She curls up at your feet in the den. He waits at the window– tail wagging– eager for your return home. Have you ever thought about what would happen to your…