Becoming a parent changes everything. Suddenly, your focus shifts from just yourself to the future of your children. But here’s a question many young families in Minnesota overlook: What would happen to your kids and your property if something unexpected were to happen to you? Estate planning might sound like something reserved for older adults…
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What Differentiates a Will From a Living Trust?
If something unexpected happened tomorrow, would your loved ones know how to manage your estate or access your assets? That’s a question many people don’t ask until it’s too late. Both wills and living trusts can ensure your wishes are honored, but they work in very different ways. The biggest distinctions come down to timing,…
Continue reading…Should I Handwrite My Will?
A Minnesota Estate Planning Lawyer Explains Why You Should NOT Handwrite Your Will We’ve all heard the stories. A dying person writes out a will on a car bumper. Is such a will valid in Minnesota? Generally, a handwritten will – called holographic – is not valid here. What is a Valid Will? Under Minnesota…
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What You Need to Know Before Drafting Your Will
If you have decided it is time to make an estate plan, a big congratulations are in order as you have taken an important step in protecting a future you want for yourself and your loved ones. There really is no better time than the present to put a comprehensive estate plan in place and…
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What Happens If I Die Without a Will?
A will is a valuable legal tool. It is most known for its ability to provide directions as to how a person’s assets should be distributed upon his or her death, but it can be much more. In a will, you can name who you want to act as personal representative of your estate, a…
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How to Challenge the Legal Validity of a Will
After the death of a loved one, emotions can run high. When you add in the expectations people may have for an inheritance, things can become quickly heated. You discover the decedent changed his will a few days prior to death. The new will conflicts with what the decedent told you. Due to the suspiciousness…
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What Is the Difference Between a Living Will and a Will?
If you looked into estate planning, as everyone should, you may have become quickly confused with the legal rhetoric of it all. Will, living will, trusts, health care surrogate, advance directives—it can all start blending. Today, we will help unravel some of these critical legal tools that play a central role in estate planning. In…
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Do I Need a Living Will?
While wills seem to get the bulk of the attention when people talk about establishing an estate plan, living wills are also a critical component of a strong estate plan. A living will is very different from a will, which is primarily used to designate how assets should be distributed upon a person’s death. A…
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What Should You Include in a Living Will?
Have you ever thought about who would make medical decisions for you if you were unable to speak for yourself? It’s not a pleasant question, but it’s one that every adult should consider. Planning ahead with the right legal documents ensures your wishes are honored and protects your loved ones from difficult guesswork during stressful…
Continue reading…Grounds for Contesting a Will
A will is a legal instrument utilized to, among other things, establish the terms of distributing the assets of a decedent’s estate to his or her heirs. In some instances, an heir or beneficiary may be upset with the terms of the will or may think the will does not accurately reflect the true wishes…
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