» Estate Planning

When the assets of an estate are insufficient to satisfy debts, claims, expenses of administration, and devises under the will, the rules of abatement will be applied. The rules of abatement determine the order in which devises shall be given effect… Read More

Everybody has an estate plan, or so the saying goes. What does that mean? It means that if you have not taken the time to prepare a will or trust, the laws of intestacy will dictate how your assets should be distributed upon your death. The recent ne… Read More

According to the Humane Society, nearly two-thirds of American households have a pet. The majority of those pet owners consider their pets to be family members. Given these statistics, it is not surprising that a growing number of people are wonderin… Read More

Minnesota does offer a probate shortcut for some estates. As a reminder, probate is required after the death of a loved one where property passes according to the terms of a will (or not if the person did not have a will) (see this recent post). Any… Read More

When a loved one passes away, dealing with the estate can be overwhelming. It’s important to ensure that the decedent’s last wishes are respected, but where do you start? Often, probate is the required course of action. An overview of the probate… Read More

Here we are deep in another Minnesota winter. As beautiful as a crisp winter day can be, many of us take an opportunity to take a trip to a warmer climate. Whether you will be boarding a plane or driving long distances, you are probably making a chec… Read More

It’s a new year and a new… exemption limit? Yes, both the Minnesota and federal estate tax exemptions are increased for decedents dying in 2016. The federal estate and gift tax exemption is $5.45 million per individual (up from $5.43 million… Read More

Minnesota farmers have been seeing the value of their farmland increase significantly over the last few years. Though it has slowed recently, this increase often results in a gross estate that is more than the Minnesota estate tax exemption. For farm… Read More