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Credit Shelter Trust Basics: What Minnesota Farmers Need to Know Minnesota farm families are often surprised to learn that the Minnesota estate tax exemption is only $3 million per person. With today’s land values, machinery, livestock, and retirem… Read More

The First 30 Days After a Farmer Dies: What Minnesota Farm Families Need to Know When a farmer dies, the estate plan shifts from preparation to administration. The documents are signed. The intentions are clear. But now the practical questions begin:… Read More

Why Beneficiary Designations Matter More Than Your Will in Farm Estate Planning Beneficiary designations often control more assets than your will or trust. Life insurance, retirement accounts, bank accounts, and transfer-on-death deeds pass by benefi… Read More

Using a Contract for Deed to Transfer the Family Farm to the Next Generation If you’ve been thinking about selling your farm to your farming heir on a contract for deed, you’re not alone. We see this strategy used every day by family farmers who… Read More

Estate Planning & Probate FAQs for Minnesota Families and Farm Owners This FAQ explains the most common estate planning, probate, and farm succession questions Minnesota families ask. The answers reflect practical, real-world planning considerati… Read More

Estate Planning Isn’t About a Will — It’s About Responsibility Most people think estate planning starts and ends with a will. Often, it’s a cheap one — a $100 will or a $300–$500 “estate plan” — and the assumption is that a single d… Read More

Why Minnesota Farmers Still End Up in Probate Even With a Trust One of the most frustrating questions we hear from Minnesota farmers is this: “We had a trust. Why did the farm still end up in probate?” The answer is not necessarily that the trust… Read More

Why An Incomplete Power of Attorney Can Shut Down a Minnesota Farm Overnight Most Minnesota farmers have a power of attorney in place. The problem? Many of those powers of attorney are incomplete, and families don’t find out until it’s too late.… Read More