Estate Planning 101

Estate planning encompasses a variety of topics and consequently all our posts could fall under this category. These articles illustrate how estate planning is broader than just a simple Will and how the legal, financial, medical and emotional considerations all affect an estate plan.

Incapacity Planning

It is imperative for individuals to be proactive in naming agents to act on their behalf for times of incapacity. While most of our posts relate to planning for death, these articles address the importance of planning for times when individuals are still living but are unable to communicate or carry out their intentions.

Investments & Insurance

We encourage individuals to take a holistic approach to their estate plan. It is not enough to solely set up the legal documents. It is also important to ensure an individual’s estate is financially secure and protected. These articles range from economic market updates to general advice on how to save, maximize benefits and transfer financial assets.

Probate

Probate is the process of administering an individual’s estate after death. Some individuals wish to avoid probate at all costs, while others understand that probate is not as time consuming or expensive if an appropriate plan is in place. These posts detail the procedures, common pitfalls and helpful hints of probate.

Real Estate

Real property is present in most estates. If the transfer of real estate is not planned for properly, it can cause huge complications in an estate administration. These articles address the ways real estate is held in an estate and how to properly transfer title, both during life and after death.

Taxes

Taxes can be a driving factor for individuals to create an estate plan. Individuals wish to minimize taxes during their lifetime and upon death. These posts educate readers about the different taxes that can affect an estate with tips to minimize or avoid exposure to tax.

Trusts

Trusts can be complex and confusing to many individuals. These articles try to boil down trust options, explain how trusts function and for which individuals and estates they are appropriate.

Recent Articles

May 22 2013

Domestic Asset Protection Trusts

Often, clients ask if there is way to shelter their assets from creditors. In Minnesota, the short answer is: no. However, in a handful of states, there is a trust that could allow for someone [...]

May 20 2013

5 Quick Tips for Trustees on Upholding Fiduciary Duties & Avoiding Conflicts

Serving as a trustee is not to be taken lightly. This is because in the context of trusts and estates, a fiduciary relationship exists between the trustee (a/k/a fiduciary) who holds and keeps a property [...]

May 14 2013

Frank Sinatra

December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998 It has been 15 years since Ol’ Blue Eyes passed away at the age of 82. Frank Sinatra’s legacy lives on and needs little introduction. Famous for his [...]

May 8 2013

Wrongful Death Cases

When a loved one dies from a wrongful or negligent act of another, knowing where to begin the legal process can be difficult. When you bring a wrongful death case in Minnesota, there are a [...]

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About Epilawg

Epilawg discusses and offers legal and non-legal insight for planning the resolution of your own story. We hope that you will participate in the dialogue.

Epilawg was recently voted one of The Top 25 Legal Blawgs in Minnesota by Practiceblawg.com

LexisNexus Top 25 Blog 2011 – Estate, Probate, and Elder Law Winner