Claims to Allow & Disallow During a Probate


December 26, 2013
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Personal Representatives have many duties to a decedent’s estate. Previously, Jayne Sykora discussed how a Personal Representative is selected and what their duties consist of in “So You’re a Personal Representative. Now What?” and “What Happens to Debt at Death”. One such duty is determining which creditor claims to allow and disallow and this post […]

10 Items To Remember Heading Into 2014


December 24, 2013
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There are a few items we wanted to remind you about as we wrap up the end of the year and look towards 2014. In no particular order they are: 1. Don’t forget that Minnesota has a gift tax! This gift tax applies to anything given over $1 million in a person’s lifetime (excluding gifts […]

Estate denied property tax refund


December 19, 2013
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The tax code is riddle with nuances. Some of these nuances are beneficial to clients, others can be frustrating. Recently, I had an estate administration client come to me with a letter from the Minnesota Department of Revenue stating that a decedent’s property tax credit was being adjusted to $0.00. Unfortunately, the letter failed to site […]

Mandatory Arbitration Provisions in Estate Planning Instruments


December 16, 2013
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In May 2013, the Texas Supreme Court enforced a mandatory arbitration provision within a trust instrument in Rachal v. Reitz.  Since then, a number of legal commentators have suggested that there is a growing trend towards the recognition of such provisions in the probate context.  The issue is far from settled, however, and the underlying […]

Walt Disney


December 15, 2013
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December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966 It has been forty-seven years since Walt Disney passed away. The mastermind of the Disney empire, bringing you the lovable characters of Mickey Mouse, Snow White and more, passed away of lung cancer before he could see the completion of the famous Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. […]

After Hours with Chris Hiestand


December 10, 2013
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Name: Chris Hiestand Employer: Excelsior Wealth Management Position: Owner and Independent Financial Advisor Location: 3800 American Blvd. West, Suite 1500, Bloomington, MN 55431 Education: Finance Degree, Series 7 and 66 Certifications, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst How long have you been in your career field? 8 What led you to work in this area? I have […]

Minnesota E-filing: How to Survive


December 4, 2013
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This post is mainly intended for Minnesota probate attorneys, however, we hope that all readers learn from it. The day of the electronic court record has come to Minnesota. Unfortunately, the path to e-filing feels like the road less traveled. The revolutionary movement of the state court’s transition to e-filing has come with its challenges. […]

Don’t be an ostrich


December 2, 2013
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I love this article by Deborah Jacobs because it brings to the forefront some important reasons to talk about estate planning. Plus, with all of the family gatherings this holiday season, the article is timely written. Everyone (well, almost everyone) has heard a horror story about an estate administration gone wrong. The once cohesive and happy family […]