Real Estate

Do I need a Trust?

by Maggie Green April 9, 2013 Estate Planning 101

I field this question every day.  My response is always the same, it depends.  So, when should someone consider a Trust-based estate plan*?  Well, here are a few things to consider: Do you own property [...]

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a tax for more snow birds?

by Maggie Green March 21, 2013 Estate Planning 101

Governor Dayton recently proposed a budget that, among other things, may broaden the “snow bird” tax base. While those affected by the proposed legislation are most likely wealthy people who have second homes in warmer [...]

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Obtaining A Clearance Certificate

by Jayne Sykora March 7, 2013 Probate

In many posts, we have eluded to and discussed the basics on Medical Assistance (see: Jamie Held‘s Medical Assistance & Real Property and Jen Santini‘s Medical Assistance Basics for Minnesotans). Medical Assistance, or Medicaid as [...]

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Downton Abbey: A History Lesson on Inheritance

by Jayne Sykora January 6, 2013 Estate Planning 101

A couple of us here at Epilawg are big fans of Downton Abbey and are very much looking forward to tonight’s premiere of Season 3 on PBS. Without giving a ton of plot points away [...]

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Valuing a gift

by Maggie Green December 22, 2012 Estate Planning 101

Scheduled to decrease January 1, 2013, the federal gift tax exemption will go from the $5.12 million to $1 million*. Many individuals have made substantial gifts this year to take advantage of the high exemption. [...]

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The “Power of Attorney” in Real Life

by Maggie Green September 25, 2012 Estate Planning 101

Some clients know how important the Power of Attorney document is. They may have acted as attorney-in-fact for a spouse or an elderly relative. Or they may have experienced first hand the challenges created when [...]

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Reverse Mortgages

by Jen Santini September 20, 2012 Real Estate

A reverse mortgage is when the owner of the home withdraws equity from the home and receives cash either as a lump sum, installment payments, line of credit or combination thereof. Reverse mortgages seem to [...]

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Torrens vs. Abstract Property: What’s the Difference?

by Jayne Sykora August 21, 2012 Real Estate

I have written many posts about various aspects related to real estate: life estates, titling real estate, and transfer on death deeds, to name a few. What each of these topics has in common, besides having [...]

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What is a Life Estate?

by Jayne Sykora July 9, 2012 Estate Planning 101

Every now and again a client will ask for a life estate to be created; however, most often the client does not understand what exactly it is, how it is created or the potential benefits [...]

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Real property in an estate or trust administration

by Maggie Green March 22, 2012 Probate

Personal representatives and trustees are commonly responsible for distributing real property from an estate or trust to its designated beneficiaries. Such distributions present unique challenges for personal representatives, trustees, and beneficiaries alike.  To this end, [...]

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Arresting Motion: Estate Planning for Artists

by Christi Cottrell February 29, 2012 Estate Planning 101

Part II: Why? Framing the Issue. “Art is a nation’s most precious heritage. For it is in our works of art that we reveal to ourselves and to others the inner vision which guides us [...]

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