Health Care Directive

Disposition of Remains: A Difficult, but Necessary Discussion

by Erin Hoolihan April 30, 2013 Estate Planning 101

What happens when one dies without a Health Care Directive and has specific wishes regarding the disposition of his or her body? What happens when a dispute occurs amongst remaining loved ones who have differing [...]

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The Basics of Organ Donation

by Erin Hoolihan March 28, 2013 Estate Planning 101

Many of us come across the thought of organ donation for the first time when we apply for a driver’s license. Usually at that young age, it is a topic difficult to consider and oftentimes [...]

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Do I Still Need An Estate Plan?

by Jen Santini January 23, 2013 Estate Planning 101

Some people continue to ask why they need an estate plan, especially since Congress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act, which made the $5 million federal estate tax exemption permanent. The question is often, “If [...]

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Communicating End of Life Wishes

by Jayne Sykora January 15, 2013 Estate Planning 101

Last week, The New York Times ran a piece called “Help for Planning End of Life Care.” The blog post, by Paula Span, discusses a new website called Prepare, which is to help people prepare [...]

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End of Life Decisions with a Guardianship

by Jamie Held October 29, 2012 Incapacity Planning

Earlier this month, a Hennepin County District Court Judge addressed the questions, “Who has the power to decide if a person under guardianship should be allowed to die?  Should it be the guardian …?  Should [...]

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Pre-Planning for Death: Part 2

by Jill Sauber October 24, 2012 Estate Planning 101

This is the second in a three part series on pre-planning for your death. In the first part, terms related to pre-planning for your death were defined. In this part, exactly what happens to your [...]

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Guardianship Basics

by Mary Szondy October 17, 2012 Guest Articles

What is a Guardianship? A guardianship is a determination by the Court that a person (proposed ward) is incapacitated.  The judge must make this decision based upon clear and convincing evidence. “Incapacitated person” means an [...]

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Pre-Planning for Death: Part 1

by Jill Sauber October 2, 2012 Guest Articles

This is the first in a three part series on pre-planning for your death. This series is written by Jill Sauber, a current law student and licensed mortician.    People often segue into talking about [...]

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The 411 on Medical Records

by Maya Missaghi February 3, 2012 Estate Planning 101

What happens to your medical records when you die? Who has access to them? How long are they retained? Why are we asking these questions? When someone dies, medical records can be important for several [...]

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Young, Single, Childless and Broke? You Still Need an Estate Plan

by Michelle Vesole January 10, 2012 Estate Planning 101

It is a common misconception that estate planning is only necessary for the wealthy or those with a spouse and children. However, all individuals, no matter what their financial situation may be, can benefit from [...]

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Estate Planning is Crucial for Same-Sex Couples

by Todd Bagby September 13, 2011 Estate Planning 101

Anyone who attended a Twin Cities Pride event this summer can attest to the vitality of Minnesota’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community. The turnout and support for the GLBT community proved Minneapolis deserving [...]

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