Losing a spouse is a heart-wrenching event that can be difficult, if not unbearable, to even plan for. Therefore, many surviving spouses are not prepared for the death of their spouse and subsequently have to deal with financial and legal questions at a time when they are most likely not thinking clearly. This post discusses […]
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 preparing for the future with estate planning tools, too. An estate plan includes more than creating a Will or trust […]
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 preparing for the future with estate planning tools, too. An estate plan includes more than creating a Will or trust […]
In my practice, I am regularly asked many questions about completing a Health Care Directive: Who should I name as my health care agent? Can I name all __ (pick a number) of my kids? What if my agent lives out of state? What if my wishes change regarding the instructions listed? What if technological […]
Call it coincidence or fate but Al Barnes, the 85-year-old Scandia, Minnesota man at the center of a court battle between his wife and his doctors regarding his treatment, passed away on Monday morning; the same day a ruling was expected from the Hennepin County Probate Court to allow the removal of life support.
In a recent post entitled, A Case for Health Care Directives, Ms. Green introduced us to Al Barnes, an 85-year-old from Scandia, Minnesota, diagnosed with dementia, kidney failure, and mental incapacity. On Wednesday, the court battle over who has authority to make medical decisions on his behalf was back in full swing.
In the Minneapolis-St.Paul Star Tribune today, Jeremy Olson reports on a woman’s battle to maintain control over her husband’s medical decisions. With diagnoses of dementia, kidney failure, and mental incapacity, Al Barnes needs someone to make his health care decisions for him. Up until recently, Al’s wife Lana was that person. Lana Barnes was designated […]
As many of you Epilawg readers know, we provide a free Health Care Directive form on this site for Minnesota residents. We’ve heard from some of you that you’re (pleasantly) surprised about the form. Many believe that you need an attorney to complete a Health Care Directive in Minnesota, which is not true. An attorney […]
Each year thousands of people who will be getting married need to consider whether or not they will change their last name. This no longer applies just to women. More often, men are considering changing their last name and more same-sex marriages are occurring. If an individual does decide to change his or her last […]
While most estate planning attorneys prefer that clients review their estate planning documents on an annual basis to ensure that all key information is kept up-to-date, it is evident that this is not always the case. Since more often than not clients have their estate plans drafted and then file the documents away, never to […]
A recent article in the New Yorker, Letting Go discusses various perspectives of those people who are affected by someone who is terminally ill. The author, Atul Gwande researched and followed patients ranging in age and illness, some of whom had chosen aggressive treatments for potentially terminal illnesses and others who chose hospice care. The […]