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 remains after you die will be covered. Finally, steps to pre-planning your funeral will be discussed. This series is written […]
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 individual who is impaired to the extent of lacking sufficient understanding or capacity to make or communicate responsible personal decisions, […]
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 their own mortality or death by saying, “if something happens to me.” As though stating it in terms of “maybe” […]
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 reasons: 1) If the decedent owned a life insurance policy, the insurance company may need the records when processing the […]
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 […]
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 of the honor, “Gayest City in America,” bestowed on the city earlier this year by The Advocate. As an estate […]
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 […]
Clients can become confused and overwhelmed by the various roles and individuals named in their estate plan. In a previous post, I outlined the traditional key players in a typical estate plan. However, guardians, conservators and custodians are three roles that can come into play when an individual has not properly planned and therefore, clients […]
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.