On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which doubled the federal estate tax exemption. Now, upon death, an individual can pass $11.4 million free of estate taxes and a married couple can pass $22.8 million. With the federal exemption so high, it is easy to ask, “Why on earth […]
New Minnesota Estate Planning and Probate Laws
Despite a short legislative session in 2016, Minnesota legislators passed a number of laws affecting estate planning and estate administration, most of which became effective August 1st. The new laws include the enactment of a pet trust statute, updates to Minnesota’s probate laws, and laws clarifying the powers of fiduciaries in handling digital assets. Pet […]
Court Emphasizes Evidentiary Requirements in Trust Actions
The Minnesota Court of Appeals recently issued an unpublished decision involving litigation related to trust property in In re: The Frank John Rodriguez Sr. Trust, File No. 62-TR-CV-14-63 (Minn. Ct. App. Mar. 28, 2016) (Unpublished). The facts of the case involved a beneficiary seeking to prevent sale of trust property. The beneficiary claimed that the […]
The Problem with DIY Estate Planning
A number of do-it-yourself options—including books, software and websites—allow you to generate a will or other estate planning documents for a fraction of the cost of hiring an attorney to prepare your will. While the upfront savings are enticing, there is no shortage of “horror stories” involving DIY wills and the resulting long-term emotional and […]
Four Estate Planning Considerations for the Young Professional
As you graduate from college, you will likely reach some of the biggest milestones of your life, such as entering your first profession, getting married, having children, and buying your first home. Along with these milestones comes greater responsibility, including smart financial management. One important aspect of responsible money management is creating a solid estate […]
