estate planning & elder Law

While death is not a subject many people enjoy discussing, comprehensive estate planning can ensure that your wishes are carried out both during your life and for generations to come.

Our estate planning strategies empower you to make decisions about who will take care of you if you cannot make medical or legal decisions for yourself, and you can indicate your wishes for cremation and organ donation.

We can help you decide how assets will pass upon your death, who will manage your estate for you, and who will care for your minor children. We also specialize in helping people avoid (to the greatest extent possible) probate, a lengthy and costly court process than unfortunately becomes a burden for so many people following a death in the family.

We will help you through this process to ensure that you can rest easy knowing that your legacy will continue long after your death.

SPECIAL NEEDS PLANNING

In addition to estate planning and guardianships/conservatorships, families of persons with disabilities sometimes face an array of different questions and issues when planning for future needs. Among these is how to plan ahead financially for the family member with a disability. 

Supplemental Needs Trusts and Special Needs Trusts can be used to benefit people with disabilities by supplementing and managing their resources while maintaining their eligibility for public assistance benefits. 

If the person with a disability is funding the trust with their own assets, such as through an inheritance or personal injury settlement they’ve received, it is a Special Needs Trust. If the trust is funded with assets belonging to someone other than the person with a disability or their spouse, such as by a parent or grandparent, then it is a Supplemental Needs Trust. 

Contact us to assist you in navigating the choices you have for planning for your loved one with a disability.

PROBATE, TRUST, AND ESTATE ADMINISTRATION

When a loved one passes away, families are faced with the initial grief of the loss; afterward, the reality sets in: "Now what?"

We are here to assist your Personal Representative(s), the person/people you have named in your will, to manage and distribute your estate after your death.

The cost and duration of probate can vary substantially depending factors such as the value and complexity of the estate, the existence of a will, and the location of real property owned by the estate.

As such, the probate process for each estate is unique, but we will work to ensure that the process will go as smoothly as possible for your family and loved ones. Additionally, we also work with families during their planning process to determine how, and to what extent, they can structure their estate to avoid the long and costly process that many probates become.

CABIN SUCCESSION PLANNING

In the land of 10,000 Lakes, cabin ownership in Minnesota is commonplace for many families. Oftentimes, grandparents or parents either built or purchased the beloved family cabin decades ago; but, as grandparents and parents age, the question of "what happens with the cabin" is one that many families face.

Cabin ownership is unique in that, unlike other assets that may be somewhat simple to distribute after death, the family cabin often involves multiple children and families, each with different sets of expectations and financial abilities to assume ownership. Disagreements can arise regarding cabin usage, payment of expenses, decisions about repairs and capital improvements, and more.

Options for cabin succession planning may include direct transfer of ownership, drafting cabin co-ownership agreements, establishing a family LLC, or forming a Cabin Trust. Each of these options has pros and cons, so contact us to help you begin the process for thoughtful and meaningful transition of the beloved family cabin from one generation to the next. 

guardianship and conservatorship law

Guardianship is a legal relationship between a competent adult and a person who because of incapacity is unable to make personal decisions, such as housing, education, and medical care.

Conservatorship is similar in concept, but allows instead for the competent adult to make financial and legal decisions for someone who is unable to make those decisions for themselves.

Oftentimes, parents need to establish themselves (and/or their adult children) as guardians if they have a child with a disability. Once he or she reaches the age of 18, a guardianship and conservatorship will allow for the protection that individual needs during adulthood.

We can help you navigate through the court process to make sure your loved-one is cared for in a manner that is compassionate and consistent with your goals and expectations.

real estate law and transactions

Whether you are buying, selling, or investing in residential or commercial real estate, we are experienced in all facets of real estate representation and the legal issues inherent to real estate transactions large and small.

As a licensed Minnesota Real Estate Broker, Keith is qualified to represent buyers and sellers. Keith’s real estate clients get all the benefits of a full-service real estate brokerage, including competitive fees and superb property marketing and outreach. In addition, clients also get the added value of an experienced real estate attorney to ensure any chain of title, creditor, restrictive covenant, or other real estate issues are resolved in a manner favorable to the client. Keith’s real estate clients truly get “two professionals for the price of one” when buying and selling real estate.

Keith offers complimentary market evaluations for commercial and residential real property - contact us today for more information!