Inheritances

The death of a loved one often causes a mix of emotions and stress. In addition, family members will have to deal with their belongings and assets. Residents in Minnesota understand that his can often stir up disagreements between beneficiaries, especially when in...

When a person dies and leaves a will, a Minnesota probate court must look to that will as the person's final say on how all his or her assets should be distributed. The court looks to make sure all the formal requirements were met in making the will and checks to make...

Family businesses are a vital part of the economy in Minnesota and the nation as a whole. In fact, family businesses are responsible for as much as half the nation's gross domestic product, according to some studies. They're also responsible for about 60 percent of...

Minnesota courts don't want to have to second guess what a deceased person meant when they wrote a will, explaining how they want their estate to be distributed after their death. As long as the will was executed with all the formalities and apparently with all the...

Minnesota residents have no doubt heard of the debates over federal estate taxes, which pop up every few years in Congress. However these taxes, derided as "the death tax" by opponents, affect relatively few families. Currently, estates can transfer up to $5,250,000...

When actor James Gandolfini died from a heart attack last month at the age of 51, many of his fans in Minnesota were stunned. As it turns out, the star of "The Sopranos" had planned for the possibility that something like this could happen.News media recently reported...

Law enforcement and other officials in Minnesota and around the nation have noticed increasing numbers of cases involving the financial exploitation of vulnerable seniors. Sadly, many family members don't even find out about the exploitation until after their loved...

When Minnesotans execute a will, they expect it to make sure their wishes are carried out after they have passed away. But there is frequently a lot of work to be done later to make sure those wishes are carried out. That is why those who write a will must appoint an...

Under Minnesota law, when a person dies without a will, the person's estate passes to relatives according to what are known as the laws of intestate succession. Every state has a similar law, and they are all designed to distribute estate to family members, starting...

Minnesota's farming community has shrunk rapidly over the past few decades, as big agricultural corporations increase their holdings and new generations decide to give up the family business. However, many Minnesota farmers are trying to keep the business in the...