What is “probate” and what does a “probate court” do? A probate court handles the validation of wills, and all the related complications and/or decisions to make that may arise about the will. To clarify and avoid confusion, the probate…
Estate Planning: (Part I: “Probate 101”) Three Basic Questions You Must Ask When A Family Member Passes Away After the shock, the grief, and the often difficult adjustments to life without your loved one, the practical decisions and duties…
An article I read recently, published by NextAvenue, made it ever so obvious – – Americans are procrastinators at preparing for death. We bury our heads in the sand, hoping that if we can avoid thinking about it, maybe it…
Legacy Videos: A popular new trend in some circles for those who are thinking about their end-of-life plans and wishes, is to record their choices, their wishes, their concerns, and their messages, not just in writing but on video for…
What is Bitcoin? Bitcoin is virtual money. You purchase it with “real money” and download a digital Wallet in which you store your virtual money. An online exchange exists for those businesses and individuals that choose to deal in…
Having just recently posted an entry on how to include your pets in your Will (handling the care of your pets after your death), I thought some may be interested to know that the 2015-2016 Minnesota Legislature is currently looking…
This entry applies especially to “agent” selections for Powers of Attorney (POA) and for Health Care Directives (HCD). But, the same discussion may also be of interest to those thinking about selecting a Personal Representative for their Will. When you…
What about Fido?! 63% of Americans own a pet. Are you worried about your pet when you pass away? If your answer is ‘yes,’ then this entry can assist you in figuring out how to handle your concerns. In Minnesota,…
I recently read an article on “How to Avoid Family Feuds Over Your Inheritance” published a few months ago in next avenue.org, (link below) and decided a short, basic list of things to think about for those reading this entry…
Are you worried about your family fighting after you’re gone? Some people are, and many more ought to be, in my experience. Even a close family relationship can become strained when a family member passes away without clear instructions or…