Minneapolis Attorney Eric Prindle
Estate planning is a process of making, and then arranging to implement, important decisions about the future. The two main things you will likely want to consider during the estate planning process are what you want to happen to your assets after your death and what you want to happen in the event that you are no longer capable of making decisions or caring for yourself.
For a small percentage of the population, estate planning is primarily an exercise in avoiding or reducing estate tax liability. Oddly enough, the vast majority of estate planning literature is directed at this small percentage of the population. But for the majority of us, who are in no danger of owing any estate tax, there are still many good reasons to consider estate planning.
Who will take care of your children in the event of your death? And if you are able to leave them with an inheritance, when will they get unrestricted access to those funds? If you end up in a coma with no hope of recovery, do you want to be kept on a ventilator? These may not be pleasant questions to consider, but you probably do not want to put your family, or a judge you have never met, in the position of having to figure out what to do without any input from you.
My practice is primarily dedicated to estate planning. My role if you retain me as your lawyer is to discuss your objectives and concerns with you, offer you some options, and then put together a set of documents to meet your specific needs. Common estate planning documents include:
While estate planning is important for everyone, it can be particularly urgent for nontraditional families, which are not typically well served by the default provisions of Minnesota state law.
Whether you are considering your estate plan for the first time or you are concerned about whether your current estate plan meets your needs, I would be happy to meet with you to discuss how I can assist you. Please contact me to schedule a consultation.