Unless you are in the real estate business, you likely do not complete real estate transactions on a regular basis. In fact, many years might pass between two times when you would buy or sell a piece of property. So, when it comes time to complete even a routine real estate sale, the paperwork is unfamiliar and the process is foreign. Read Full Post
The US Government estimates that the cost of raising a child (from birth to 18 years of age) is nearly $250,000, including education costs, childcare, food, health care, and housing costs. It is safe to assume that few couples are thinking about this staggering number when they decide to start a family. And, if you find yourself in the midst of a divorce after starting a family, the financial outlook can become even more difficult. Read Full Post
Divorce is difficult no matter when it happens and no matter how ready you think you are. From the moment that you and your soon to be ex-partner decide to end the marriage, there is a significant shift in the dynamic of your family. While the end result may be the same, there is a lot of variation in how the process of the divorce can be handled. Read Full Post
If you going through a divorce, you no doubt grasp how difficult and complex it can be to separate your life from that of your ex-spouse. There are many emotional issues to wrestle with and a long list of legal issues as well. Fortunately, if you find strong legal support, you can be guided through this process in a healthy and productive way. Read Full Post
Inheritance laws generally vary from state to state. Sometimes, it is possible for close family members including a surviving spouse and even children and grandchildren can claim and receive an inheritance, even if the will states another preference. In the state of Minnesota, in the vast majority of inheritance cases, a surviving spouse inherits the whole estate. Read Full Post
If you are preparing for to enter a new lease as either a tenant or a landlord, you want to make sure that you are positioned well for the transaction. A property lease sets the tone for the entire landlord/tenant relationship and is a critical step for future smooth and respectful interactions. Many things go into setting the terms of the lease and since it is a legal… Read Full Post
No one wants to think about death and leaving your loved ones to manage your affairs after you are gone. As difficult as it is to face, doing some very simple estate planning can give you and your loved ones peace of mind and make your wishes clear should you fall ill, suffer injury or death. Unexpected end of life situations can happen at any age… Read Full Post
No matter what your age, all adults need to have a will in place to protect your loved ones in the event of your untimely death. Without a will in the state of Minnesota, your property will be distributed by the courts to your closest relatives. In the event that the court exhausts your lists of relatives, your property can actually be taken by the state. Rather than allow the courts to determine how your property is distributed, taking just a little time now to draft and execute your will can make your wishes clear. Read Full Post
Relationships come prepackaged to us as fantastical, wondrous, romantic, and everlasting. Every grade school child who begins “dating” someone else in their class is showing signs of buying into the hopeful, if often unrealistic, mythos of everlasting love. Children mimic the behaviors they see in adults, and few are more powerful or capable of imprinting messages… Read Full Post
Divorce is among the biggest stressors of modern life. There are very good reasons that divorce appears on the Greatest Stresses of Life lists that include loss of job and death of loved ones. Divorce is always difficult, and not solely when there is great contention between the divorcing parties. Divorce is stressful when the finality of legal separation is amicable. Read Full Post
