It’s sad and unfortunate that we feel that we have to write this article, but it’s important to let you know that criminals are quickly developing scams and fraud schemes to take advantage of the COVID-19 crisis. First, find reliable sources of information and when in doubt, stop and verify. The Minnesota Attorney General, the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota…
The worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 can’t be ignored or denied. It’s safe to say that most of us did not expect an outbreak to develop so quickly or the dramatic changes a pandemic brings to our communities, workplaces, and lives. As we stay home, stay away from others, and cope as best we can with this health and economic crisis,…
A roof is just one example, but here’s a list of issues that I’ve been hired to fix over the years caused by homeowners hiring contractors that did not do as advertised. If you get a bid that is way lower than the rest, you should be on high alert and confirm things as described below before you commit to…
Trusts are an important tool in estate planning and may be created for a variety of reasons, which can include both tax and non-tax reasons. Generally a trust based estate plan, will contain a trust (or two if a couple is married and has an estate at or over the Minnesota or Federal estate tax exemption limit), pour over will,…
When a lawsuit is started, whether it’s a personal injury matter or a real estate dispute, both parties going in are often extremely adversarial towards one another. A lot of times, the parties say “they’ll never settle” or that they “want their day in court”. However, as the dispute makes its way through the litigation process, the parties routinely soften…
Death is never at the top of our list of things to think about. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. However, when we don’t take the time to address what will happen to our estate after we die, you can get some very unintended consequences. Let me give you an example. Bob and Sue met each other after their spouses passed away…
At the end of 2019, Congress passed the SECURE Act, and the President signed it in to law on December 20th. Most provisions of the SECURE Act go into effect as of January 1, 2020 but some in 2021 or later. Generally, the intent of the SECURE Act is to make saving for retirement easier for Americans. The full name…
I’ve been seeing too many cases lately where it’s clear that the opposing party did not understand the cost of litigation before it was too late. Before starting the legal process, talk to friends or other professionals or business owners you know to get a good referral. Even then, it’s not a bad idea to interview several attorneys before you…
It’s that time of year again. The holidays, of course, and also the time to complete the annual renewal for your business entity with the Minnesota Secretary of State. Annual renewals are required for corporations, limited liability companies, non-profit corporations, cooperatives, and limited/limited liability partnerships. An annual renewal is also required for assumed names and foreign registrations for out-of-state entities.…
Attorney-Client communication is paramount in any successful representation. When a person is looking for attorney representation in any area of law, it’s vital that there is an ongoing honest dialogue between attorney and client. This article will focus on the importance of this aspect as it pertains to the workers’ compensation, personal injury areas of law. When I represent the…