A Tradition of Service Since 1938: Barna, Guzy & Steffen Ltd. Celebrates 75 Years of Legal Service
August 28, 2013 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.The law firm of Barna, Guzy & Steffen Ltd. is proud to celebrate its 75th year of providing legal service for the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota. The firm now known as Barna, Guzy & Steffen was founded by the Honorable Joseph E. Wargo, who graduated from the University of MN law school in 1938 and founded the law firm that same year. Wargo grew up in Columbia Heights and started his practice in that area. He was joined by Peter Barna in 1952 and by Robert Guzy in 1958. Wargo left the firm in 1968 to serve as a Judge for 11 years on the Anoka County Bench. Over the years, BGS has proudly advanced 11 of its attorneys to become judges in Anoka County. In 1990 the law firm merged its practice with Steffen Munstenteiger and the firm became known as Barna, Guzy & Steffen. Seventy five years of dedication and experience has helped fuel the firm’s growth and expanded practice areas. With 30 attorneys and more than 60 staff members, Barna, Guzy & Steffen is the largest private law firm in Anoka County today. Seventy-five years of practicing law has enabled BGS to establish a strong and loyal client base which continues to rely on the firm for legal support….
Read MoreWhat Happens When Someone Contests a Will?
August 27, 2013 | William F. HuefnerAre you worried that your family won’t pay attention to your last wishes after you die? Contesting a will can happen, but contrary to television drama it’s not quite as common as people imagine. Your relatives can contest your will if they have reason to believe it was signed improperly. If you work with a qualified estate planning attorney this shouldn’t happen, simply because your attorney will make sure that your will is signed and witnessed in accordance with the law. Your relatives an also contest your will if you were mentally unfit in the time the will was signed. If you have Alzheimer’s or another mind-altering illness when you finally get around to doing your will you could open your will up to contest. This is why it’s so important to take care of estate planning issues as soon as possible, preferably when you are still relatively healthy and strong. Don’t wait for an accident or devastating illness. It’s counterintuitive, but the ideal time to start worrying about estate planning is when things are going well! Your relatives can also contest your will if they believe someone had undue influence over you when you wrote it. This usually happens when you write or change the will to heavily favor a caregiver. Your…
Read MoreTransporting and Spreading of Cremated Remains
August 23, 2013 | Joan M. QuadeCremation has become a common and popular method of putting our loved ones to rest. More and more of us are requesting that our remains be spread in a place with meaning for us or our family, or in exotic places. In practicing law for over 25 years, I have been asked many times by clients, friends and relatives about the law related to the spreading of ashes. It is important to understand the law governing the transportation of and spreading of cremated remains in order to avoid the pitfalls. While Minnesota has some specific laws in this regard, there are not many. Minn. Stat. § 149A.96, subd. 9, entitled “Cremated Remains” provides: Subject to section 149A.95, subdivision 16, inurnment of the cremated remains and release to an appropriate party is considered final disposition and no further permits or authorizations are required for disinterment, transportation, or placement of the cremated remains.” Minn. Stat. § 149A.95, Subd. 16. Disposition procedures; commingling of cremated remains prohibited: “No cremated remains shall be disposed of or scattered in a manner or in a location where the cremated remains are commingled with those of another person without the express written permission of the person with the legal right to control disposition or as otherwise provided by law. This…
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