Category: BGS News & Events
Jason C. Brown, Attorney at Law, Joins Barna, Guzy & Steffen’s Family Law Department Bringing 20 Years of Experience
September 2, 2021 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.
Attorney Jason C. Brown has joined the firm as a shareholder with more than 20 years of experience. Over the span of his career, he has represented a wide variety of clients seeking to resolve important family matters. Many of his cases have involved complex custody disputes, alimony claims, and high net worth individuals, including several divorces in which the value of the marital estate exceeded ten million dollars. Every client, no matter their background, is important to Jason. Joining the law firm of Barna, Guzy and Steffen will give Jason the opportunity to streamline his practice while offering clients access to the broad scope of legal services offered by the firm. Jason has been recognized as a family law Super Lawyer (2015, 2016, 2020, 2021) and has served as a court-appointed early neutral evaluator for Anoka, Hennepin, Sherburne, and Wright County from 2015-present. His Minnesota Family Law Blog was also honored as a “Top 25” by the Minnesota State Bar Association in 2011. Jason will continue to focus his practice on all facets of family law including divorce, custody, prenuptial agreements, adoption, grandparent rights, and mediation. Barna, Guzy and Steffen, Ltd. has a long-standing tradition of helping clients with their legal needs, serving generations of clients in the north metro. “BGS is a…
Read MoreJoy Collaborative
August 24, 2021 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.
by Cathryn D. Reher, Elder Law and Special Needs Planning Attorney While strolling along the Mississippi River at the Stone Arch Festival, amazing miniature architectural pieces for cats and dogs caught my eye. The pieces were donated by architects to raise money for the non-profit, Joy Collaborative. I went up to find out more about Joy Collaborative and ended up talking with Mark Ostrom, the Executive Director. A team of designers, architects, builders, and volunteers came together to form a local non-profit called Joy Collaborative. Together they build “joy rooms” for kids with life-limiting conditions. They were raising money at the festival to fund future projects. I have been an Elder Law and Special Needs Planning Attorney for close to 30 years and what Mark explained to me about their work was truly innovative and inspiring. Doctors deliver a diagnosis and a plan of care. The diagnosis unfortunately has financial, social, and psychological implications that many times remain unaddressed, leaving families struggling to know what to do or where to turn for help. Joy Collaborative is exploring interactive solutions to meet the social and psychological aspects of disabling conditions that leave persons isolated and under-stimulated. It is remarkable work that I know would be of interest to many of my clients. At Joy Collaborative, I prepare…
Read MoreNew Veterans Homes Slated for Fillmore County
August 19, 2021 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.
By Cathryn D. Reher, VA certified and Elder Law Attorney For years, the Minnesota Veterans Homes has sought funding to build additional campuses. There are currently four Minnesota Veterans Homes located in Minneapolis, Fergus Falls, Luverne, and Silver Bay. Finally, there has been movement with the projected development for a fifth facility in Preston, Minnesota. Most veterans are not aware that they and their spouses might be eligible for long-term care benefits through federal VA veterans benefits and/or the Minnesota Veterans Homes. I am a VA certified planner and have worked with Minnesota Veterans Homes for 25 years, assisting veterans and their spouses to understand the eligibility rules. I advise on the best approach to protect resources for veterans and their spouses in need of long-term care or wanting to plan as they age. One of the challenges that has been presented is the wait lists for Veterans Home admission. Thus, part of planning is to make sure that any plan around admission to each Veterans Home location also contemplate qualifying for medical assistance to pay for long term care. Medical assistance laws and policies are much trickier. It is critical any plan for the Veterans Homes also enable qualification or not adversely impact eligibility for medical assistance. Finding local counsel with the…
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