Category: Wills
Take Care of Your Legacy: Planning Your Will & Estate
November 18, 2021 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.
By: William F. Huefner For many, writing a Will and planning for the handling of your estate seems like a topic that can be pushed to the backburner. However, planning ahead and creating a Will is something that should be handled sooner rather than later. With the help of trusted professionals, it’s easy. Continue reading our blog and find out how you can ensure a strong plan for your estate. When Is the Right Time to Write a Will? The short answer is right now. As long as you are at least 18 years old, you are in a position to write a Will. Experts recommend that every adult should have a Will regardless of their age and health. A few other life-changing events that provide a good reason to write a Will are accumulating a large sum of money, getting married or divorced, when you have children, and when you start a business. Many factors can be protected with a Will. Make sure you and your family are not caught off guard without one. Writing Your Will Itemize Your Inventory The first step towards creating a Will is itemizing your assets. Start off by making a list of your assets, i.e., bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, real estate, etc. Keep in…
Read MoreWhere there’s a Will, there’s a Way
October 24, 2019 | William F. HuefnerMany people in Minnesota are married. Many of those same people own a home, cabin, farm, hunting land or other real estate and many of our clients think that because both the husband and wife have their names on the deed, that the survivor simply become the sole owner of the real property upon the death of their spouse. This is incorrect. In order for title to real estate to pass to the surviving spouse, they must own the property as Joint Tenants. If the title does not list husband and wife as Joint Tenants, then the default is Tenants in Common. This means that when one owner dies, their interest in the property is subject to a probate court proceeding. If the Decedent has a Will, it will pass according to the Will. If there is no Will, it will pass according to Minnesota Statute. Depending on the circumstances, it may or may not pass outright to the surviving spouse. There are solutions to this problem once it is identified, such as: (1) Recording a document so that the property is titled as joint tenancy. This way, when one person dies, title to the property passes to the surviving tenant; (2) Putting a proper Will into place which will make your and…
Read MoreEstate Planning Attorney Bobbi Hermanson-Albers Joins Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.
August 28, 2019 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.Barna, Guzy & Steffen LTD. announces the addition of a new associate to our firm. Bobbi Hermanson-Albers has joined the firm’s Estate Planning department. She will be working closely with estate planning attorney William H. Huefner practicing in the firm’s growing Wills/Estates & Probate/Tax Planning Law area serving existing clients and enhancing the firm’s ability to serve our community. We are happy to welcome Bobbi to BGS from her most recent position practicing in family law at a boutique law firm in Minneapolis. She has also previously worked in Minnesota’s 10th Judicial District Court (Stillwater, MN) as a Judicial Law clerk to the Honorable B. William Ekstrum. Bobbi graduated cum laude from Hamline University School of Law in 2014 ranked in the top 15 of her class. In addition to earning her Juris Doctor, she holds a Certificate in Advocacy and Problem Solving from Hamline University which uniquely qualifies her in direct to consumer law, assisting clients to navigate the legal system during challenges and changes in their lives. Bobbi is excited about the opportunity to join BGS as Wills/Estates attorney, “I look forward to working with Bill Huefner to identify practical solutions that best meet the unique, long-term planning needs of each of our BGS clients.” Get help with your legal questions!
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