The Disadvantages of DIY Estate Planning
September 23, 2013 | William F. HuefnerThese days it seems like there are thousands of DIY legal forms on the Internet. To believe some websites you don’t really need a law degree to practice law—you just need the right “template!” But attorneys need special training and licensing for a reason. The law can be a tricky thing, especially when it comes to estate planning. If you do something incorrectly while writing your will then you could end up costing your heirs a great deal of time and money trying to fix your mistakes. Legal language is written in a very precise way. It’s meant to eliminate ambiguity and to address specific issues that you might not think of. Something that seems very clear to you may not make any sense at all to your heirs or the court. Your DIY will could also leave your last wishes vulnerable to a challenge from your relatives. Ultimately, your will could be discounted as invalid, and it would be as if you’d never written one at all. Attorneys also know how to ask you the right questions. This ensures that you address everything that you need to address. It ensures that you don’t miss anything important. There are parts of your estate that you probably don’t think much about on a day…
Read MoreThe Septic System Quagmire: Septic System Regulation in Minnesota
September 16, 2013 | Joan M. QuadeThe rules regarding septic system regulation in Minnesota can be confusing and costly for those buying or selling property. Despite the amount of development and state and local governments’ best efforts to provide city sewer and water for most metropolitan areas, there remains mostly private septic systems in outstate and many areas of the metro. Septic systems are highly regulated by both state and local governments, as a faulty system poses both environmental and health concerns. Septic systems are essentially an on-site wastewater management system in areas with no public sewer system. Due to the widespread use of septic tanks in both residential and commercial areas, understanding the regulation of septic systems in Minnesota is crucial to ensure compliance with the law and to fully protect those who are buying and selling property or those using such a system. [maxbutton id=”1″ url=”https://bgs.com/contact-us/?july” text=”Get Help with Your Case” ] Septic tanks are regulated by Minnesota Rules 7080-7083 and Minnesota Statute § 115.55. However, since all counties in Minnesota are required to adopt and implement SSTS (subsurface sewage treatment system) ordinances, septic systems are largely regulated on a county by county basis in Minnesota. To make it even more confusing, cities also have ordinances related to septic systems. The inspection of a septic system is…
Read MoreMake a Will: It Won’t Kill You!
September 16, 2013 | William F. HuefnerMany people avoid the process of estate planning because of fear. There is a persistent superstition that says that you will die soon after you make your will. Fortunately, making a will does not invite death any more than any other activity you do. A will is just a plan for what will happen when you die. Many people make out wills and then go about living their lives for decades after. Dave Ramsey, the popular financial expert, has a pretty good comment to make on the subject of wills. In The Total Money Makeover he writes: “You are going to die, so do it in style, and do it with a will!” Ask yourself whether or not you would want the state to make decisions about your property, children, pets, or debts. If the answer is “no” then you definitely need to engage in some estate planning. If you have a lot of assets then you will definitely want to engage in this process to make sure that your life’s work is not distributed in a way that would be unpalatable to you. A will is simply another thing that you should take care of. It’s just a piece of business, much like filing your taxes, paying your bills, or buying insurance….
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