Why Should I Update My Will?
September 2, 2013 | William F. HuefnerA will is not a set it and forget it document. You should revisit your will periodically. Why? Because things change. Your designated executor might die before you do. You might divorce your spouse. Or you might remarry. You could adopt children or have new children. You could have a severe falling out with an adult child. Each of these situations creates scenarios which would cause you to either need or want to make a change in your will. However, you won’t necessarily think of your will while you’re in the middle of a change or an upheaval. That’s why it’s a good idea to make a habit out of periodically reviewing your will. Most of the time, there will probably be little or nothing to change. That’s okay. The practice itself is what is important. Someday, something will change, and you’ll feel better knowing that you are on top of things. If you have a revocable living trust his periodic review also gives you a chance to add or remove assets from the trust if you wish. Of course, all of this depends on you having a reasonable estate plan in place to begin with. Some estates can be quite complex, and you will need the guidance of an experienced estate attorney…
Read MoreA 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…
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