Preserving your family’s wealth for future generations
Whether you’re planning the parameters of your future medical care or establishing support for loved ones upon your death, I can help with all aspects of trusts and estates issues, including:

Securing your legacy
You work hard for your family, so knowing that you have planned for their long-term well-being and financial security can bring you comfort. I thoroughly analyze your estate and strategize the best means of transferring your assets, minimizing taxes, establishing guardianship for your children, caring for your pets, supporting personal philanthropic causes and protecting your loved ones.

Drafting your living will and last will and testament
A will is essential at every stage of your life. Your living will sets the parameters for medical intervention should you become incapacitated. This assures that when you are most vulnerable, your wishes will be honored.
Your last will provides the opportunity to distribute your property, establish care for your children and otherwise express your wishes upon your death. A will is necessary if you intend to leave property to a person or entity other than a blood relative, such as a domestic partner, a friend or a charity. If you die without a will, the court determines how your property is distributed, who cares for your children and even what happens to your pet – making decisions that might not reflect your desires.

I will prepare a valid will that ensure your intentions are honored.

The process of probate
Most personal representatives have rarely if ever probated a will and know little about the process. I can guide you through the complex probate process, including:

• Filing the will with the Minnesota probate court
• Developing the best strategy for fairly and expeditiously probating the estate
• Finding and collecting assets
• Closing and opening bank accounts
• Transferring assets from the deceased to the estate
• Paying estate taxes
• Valuing, managing, preserving and liquidating the estate
• Locating beneficiaries
• Hiring experts, when appropriate

Probate disputes
Even in apparently straightforward estate cases, there are sometimes disputes between beneficiaries. My professional  presence can calm the emotionally-charged process of probating a challenged will or disputed executor or judicial decision. When it is in the best interests of my clients to preserve cordial familial relationships, I am adept at mediating these disputes. When necessary, I assertively defend my client’s beneficiary rights within the Minnesota probate court.

Contact a thorough estate planning lawyer at the Storey Law Office.
Call my office at 763-786-7707 to schedule your free initial consultation, or contact us online.