Oakdale Estate Planning Lawyer

Helping Families in the Twin Cities Plan For the Future

Setting your estate’s affairs in order is a proactive measure that we should all take, no matter what stage in life we are currently in. If you need legal assistance with estate planning, we at Lamey Law Firm, P.A. can help you ensure that your estate and loved ones will be protected when you are no longer able to do so.

Our Oakdale estate planning attorneys can help you with estate planning matters such as:

• Wills
• Living trusts
• Power of attorney

We will work diligently to make sure that the language used in your estate planning documents is clear and concise. Our goal is to help you avoid probate, which can create plenty of headaches and financial issues for your loved ones. With our careful guidance, no issue will be left unaddressed by your estate plan.

Why is a Will Essential for Your Estate Planning?

It is important to have a will to specify your wishes after your passing. A will is a legal document that specifies who will inherit your property when you are gone. If you have minor children, you may also name a “personal guardian” who will take care of them after your death and if the other parent dies or if the surviving parent is not able to take care of the children. Personal guardians typically have legal guardianship of children until they turn 18.

If you die without a will, Minnesota state’s succession laws will be applied to your case. Usually, the “next of kin” will inherit your property. This is typically your surviving spouse, registered domestic partners, and children. If you do not have a spouse or children, your parents, siblings, grandparents, and aunts & uncles would come next. If there are no relatives left, then your property will go to the state.

If you have not created a will yet, reach out to our will attorneys in Oakdale -- get started before it is too late. Our team of estate planning attorneys are backed by years of experienced. Call (651) 309-8180 today.

Understanding Living Trusts: What You Need to Know

A living trust is a trust that is created while you are still alive versus trusts that are created after your death and follow the terms of your will. The trust arranges who the trustee is and specifies what property they hold legal title to for beneficiaries. You can be the trustee of your own living trust and keep control of any property that is in the trust.

If you believe a living trust will benefit you, contact our estate planning lawyers in Oakdale. We are happy to assist you and also inform you of other options available.

Power of Attorney: What You Should Know

A power of attorney is written permission that gives an agent the power to handle matters that involve your finances or property. The person who is given power of attorney is called the “attorney-in-fact.” The person who is giving permission is referred to as the “principal”. What the attorney-in-fact can or cannot do may be specified in the power of attorney form. Otherwise, they are typically responsible for keeping records of your transactions.

If you need a power of attorney, do not hesitate to speak with our Oakdale estate planning attorneys. We are here to make the process even easier! Give us a call at (651) 309-8180.

Understanding Minnesota Next of Kin Laws

"Next of Kin" refers to the relatives that inherit under intestate succession.

If you die with:

• children, but no spouse -- your children will inherit 100% of the estate
• spouse, but no children -- your spouse inherits everything
• parents, but no spouse or descendants -- parents inherit everything
• siblings, but no spouse, descendants, or parents -- siblings inherit everything

The points above do not cover all scenarios, so it is important to reach out to a skilled estate planning lawyer near you if you have questions about inheritance and "next of kin" laws in Minnesota.

Over Two Decades of Combined Experience in Estate Planning

Our legal team has more than 30 years of combined experience, which has allowed us to address legal matters of varying complexity. The cases we handle are extremely important to us, which is why we don’t hand them off to paralegals or assistants. When you hire our Oakdale estate planning attorneys, that is exactly who will be working on your estate planning matter.

As our client, you can benefit from:

• Personalized attention throughout the entirety of your case’s development
• Working directly with your attorney without having to jump through hoops
• Skilled legal representation from a firm that has been honored with inclusion on the Super Lawyers® list

Areas We Serve: Lake Elmo, Maplewood, Woodbury, and Beyond

If you need more information about our estate planning services, we are here to give you answers and timely counsel. We will provide you with exceptional service, from beginning to end. Can’t meet with our Oakdale estate planning attorneys during normal business hours? We offer weekend and evening times!