Draft your living will and last will and testament
A will is essential at every stage of your life. Your will provides you with 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 somebody besides a blood relative, such as a domestic partner, friend or 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 beloved pet — decisions that might not reflect your desires. Michael Haag at the Haag Law Offices, P.A. can draft a valid will that ensures your intentions are honored.  We can also help with Living Wills, or as they are also known, Health Care Directives so your relatives will be free from making the difficult end of life decisions.  To hear more about this, clink the link below to hear a segment on Mr. Haag's radio progam, "Seeking Precedence: a Christian Perspective to Legal Issues."

Changing your will
As your life changes, so might your estate plan. You may need to update your will throughout your life. Mr. Haag drafts valid codicils that address changes in your financial situation, marital status, numbers of children, philanthropic interests and general lifestyle decisions.

Appointment of guardianship
If you have minor children, your will allows you to make decisions about their future care, especially crucial if you are a single parent or if both parents die in a common incident. If you do not name a guardian, the court will appoint a guardian for your children and can make decisions adverse to your ultimate parenting goals. You can also make arrangements for your pets’ care in your will, including naming a guardian who will take responsibility for your pets.

Creating the best estate plan
Haag Law Offices, P.A. advises you on the best approach to your estate planning. Michael Haag thoroughly analyzes your estate and strategizes the best means of transferring your assets, minimizing taxes, establishing guardianship for your children, supporting personal philanthropic causes, and protecting your loved ones. Mr. Haag possesses in-depth knowledge about all aspects of trusts and estate issues, including:

Trusts
Haag Law Offices, P.A. helps people create trusts to ensure that their assets are properly managed and held for the future use of their family members or designated beneficiaries. The assets held by a trust can be used to pay for necessary medical, educational and health-related expenses for the trust's beneficiaries. Because a trust is designed to exist for a certain period of time, the courts require that a trustee is chosen to administer and be responsible for the management of the trust. Trusts may be included in your will or as a separate legal entity. Sometimes trusts are used to avoid the probate process or to minimize estate and income taxes.

Probate administration
Haag Law Offices, P.A. has extensive knowledge about the Minnesota probate court to guide you through the complex process of probating a will. Haag Law Offices, P.A. assists executors in all steps of the process, including:

• Creating a plan of action to probate the estate fairly and expeditiously
• Filing the will with the Minnesota probate court
• Closing and opening bank accounts
• Transferring assets from the deceased to the estate
• Valuating the estate
• Managing and liquidating assets as appropriate
• Paying taxes and other debts
• Locating beneficiaries
• Hiring professionals and experts when necessary

Probate disputes
When disputes occur between beneficiaries, we successfully represent your interests. Mr. Haag has the extensive knowledge to challenge invalid wills or to defend valid wills against the improper assertions of dissatisfied beneficiaries. He is a skilled mediator, who can negotiate between beneficiaries to preserve relationships.

Contact the meticulous estate planning lawyer at  Haag Law Offices, P.A.
Serving clients throughout the Twin Cities, call Haag Law Offices, P.A. at (763) 421-6515 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.