Q: One of my adult children is disabled and is receiving public benefits. What would happen if I died and my child inherited from me? I have heard that an inheritance to my child would result in my child being kicked off public benefits. Is there any way to guard against that situation? A: It […]
Q&A Blog #69: What is an ABLE Account? How does it work and would my sister be kicked off public benefits as a result?
Q: My adult sister is disabled and on benefits for low-income individuals. I am interested in setting up an account for her to help with expenses, but I am concerned she will be kicked off benefits as a result. I have heard of something called an ABLE Account. What is an ABLE account? How does […]
Q&A Blog #67: Adverse Childhood Experience
By: Letty Van Ert Q: What is an “Adverse Childhood Experience”? A: An Adverse Childhood Experience (an “ACE”) is a traumatic childhood experience that has lasting impact on the person into adulthood. There are a number of kinds of ACEs, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, mental illness of a household member, divorce […]
Postnuptial Contracts
By: Lindsey O’Connell Postnuptial contracts are governed by Minnesota Statutes section 519.11. A postnuptial contract can only be entered into by legally married persons. A postnuptial contract may determine all matters that may be determined by an antenuptial contract (also known as a prenuptial agreement) except that a postnuptial contract may not determine the rights […]
Q&A Blog #60: What is the difference between legal separation and divorce?
By: Letty M-S Van Ert Q: What is the difference between legal separation and divorce? A: A divorce (“dissolution of marriage”) is the termination of the marital relationship between spouses. A decree of dissolution completely terminates the marital status of both parties. A legal separation is a court determination of the rights and responsibilities of spouses […]
Q&A Blog #56: What is an annulment?
By: Letty M-S Van Ert What is an annulment? An annulment is a court process that terminates a marriage. However, unlike a divorce, an annulment treats the marriage as though it never happened. An annulment may be sought for the following reasons: a party lacked capacity to consent to the marriage because of mental incapacity […]
Changes to Minnesota Short Form Power of Attorney
By: Letty M-S Van Ert Some time ago I had a situation in which an elderly man had executed a power of attorney a decade earlier naming one of his several children as the attorney-in-fact. The other children had since taken over the day-to-day care of their father and father no longer remembered what, if […]
FAQs About Organ Donation
Despite advances in medical technology the demand for organ donation sill far exceeds the number of donors. There are currently over 112,000
Q&A Blog #44 – Are there Veteran’s benefits available to pay for long term care?
Q: Are there any Veteran’s benefits available to help pay for long term care?
A: Yes. There is a little-known program called Aid and Attendance, or Aid and Attendance Pension, that can help pay for care in the
