Knowledgeable Minneapolis / St. Paul Metro Area Wills, Estates and Probate Lawyers
Wills ● Trusts ● Guardianship ● Probate ● Conservatorship
Estate planning is a necessary, but sometimes difficult, area of life to deal with and engage in. When you decide to start your end-of-life planning, you want to ensure that you hire a knowledgeable and skillful attorney to help prepare the proper documentation. We have vast experience in drafting wills and trusts that help to ensure that your property will go to the beneficiaries of your choosing when you pass away. We can also assist you if you want to ensure that your minor children or incapacitated heirs are taken care of by establishing a guardianship or conservatorship for you.
We're the law firm of Bassford, Hanvik & Pyles, P.A. Since 1989, we've advised clients in the Twin Cities metropolitan area on wills, estates and probate matters. Our experience includes:
- Wills
- Trusts (preparation in cooperation with estate planners)
- Conservatorships
- Guardianships
- Probate and estate administration
- Probate litigation (will contests, actions challenging the administrator's conduct)
Wills and Trusts
When people pass away, their property is distributed to their heirs through the probate process. If a person dies without a will, the state will distribute the property in accordance with state law. If there are no legal heirs, the state may keep the property. By writing a will, you can make sure your property goes to the people you want, not to the state.
Even if the deceased person left a will, his or her estate will still have to go through the probate process. This process can be expensive and time consuming. This is particularly true with regard to larger estates.
If you have many assets and want to distribute them to your heirs without going through the probate process, we'll help you set up a trust. A trust has the added benefit of reducing the estate taxes your beneficiaries might otherwise have to pay.
Conservatorships and Guardianships
Conservatorships and guardianships are two methods to ensure that the needs of your minor or incapacitated heirs are taken care of after you're gone.
In a conservatorship, a person becomes responsible for the assets and finances of another person who is deemed fully or partially incapable of providing these necessities for him or herself. In guardianships, people are appointed to provide food, health care, housing, and other necessities.
Probate Administration
There are methods to reduce the length of the probate process. If you indicate in your will that you're willing to conduct probate without a bond, this may enable the estate to go through probate in 90 days or less.
To learn more about your estate planning and probate administration options, contact our office at 952-285-1811.
Bassford, Hanvik & Pyles, P.A.
4725 Excelsior Boulevard,
Suite 402,
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Phone: 952-285-1811
Fax: 952-285-2881
E-mail
Bassford, Hanvik & Pyles, P.A. serves clients throughout the Twin Cities Metro Area, including in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Plymouth and St Louis Park; and in Hennepin County and Ramsey County, Minnesota.
