For Individuals
Estate Planning, Trusts and Probate
The estate planning attorneys at Henningson & Snoxell are here to help you make the best decisions to plan for your future. We assist clients in laying the groundwork for the ultimate transfer of wealth and assets to the next generation, while minimizing tax consequences.
Our clients include individuals and families of all sizes and net worth. We work closely with our clients and their advisors to understand and prioritize goals and use the most effective estate planning tools. Our attorneys work with closely-held and family-owned businesses to effectively address issues surrounding business succession planning. We assist high net worth clients and their families to address complex estate and tax issues.
Issues frequently addressed include:
• Minimizing taxes related to the transition of wealth from one generation to the next.
• Assuring the effective transition of management of family wealth from one generation to the next.
• Addressing the unique needs of a family, such as special needs beneficiaries, divorces, premature deaths, and educational goals.
• Planning to best carry out charitable giving goals.
• Planning for the effective transfer of ownership and management of a family cabin.
• Making lifetime gifts to family members.
Our attorneys are experienced in providing the full range of services in estate planning, including creating Wills and Trusts to minimize taxes, and probate and trust administration:
Estate Planning
• Wills
• Trusts
• Estate tax planning
• Avoiding probate
• Preserving assets
• Minimizing taxes
• Power of Attorney
• Incapacity planning
• Health Care Directives (living wills)
• Guardianships
• Conservatorships
• Medical Assistance planning (nursing home or Medicaid planning)
• Charitable giving
Probate and Trust Administration
• Probate administration
• Trust administration
• Small estates
• Will contests
• Preparing and filing estate tax and other related tax returns
• Estate property distribution
• Intestate estates (no Will)
To learn more about how our estate planning, trust and probate lawyers can help you, please contact us today. Although we practice throughout Minnesota, we represent clients primarily in the Twin Cities and the Northwest Metro area, including: Minneapolis, St. Paul, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Wayzata, Medina, Long Lake, Orono, Minnetonka, Rogers, Dayton, St. Michael, Buffalo, Anoka, Champlin, Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, and Osseo, and other communities in the counties of Hennepin, Ramsey, Wright, Anoka, and Sherburne.
Frequently Used Terms
• Will. Wills state who should inherit, name the executor and guardian of minor children, and may contain tax provisions. They are used in probate court.
• Trust. Trusts are usually prepared to avoid probate. They direct who should inherit, name the trustee, and may contain tax provisions.
• Health Care Directive (Living Will). This document appoints others to make medical decisions in case of incapacity.
• Power of Attorney. This document appoints others to handle financial affairs in case of incapacity.
• Guardianship and Conservatorship. An ongoing court proceeding to handle the personal and financial affairs of an incapacitated person.
• Probate Proceeding. A court proceeding to collect assets, pay bills, and distribute the remaining assets of a person who has died.
• Trust Administration. Advising trustees about paying expenses and distributing the remaining assets of a Trust.
• Estate Tax Planning. Advising people of the best ways to minimize estate taxes.
• Charitable Giving. Advising people who wish to give to charity about the best ways to do so.
• Family Cabin Planning. Assisting people with the orderly transfer of ownership of a family cabin to the next generation.
• Medical Assistance Planning (Nursing Home or Medicaid Planning). Advising people of ways to shelter assets they don't want to lose if they face an extended nursing home stay.
