We don’t have a crystal ball. We don’t know what twists and turns life may bring. What we do know is that failing to have the proper planning in place can lead to unintended results for you and your family. Unlike other areas of the law, you must be proactive with estate planning.
We are an award-winning Burnsville, Minnesota Estate Planning Law Firm. We prepare Wills, Trusts, Health Care Directives, Powers of Attorney, and other estate planning documents to protect your loved ones. We also handle probate and trust administration matters in Dakota County and the greater Twin Cities metro area. Contact our office today to discuss the specifics of your personal situation.
If you are single, then you are in good company. According to the most recent U.S. Census, more than half of all adult Americans are single, too. Whether you just turned 18 or are 118 one thing you share with your married counterparts is the need for essential estate planning.
Even if you do not have two dimes to rub together, you are your estate. Did you know the law requires every adult American to make his or her own personal, financial and health care decisions? Who would make your basic decisions if you are legally incapacitated due to a serious injury or illness?
With each marriage come new rights and new responsibilities. If you already have an estate plan created when you were single, then you must bring your estate plan up-to-code to reflect your wedding vows.
Unfortunately, many married couples mistakenly believe that they can make personal, health care and financial decisions for one another should either spouse become legally incapacitated due to a serious injury or illness. Nothing could be further from reality!
Are you the parent of minor children? If yes, then they are your most valuable treasure. So, what arrangements have you made for their care should something happen to you and their other parent?
As with your own personal, health care and financial decisions, would you rather select the guardians (i.e., back-up parents) yourself, or let a probate judge make the selection without your input? Only through proper legal planning can you select the guardians.
There are two critical choices commonly faced by parents of minor children. First, who will take care of my minor children, if orphaned, and, second, who will manage their inheritance?
Times have changed. In the new millennium, whether due to the death of a spouse or through divorce, blended families now outnumber traditional nuclear families. And the number is likely to grow, based on current statistics and trends.
Many blended families face unique social, psychological and economic challenges. As a result, over 60% of second marriages end in divorce. Fortunately, there are numerous organizations and support groups dedicated to helping blended families with these challenges.
Are you between age 40 and 55? If yes, then congratulations. Research has shown that you are in your peak earning years. And that is a very good thing.
Chances are good that you have some expensive life events going on right now, unlike when you were among the Married Couples without children. Do you have children who are college-bound or already there? Do you have a wedding scheduled (or one or more down the road)? Perhaps you are beginning to help aging parents with personal, health care and financial responsibilities.
Just a moment ago you were in the thick of your busy, busy Peak Earning Years. Now, you can see a new adventure is rapidly approaching your front windshield. What is it?
Retirement.
Are you getting ready?
Chances are good that your children have left the nest. Perhaps you are assisting your aging parents with their personal, health care and financial responsibilities.
You have arrived. Just a moment ago you were Nearing Retirement. When did you get to this place in life so quickly? Yikes, what do you need to do right now in preparation for that day?
Retirement.
Congratulations!
This is often an exciting, yet bittersweet time of life.
Chances are good that all of your children have left the nest with lives and growing families of their own. If they are living, perhaps you are becoming parents to your parents (or the surviving parent) just like their parents before them.
Whether due to divorce or death, you are now Single Again.
You may have children and even grandchildren. In any event, you need to create (or revisit) your estate plan.
Did you know the law requires every adult American to make his or her own personal, financial and health care decisions? Now that you are single again, who would make your basic decisions if you are legally incapacitated due to a serious injury or illness?
Unless you legally appoint the decision-maker of your own selection in advance through proper estate planning, then a probate judge will select one for you.
EXCELLENT Based on 98 reviews Alyssa KMay 6, 2025 Zach was wonderful to work with for our estate planning and we'd highly recommend him to anyone! He's easy to talk to, patient and will answer all your questions so you understand the entire process. Thank you Zach for helping our family get everything on order! Alyssa and SteveAlexis LoydApril 25, 2025 We had a wonderful experience working with Zach to establish a trust and complete our estate planning. He was incredibly thoughtful and kind, and took the time to clearly explain every concept so we felt informed and confident throughout the process. He and his team were also very responsive—quick to answer questions and provide guidance whenever we needed it. We really appreciated their flexibility in working around our schedule, and found the pricing to be very fair and comparable to other firms we looked into. Zach made what could have been a stressful process feel smooth and reassuring. Highly recommend!Jason ZirulApril 8, 2025 Great guy to deal with, answered all our questions. Would recommend to others.Scott ArmbrustMarch 24, 2025 Zach did an excellent job in a very timely fashion. He communicates extremely well and exercises an abundance of patience when faced with numerous questions. He demonstrated strong mental recall of legal requirements while reducing complex legal concepts into terms I could understand. Very likable and very professional - I recommend him highly.Terra BentleyMarch 18, 2025 Zach has been great to work with. He first helped my husband and me set up our estate plan and when my husband recently died he was quick to help me with the transition to a single plan. He answered questions quickly and took care of all my legal needs. I can't recommend him highly enough.Justin GrahamMarch 4, 2025 I had the pleasure of working with Zach for my estate planning needs, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with the experience. From the moment I contacted their office, I was greeted with professionalism and care. They took the time to truly understand my family’s needs and explained all of the legal complexities in a way that was clear and easy to understand. The process was seamless, and I felt confident that my estate was in capable hands. Zach provided excellent guidance, ensuring that my wishes were properly documented and executed. I highly recommend their services to anyone in need of estate planning. Their expertise and attention to detail are truly unmatched!Amy SticklerMarch 1, 2025 What a wonderful experience! From the beginning to the end, Zach made us feel very comfortable throughout the entire process. He explains everything in detail so the average person (like us)can understand. I would highly recommend Zach for anyone looking for estate planning advice. As long as he is practicing, we will continue to work with Zach. Thanks again Zach!Charles SwardFebruary 17, 2025 We had a wonderful experience with Zach and staff at Gold Leaf Estate Planning. He took the time to LISTEN to our situation, concerns and fears and direct us to the legal vehicle that best fit our situation. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone looking for estate advice.David WolfgramFebruary 14, 2025 Very professional and detailed. Zach spent the time and effort to answer every question and make sure we understood the options. We are happy with the results.Elizabeth HerbergFebruary 13, 2025 Just finished up our personal estate planning with Zach, which had to be done under a tight deadline given some travel we were locked into. Zach’s process was straight-forward and thorough. He was very easy to work with (and there was a lot to cover) and he was able to answer our questions, manage our last-minute changes without missing a step. His pricing is extremely competitive as well. I would recommend Zach to anyone looking to get their estate planning done.
3000 County Road 42 W. Suite 310
Burnsville, MN 55337