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 84 reviews Terry BeckerJanuary 18, 2025 My wife and I just completed our estate plan with Zach's help and guidance. We are both very satisfied with the process and the result. Zach's knowledge and demeanor made us very comfortable working through a potentially complex process. We are fully confident to rely on his advice and services in the future. We both fully recommend Zach and Gold Leaf Estate Planning for their professional service.Nabil ZeinehJanuary 18, 2025 Zach is attentive, thorough, and kind . Very professional staff. He made the estate planning process go like a breeze. Highly recommendedDavid MartinJanuary 14, 2025 We set up family trust plans with Zachary Wiegand. He made the process understandable to a layperson and we only needed to meet three times. Friendly and helpful!Bruce EricksonJanuary 12, 2025 Zach Wiengand, Gold Leaf Estate Planning, was great to work with and I would highly recommend him for estate planning (trusts, wills, and more). He took the time to explain the options and all of our questions. He was easy to work with and timely with his responses. Thanks Zach!RICHARD STARRJanuary 4, 2025 All went smoothly and we finished with exactly what we wantedTim McNealJanuary 3, 2025 Zach Weigand is an Estate and Trust attorney that I worked when creating a revocable trust and will related to my estate plan. The requests for information were reasonable resulting in an efficient and quick process. He explained well what was happening and the reason for each provision in the documents. He responded quickly to any questions that I had, and we completed the documents in a very reasonable time frame. He also described in detail the next steps that I needed to take once the documents were completed. I highly recommend Zach Wiegand for any will, estate planning and trust work.Caribou JohnDecember 26, 2024 My wife and I recently worked with Zach to create our estate plan and could not be happier with the results. Zach was very thorough and caring in helping us determine our needs and we both felt very comfortable with his guidance throughout the process. I would highly recommend Gold Leaf Estate Planning to anyone requiring excellent and professional service.Sheryl DaveyDecember 14, 2024 Zack was great to work with and he helped me get everything in order after the loss of my husband. I highly recommend Gold Leaf Estate Planning!Jennifer GarciaDecember 10, 2024 Zach, Did great work for my 80+ year old Dad and now for me & my family which was more complicated.
3000 County Road 42 W. Suite 310
Burnsville, MN 55337