For some people, philanthropy is a way of life. If you are one of those people, you probably have several charities that are dear to your heart and to which to donate on a regular basis. Those charities may even have come to depend on your donations. What happens when you are gone? Can you use a trust to carry on your charitable gifting after your death? The Grand Forks trust attorneys at German Law Group offer some suggestions to help you continue your charitable gifting through the creation of … [Read more...] about How to Leave Gifts to Charities in Your Estate Plan

If you have yet to create an estate plan, you have probably had to listen to well-meaning friends and family tell you that you need to get busy creating your estate plan. For that advice to take root, however, you likely need motivation. Understanding why you need an estate plan may help convince you to get started on your plan. With that in mind, the Grand Forks estate planning attorneys at German Law Group offer three important reasons to have an estate plan: To ensure that you decide what … [Read more...] about Top 3 Reasons to Have an Estate Plan

If you have yet to create even a basic estate plan, you likely have well-meaning friends and/or family members who are urging you to do so. That pressure may cause you to consider using “Do-It-Yourself” estate planning forms in the rush to get a plan in place. The Grand Forks estate planning attorneys at German Law Group explain why using DIY estate planning forms is not a good idea. Why Are DIY Forms So Problematic? Admittedly, it can be tempting to go the DIY route to create your estate … [Read more...] about The Problem with Using DIY Estate Planning Forms

If you are new to the concept of estate planning, it can seem a bit intimidating the first time around given all the various goals and objectives that are frequently rolled into an estate plan. The good news is that working with an experienced estate planning attorney will go a long way toward ensuring that your plan does accomplish all of those goals and objectives. Your estate planning attorney can also help explain the process and make you feel less intimidated. Before you even get to your … [Read more...] about Top 4 Estate Planning Considerations

If you find yourself facing the reality that someone needs to step in and make health care decision for your parent, it will me an emotionally trying experience. What happens if you and your siblings cannot agree on who should make those decisions? What options are available to settle your dispute? A Grand Forks elder law attorney at German Law Group discusses what happens when siblings cannot agree on medical treatment for a parent. Experiencing the Role Reversal As your parents age, … [Read more...] about When a Parent Needs Medical Treatment and the Adult Children Cannot Agree, What Happens?

Although estate planning is important for everyone, for the parents of minor children estate planning takes on a heightened importance. Knowing that your children will be protected if something happens to you and ensuring that they will be well provided for make estate planning a necessity, not an option, for parents with minor children. If you are new to the concept of estate planning, as many parents are, you may not know where to begin or what need to be included in your estate plan. … [Read more...] about Estate Planning for Parents

If you have made the difficult decision to end your marriage, the legal process of divorce that follows will undoubtedly be time-consuming and emotionally exhausting. As such, it can be very easy to overlook the numerous practical steps that should be taken after a divorce. For example, the Grand Forks estate planning attorney at German Law Group point out five estate planning documents that usually need to be updated following a divorce. The Importance of Updating Your Plan … [Read more...] about 5 Post-Divorce Estate Planning Updates