Estate planning may not be at the top of most people's minds during the holidays. But it is important to check things twice before moving on to 2018 New Year's resolutions. For many of us, this includes updating our estate plans, figuring out what's happening with...
2017 Estate Tax Update
From comprehensive tax reform making its way through congress, to the changes to the Minnesota estate tax, it has been an eventful year for estate planning. While tax changes are not the most exciting topic for many of our clients, it is a topic that continues to be...
Taking a Last Minute Distribution From Your IRA? Consider a Qualified Charitable Distribution
Most of our clients have at least a portion of their savings in IRAs. Those that do not often have savings in a 401k, which will likely be converted to an IRA upon retirement. Both 401k and IRA plans allow a person to put money away tax free. However, when money is...
2017 Snowbird Update
There have been significant well publicized estate planning legislative updates in 2017, including the increase in the Minnesota estate tax exemption amount and the proposed repeal of the federal exemption. Two lesser-known changes impact one of Minnesota’s most...
2017 Year-End Estate Planning Checklist
As the end of the year approaches and with the holiday season in full swing, estate planning isn’t typically at the top of most people’s wish lists. Nevertheless, it is important not to move on to 2018 new year’s resolutions without tying up the loose ends from the...
Happy Holidays from Lommen Abdo
Beware of Economic Waste Doctrine in Wisconsin and Its Potential to Limit Recovery in Breach of Contract Cases
The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois recently held the “economic waste” doctrine, as applied in Wisconsin, prevented a property owner from recovering the costs to repair a structure on its property even though the court found the...
Appeals & Insurance Coverage Q&A with Kay Nord Hunt:
What advantages do you see in working with an appellate advocate? [Transcript] Kay Hunt's appellate experience - handled over 600 appeals. [Transcript] How do you weigh the cost/benefit analysis of appealing a decision? [Transcript] View all of the videos from this...
Property Tax, Commercial Litigation, Construction Litigation & Property Insurance Q&A with Michael Moline:
What is your experience? [Transcript] What should I expect if my home or business is damaged by fire, hail or a storm? [Transcript] What is property damage insurance appraisal? [Transcript] View all of the videos from this Q&A by...
Case Law Update
Farmers Were Not “Farmers” for Purposes of Conservation Easement Charitable Deduction Rutkoski v. Comissioner, 149 T.C. 6 (August 7, 2017). THE PARTIES: Mark Rutkoske and Felix Rutkoske are brothers who engaged in a farming operation through various business entities...
Minneapolis Sick and Safe Time Ordinance
SEPTEMBER 2017 UPDATE: Looking Good, Richfield! Minnesota Court of Appeals Affirms Lower Court’s Temporary Ban on Enforcement for Employers Located Outside the City of Minneapolis As we wrote about a few months ago, Minneapolis’s controversial Sick and Safe Time...
Minnesota’s Limited Liability Company Statute Changes January 1, 2018
Minnesota law regarding limited liability companies changes on January 1, 2018. On that date almost every limited liability company (LLC) formed in Minnesota under its "old" 1992 law will now fall under a new - much different - 2014 LLC law. The new law differs from...
Guardianship
There is often confusion regarding what a guardianship is and whether it may be necessary for a friend or loved one. This article is meant to provide a general overview of guardianships in Minnesota. A guardianship is a relationship between a guardian, who is...
John Crawford and Kay Nord Hunt Contribute to Minnesota Insurance Law Deskbook
Lommen Abdo litigator John Crawford is the editor of the Minnesota Insurance Law Deskbook that was updated this year with its publisher, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education. John and Kay Nord Hunt also updated Chapter 15, Select Commercial General Liability Policy...
Four Things to Consider About Do-it-Yourself Estate Planning Software
As a price conscious homeowner, I am all for do-it-yourself projects to save a few dollars here and there. I often bite off more than I can chew, like the time I thought I could handle rerouting the plumbing in a bathroom. Predictably, this resulted in a flooded...
Legal Storytellers: Kay Nord Hunt and Barry O’Neil
The ability to make the complex simple and clearly understood is a valuable trait for a litigator. That ability is one of the reasons why Kay Nord Hunt has been selected as Best Lawyers® 2018 Minneapolis "Lawyer of the Year" for her appellate practice and why Barry...
Homeowner associations must comply with new requirements
Townhome, condominium, and other homeowner associations are typically part of what is called a common interest community, or CIC. An association may be organized in the form of a profit, nonprofit, or cooperative organization, but CICs are generally controlled by the...
Minnesota’s “New” LLC Statute
Way back “in the day” -- 1992 -- the Minnesota Legislature rolled the dice, betting on the long-term success of a limited liability company statute modeled on Minnesota’s existing corporation statute with a few flexible “partnership” type features. The statute worked...
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