[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] May is Mental Health Awareness Month and this year, more than ever, it is important to raise awareness and reduce stigma. Mental illness can affect anybody, at any time. Treating a mental health condition is rarely an easy task, and recovery is oftentimes not a straight line. For...
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] A traditional “nuclear family,” typically consists of a mother, father, and two children. However, what makes up a typical family structure in our society has shifted to a more complex structure, including step-children, cohabitation, same-sex couples, and blended family structures. While basic estate planning principles are similar for...
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] It is common that an event or experience will cause someone to take steps to start their estate planning. In my experience, it is the expecting, or birth, of a baby that most often leads people into my office. It may seem that amidst buying baby clothes and...
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Legally, pets are classified as property, but to owners, they mean much more than that. Pets are companions, best friends, and members of the family. For many people, pets are an integral part of the family. A pet gives unconditional love. But what happens to our pets when...
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Benjamin Franklin With this famous line written in 1789, Benjamin Franklin offered a friend some wisdom that has become one of his most-quoted quips. While some taxes are certain, Estate and Inheritance tax laws...
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Bringing up the topic of estate planning with parents is something that many people avoid. It is an awkward, seemingly morbid, conversation to start with aging parents. You may fear your parents will feel you are invading their privacy, or assessing your inheritance prematurely. However, it is an incredibly...
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] So, you’re married! You have found the one you wish to have and to hold, you are freshly relaxed from your honeymoon, and now you’re wondering “What’s next?” Schromen Law, LLC would advise that it is the perfect time to set up an appointment to update or create...
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Estate planning is crucial to personal financial management, so it is astounding that a majority of Americans do not have an estate plan in place. Why do so many people avoid this important process in planning for their future? The impact of deciding to not create an estate...
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Prenuptial agreements are an important tool for individuals who are entering into a marriage and have assets they want to protect should the marriage end in divorce. With many people entering into marriages later in life, they are oftentimes joining lives when one party, or both, have accumulated...
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”] Evon M. Spangler, partner at Spangler & de Stefano, PLLP, is a business attorney in St. Paul, Minnesota. When I represent clients who are business owners in drafting their estate plan, they oftentimes need to work with a business attorney to ensure there is a succession plan for...