Estate Planning Attorneys in St. Paul, Minnesota

An estate planning attorney drafts the legal documents that determine who inherits your assets, who raises your children if you cannot, who makes medical and financial decisions on your behalf, and how your wishes are honored after death. Core documents often include a will, a revocable living trust, a financial power of attorney, a Minnesota Health Care Directive, and guardianship nominations. Schromen Law is an all-women estate planning firm in St. Paul, Minnesota, focused on empowered estate planning for women, queer families, and nontraditional families.

Yes. A will is about authority more than wealth. It is how you nominate the guardian of your minor children, name a personal representative to manage your estate, and direct who receives your belongings, accounts, and pets. Without a will, Minnesota’s intestacy statute (Minn. Stat. § 524.2-101 and following) decides for you — and the default rules rarely match what most individuals and families actually want.

We find that individuals often prioritize after divorce as follows: (1) beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance, (2) your will, (3) guardianship nominations for minor children, (4) financial power of attorney, (5) health care directive. Minnesota’s automatic revocation statute (Minn. Stat. § 524.2-804) removes a former spouse from some — but not all — designations after divorce, and federal accounts like 401(k)s are governed by ERISA, which does not auto-revoke. Schromen Law conducts a complete post-divorce estate audit in a single meeting.

No — not fully. While Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) and the federal Respect for Marriage Act (2022) protect marriage recognition, marriage alone does not establish legal parentage for a non-biological parent, guarantee hospital visitation in every state, or prevent unsupportive relatives from challenging your wishes. Same-sex couples, queer families, and chosen-family households in Minnesota typically need additional documentation: second-parent adoption or parentage judgments, health care directives, financial powers of attorney, and trusts naming each partner explicitly.

Schromen Law works on flat fees scoped to the complexity of your life. Plans are organized into three tiers — Standard, High-Complexity, and Premium — based on factors like asset structure, family configuration, business ownership, and the documents required. The exact fee is confirmed during a free consultation before any work begins, so there are no surprises.

Schromen Law, LLC is located at 319 Ramsey Street, St. Paul, Minnesota 55102, in the historic West Seventh neighborhood. The firm serves clients throughout St. Paul, Minneapolis, and the Twin Cities metro area, with virtual consultations available statewide across Minnesota.

Yes. Schromen Law represents clients across Minnesota, including Minneapolis, Ramsey County, Hennepin County, Dakota County, Washington County, and the broader Twin Cities metro. Initial consultations and follow-up meetings are available in person at the St. Paul office or virtually by video for clients anywhere in Minnesota.

Empowered estate planning is Schromen Law’s approach to building estate plans that reflect the planner’s own values, voice, and life transitions — rather than templated documents that assume a traditional household structure. The firm focuses on women, queer families, blended families, and nontraditional families who want a plan that protects what they have built and the people they love, on their own terms.

A single parent in Minnesota often benefits from five core documents: (1) a will that nominates a guardian for minor children, (2) a revocable living trust to manage inheritance for children until adulthood, (3) a financial power of attorney, (4) a Minnesota Health Care Directive, and (5) a letter of intent explaining the values and preferences you want your chosen guardian to honor. Because there may not be a second parent to default to, every one of these documents matters more.

The free consultation is a confidential conversation about your family, your assets, your concerns, and your goals — not a sales pitch. By the end, you will know which documents you need, which approach to planning fits your situation, the flat fee, and the expected timeline. There is no obligation to move forward.

A power of attorney lets you name a trusted person to manage your money, property, and financial accounts if you become unable to do so. A Minnesota Health Care Directive lets a trusted person make medical decisions for you and documents your own care preferences (such as life support, organ donation, and pain management). Both take effect during your lifetime — a will does not — and most Minnesota estate plans include both alongside a will and/or a trust.