What to Do after a Car Accident
July 15, 2024 | Adriel B. Villarreal
No one plans to get in a car accident, but knowing the right steps to take in the event of one can help you stay safe and receive appropriate compensation. Protect your rights and calmly navigate the situation with these tips from the car accident attorneys at Barna, Guzy & Steffen on what to do after a car accident. 1. Stop your vehicle State law requires drivers to stop after an accident, even if it is minor. You also must stop regardless of who you believe to be at fault. If possible, pull off to the side of the road and out of the way of traffic. Just make sure to stay at the scene of the accident. 2. Check for injuries Health and safety are paramount. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries, then check the driver and occupants of the other vehicle. If anyone is seriously injured, call emergency medical services immediately. 3. Contact the police Even if the accident isn’t serious, police officers can help manage the scene and redirect traffic. They will also create an accident report, which you should ask for a copy of when possible. This can aid in both insurance claims and legal proceedings. Before the officers leave, write down their names and badge numbers as…
Read MoreGet Your Company Records Right with Help from BGS
July 10, 2024 | Carole Clark Isakson
Almost weekly, I am contacted by a small business owner who needs their company’s corporate records to be “updated.” This “update” request is usually prompted by ownership changes, the sale of the company, or a potential lender doing its due diligence. In all cases, those other parties want to make sure that the company they are buying or investing in has been properly formed, is properly managed, and has designated those with authority to bind the company. And—in at least half of these cases—the reason the company records need updating is because the owners initially formed the entity without legal help. Many people know that the Minnesota Secretary of State provides forms for the initial Articles, but this is not enough. If all you do is file the Articles, you have done nothing more than create a shell of a company. It is unlikely that a lender will be satisfied with this, and anyone buying your company (except perhaps another existing owner) will insist that the company records be completed and corrected. Filing Articles of Incorporation (for a corporation) or Organization (for an LLC) is only the first step. To complete those online, you will need the following: Proposed name of the entity Registered office and agent How many shares are authorized (in the case of a…
Read MoreNotice of Continued Insurable Interest: Minnesota Transfer on Death Deeds
June 25, 2024 | Cathryn Reher
A spiteful ex-spouse burned down the decedent’s homestead immediately after death upon learning the property title passed to the decedent’s daughter as the surviving transfer on death beneficiary. The insurance company refused to cover the loss, asserting the daughter did not have an insurable interest! Thankfully, this prompted our legislators to pass a new law effective August 1, 2024, which provides some limited post-death insurance coverage to transfer on death beneficiaries. BUT, it will require you to act. The new law provides that, upon notice, your property insurance company must provide extended coverage commencing on the date of the Grantor Owner’s death or death of the last survivor of multiple Grantor Owners for a period of 30 days, or the date that the insurance policy expires, whichever is shorter, for the named Grantee Beneficiary(ies) under the transfer on death deed. Note that if you change your insurance carrier, you will need to submit a new notice to your new insurance company. This is a benefit to property owners in Minnesota. If you need assistance to provide the required notice, please reach out to your BGS team. Our estate planning and real estate practice groups here at Barna, Guzy, & Steffen are dedicated to staying informed and serving our client’s best interests. Our estate planning…
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