Category: Estate Planning
Essential Legal Documents for Every College-Bound Graduate
July 6, 2026 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.
As students graduate from high school and look toward college, work opportunities, or travel plans, parents may already be helping them check off boxes on their preparation lists: furniture, bedding, textbooks, and laptops. But there are two crucial items that rarely make the list: a health care directive and a power of attorney. Every high school grad should have these essential legal documents prepared. At Barna, Guzy & Steffen, we often work with families navigating major life transitions. One of the most significant transitions is when a child turns 18. While they may still feel like your baby, the law views them as legal adults. This legal shift has major implications, particularly in an emergency. Here is what every Minnesota parent and graduate needs to know about the two essential legal documents they should put in place before the graduate heads out on their own. Why Being “Mom and Dad” Is No Longer Enough The moment your child turns 18, they gain the legal right to privacy regarding their medical, financial, and educational records. Because of strict federal laws like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), medical professionals are legally prohibited from sharing health information with you—even if you are paying for their health insurance or college tuition. If your child…
Read MoreMay Is National Elder Law Month
May 12, 2026 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.
It’s National Elder Law Month. Elder law and special needs law are specialized areas of legal practice that focus on the unique needs of older adults and individuals with disabilities, while also providing support and guidance for their families. Our department at Barna, Guzy & Steffen, represents clients in simple to complex elder law and special needs planning matters. Our elder law and special needs attorneys provide counsel and advocacy on a variety of issues including, but not limited to, estate planning, asset protection or preservation, long-term care planning, guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, and special needs planning. Hiring an elder law and special needs attorney provides a holistic approach to planning for your future and legacy. The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) campaign for 2026 National Elder Law Month is Protecting Rights, Fighting Scams. NAELA cites the Federal Trade Commission annual report to Congress, which showed an increase in the number of older adults reporting losses in an aggregate amount of $2.4 billion in 2024. Scams targeting older adults are becoming more sophisticated and even more harmful. Now is a great time to review your plan or connect with an elder law and special needs attorney to put a plan in place.
Read MoreImpact of Key Provisions of Congress’ Bill that Ended the Government Shutdown for Vulnerable Populations
November 21, 2025 | Cathryn Reher
Our Estate Planning Department works with persons with disabilities of all ages who are accessing government benefits to help pay for long-term services and supports. The government shutdown was very scary for those dependent on government benefits. Thankfully, the government shutdown has ended due to Congress passing a law signed November 12, 2025. Some of the provisions in this law will impact our most vulnerable populations. A few of the more important changes are discussed below. Medicare and Medicaid Payments Medicare and Medicaid usually keep running even during a shutdown. But a very long shutdown could have stopped payments to doctors or kept states from getting the money they need. This would have made it hard for people to get care. The reopening of the government avoids this. Health Insurance Costs May Go Up A special kind of discount called an enhanced premium tax credit that helped people pay for health insurance will end on December 31, 2025. Many people who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace may have to pay a lot more—especially people with middle incomes. Families with tight budgets may want to wait until closer to the deadline so they can compare plans and pick the best one. Congress could still bring back these discounts, but doing so now would be confusing because open…
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