Category: Estate Planning

Potential Updates to Medicaid/Medical Assistance Benefits

April 17, 2025  |  Toni Perrier

Our BGS Estate Planning Team has attorneys working with persons with disabilities of all ages and their families to help them obtain and maintain Medicaid/Medical Assistance benefits.  There is a massive budget reconciliation package being fast tracked through Congress that would cut hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid.  The impact could be very challenging for our elderly and disability populations.  If you want to keep informed on the impact of the proposed budget cuts, the National Health Law Organization April 23, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. will be hosting a free webinar entitled Medicaid in the Crosshairs: Understanding the Threat and the Path Forward.  You can find out more about this seminar and other resource materials at:  https://healthlaw.org/resource/protect-medicaid-funding-series-2024/. 

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MSBA Elder Law Section Virtual Panel Coming Soon!

March 17, 2025  |  Kate Frederickson

Elder Law is a broad practice area with numerous pathways to practice. The MSBA Elder Law Section is hosting a virtual panel on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, open to law students, new lawyers, and practicing attorneys who are interested in an elder law practice. We will have attorneys from different stages in their careers who handle various aspects of elder law who will share their journey into the practice. The panelists will share insight on things they wish they knew at the onset of their career in elder law and how they have developed their practice. The panel will offer excellent insights into the practice of elder law in Minnesota for those considering going into elder law. Presenters:Kate R. Fredrickson, Attorney, Barna, Guzy & SteffenBen Kaufman, Staff Attorney, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal ServicesElizabeth I. Wrobel, Attorney, Wrobel & Smith, PLLPJulian J. Zweber, Attorney at Law, Saint Paul, Minnesota This event is free to Law Students and New Admittee’s to the Bar. You can register here:https://mnbars.org/?pg=events&evAction=showDetail&eid=299336&evSubAction=listAll&utm_campaign=2024-12-new-lawyers-newsletter&utm_source=membercentralpublications&utm_medium=email&utm_content=march-2025

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Updating Your Estate Plan for the New Year

February 5, 2025  |  William F. Huefner

The new year is the perfect time to reflect on the last 12 months and set new goals for the future. This also makes it an ideal time to update your estate plan. Much can change in a year, and your estate planning documents should reflect your current circumstances. Keep reading to learn some common life changes that may warrant updating your estate plan. Life Changes that May Affect Your Estate Plan Marriage or divorce: Many people appoint their spouse as a beneficiary, executor, or trustee. If your marital status changes, you should update your estate plan to reflect this. A new child or grandchild: You may wish to add a new family member as a beneficiary or set aside assets for them in a trust. Your Last Will and Testament should also include guardianship provisions for your minor children or dependents in the event that you pass away. The loss of a beneficiary: Losing a loved one is a tragedy, especially when it’s someone to whom you planned to bequeath your legacy. Updating your estate plan to reflect this loss is a heartbreaking but necessary step. A change in trustees or executors: Life moves quickly, and people’s health and priorities can change. Take some time to review the people you have nominated…

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