Peace of Mind Planning with Yanowitz Law Firm

Selling a home involves more than just finding a buyer and showing up on closing day. This episode walks through what a seller side closing looks like and what happens behind the scenes to get you from a signed purchase agreement to receiving your sale proceeds.

You will learn how the purchase agreement sets the foundation for the transaction, how title work identifies mortgages or title issues that must be resolved, and how payoff amounts, taxes, and settlement statements are coordinated before closing. The episode also explains what to expect on closing day, including signing deeds and final documents, and how funds are ultimately distributed.

If you are selling real estate and want to make sure the process is handled correctly and efficiently, contact Yanowitz Law Firm for help. We can assist at any stage of the transaction and help ensure your closing goes smoothly from start to finish.

Choosing the right title company can make a significant difference in protecting your interests during a real estate closing. This episode explains why working with an independent title company matters and how it differs from using a title company that is affiliated with a real estate brokerage or another party in the transaction.

You will learn how an independent title company focuses solely on you, conducts a thorough title examination, and carefully reviews property records for issues like liens, judgments, tax claims, and other risks that could affect your ownership. The goal is to ensure the transaction is completed correctly and that your interests are fully protected, without competing loyalties to other parties involved in the sale.

If you are buying or selling real estate and want confidence that your closing is handled with your best interests in mind, contact Yanowitz Law Firm for help. We can guide you through the closing process and ensure your real estate transaction is handled carefully and correctly.

Many people consider leaving Minnesota residency behind, especially in retirement, but doing it incorrectly can create serious tax and probate problems. This episode explains why people look to change residency, including weather, income taxes, and Minnesota’s estate tax, and why simply buying property in another state is not enough.

You will learn about common misconceptions around residency, how Minnesota determines whether you are still considered a resident, and why owning property in multiple states without proper planning can lead to costly probates in more than one state. The episode also introduces a multi part series that breaks down the 183 day rule and explains how Minnesota estate tax can still apply even after you move.

If you are spending time in more than one state or thinking about changing your residency, contact Yanowitz Law Firm for help. We can guide you through residency planning, property ownership issues, and estate planning strategies so you avoid unexpected taxes and unnecessary probate complications.

Many people are surprised to learn that having a trust does not eliminate the need for a will. In a trust based estate plan, the will still plays an important role and helps make sure everything works together the way it should.

This episode explains why a will is essential even when you have a trust. It covers how a will is used to name guardians for minor children and why that decision cannot be handled in a trust. It also explains the purpose of a pour over will, which ensures that any assets left outside the trust at death are transferred into the trust and distributed according to your plan.

You will also learn how newly acquired assets can accidentally create problems if they are not titled correctly and how a coordinated estate plan uses multiple documents working together to protect your goals.

If you have a trust or are thinking about creating one and want to be sure your plan is complete, contact Yanowitz Law Firm for help. Our team can review your estate plan, explain how the documents work together, and make sure nothing is left to chance.

As more of life moves online, digital access has become a critical part of estate planning. When someone becomes incapacitated or passes away, families are often locked out of important accounts, creating unnecessary stress and lost information.

This episode walks through the types of passwords and digital access that are most helpful to share in advance. It covers online photo storage, email and cloud accounts, financial accounts, debt accounts, and household utilities. It also explains how some platforms allow beneficiary or legacy access, so information can be shared without giving full control.

You will also learn practical ways to store and share passwords, including written records and secure password managers, along with the pros and cons of each approach. Planning ahead can help preserve important memories, keep bills paid, and allow trusted people to step in when needed.

If you want help making sure your digital life is properly coordinated with your estate plan, contact Yanowitz Law Firm. Our team can help you put the right legal documents and guidance in place so your family has clarity and support when it matters most.

When a loved one passes away and their home is in probate, a common question is whether the property can still be sold, especially in a strong real estate market. The short answer is yes, but the process looks different than a typical sale.

This episode explains how selling a house in probate works, including the need for a court to appoint a personal representative before the property can be sold. You will learn why probate can delay a closing, what buyers need to know upfront, and how proper planning can make the process smoother for families.

It also covers planning options that can help avoid these delays altogether, such as trust-based estate planning or transfer-on-death deeds, which allow real estate to pass outside of probate and be sold more efficiently.

If you are dealing with a probate sale or want to make things easier for your family in the future, contact Yanowitz Law Firm for help. Our team can guide you through probate, real estate transactions, and estate planning to protect your goals and reduce stress for your loved ones.

Property records are public documents, which makes buying and selling real estate transparent and accessible. Unfortunately, that same transparency has also created opportunities for scams that target new property owners using official looking letters and misleading language.

In this episode, you will learn about a common property record scam where homeowners receive notices claiming their deed is invalid or requires an extra payment to remain effective. These letters often request a small fee to obtain a copy of a deed that has already been recorded and is usually provided by the title company or attorney handling the closing.

If you receive a suspicious notice or are unsure whether a document is legitimate, do not act alone. Contact Yanowitz Law Firm for guidance before sending payment or responding. This episode can help you spot the red flags, and our team is here to help you protect your property and your peace of mind.

A will is an essential estate planning document, but putting the wrong things in it can cause confusion, delays, and unintended consequences. This episode explains what does not belong in a will and why certain instructions are better handled elsewhere.

You will learn why beneficiary designations for retirement accounts, life insurance, and annuities should never be written directly into a will, and how doing so can override your intentions. The episode also discusses why personal explanations, family messages, and emotional rationales should be kept out of wills, especially since wills often become public documents during probate.

Finally, this episode clarifies common misconceptions about disinheriting someone, leaving token gifts, and including medical or end of life instructions. If you want your will to be clear, effective, and legally sound, listen in and take the next step by reviewing your estate plan or scheduling a conversation with an estate planning professional today.

Trusts are powerful planning tools, but small missteps can create major problems down the road. This episode walks through seven common and costly mistakes people make with their trusts, including failing to retitle assets, misunderstanding how retirement accounts work, and assuming a trust automatically avoids every risk.

You will learn why revocable trusts do not protect assets from nursing home costs, lawsuits, or divorce, and why do it yourself trust planning often leads to unintended consequences. The episode also highlights the importance of planning for contingencies, such as beneficiaries who pass away before you do, and how overlooking these details can trigger probate or family disputes.

Finally, this episode explains why keeping your trust updated is just as important as creating it in the first place. Life changes, laws change, and your estate plan should evolve too. If you want to avoid surprises and make sure your trust works the way you intend, this episode is a must listen.

Leaving an inheritance to someone who struggles with addiction requires thoughtful planning and careful decision making. This episode explores five key considerations that can help protect both the individual receiving assets and the long-term intentions behind the gift.

Topics include deciding how much to leave and whether the inheritance should be equal, greater, or smaller than other beneficiaries. The discussion also covers whether assets should be given outright or held in trust, and how restrictive or flexible those trust terms should be to balance support with protection.

You will also learn why choosing the right trustee is critical, how to handle beneficiaries such as grandchildren, and why these plans should be reviewed regularly as circumstances change. This episode provides guidance for families navigating a sensitive situation while aiming to provide stability, dignity, and long-term care through estate planning.