Your Trusted Washington County Estate Planning Attorneys

Your estate plan shapes what happens to your family for years to come. At Messick Law, PLLC, our attorneys guide families and professionals in Washington County through every stage of the process. From building an initial plan to navigating trust administration and litigation, our legal team can provide the practical, personalized guidance you can rely on.

Do You Need An Estate Planning Attorney In Washington County If Your Assets Are Simple?

It is not required by law. However, having an estate plan professionally drafted makes a meaningful difference, regardless of the size or simplicity of your estate. Most people’s estates are more complicated than they expect.

People with estates valued under $75,000, with no real estate, can qualify for an Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property. This allows their assets to go to their beneficiaries without needing to open a probate case.

If your estate exceeds $75,000 or includes real property, it must go through probate. Without a will or a trust in place, Minnesota law decides who inherits your assets. The outcome may not be what you intended. Whether you have a modest estate or significant assets, working with an attorney can help you make the right decisions for your family.

How Do You Protect A Child With Special Needs Through Estate Planning?

A special or supplemental needs trust is one of the most reliable ways to provide financial support for a child with a disability without putting their government benefits at risk. Under federal rules, assets valued above $2,000, if held directly in a child’s name, can interfere with their eligibility for Medicaid and SSI.

A properly structured trust holds those assets separately. It keeps benefits intact while funding therapies, specialized equipment, education and activities those programs do not cover. Our Washington County estate planning lawyers can walk you through your options and draft the right trust structure for your family’s situation.

How Do You Avoid The Probate Process In Washington County?

The most effective way to avoid probate is to structure your estate so that assets transfer directly to your beneficiaries outside of court. Several estate planning tools can help you accomplish this, including:

• A properly funded revocable living trust: This transfers all trust assets to beneficiaries without court involvement.
• A Transfer on Death Deed (TODD): This transfers real estate to a named recipient at death, without probate.
• Payable-on-death designations: These transfer financial account balances directly to named beneficiaries.
• Joint tenancy with right of survivorship: This arrangement lets shared property transfer to the surviving owner automatically after a co-owner’s death.

Our Washington County estate planning lawyers will review your estate and identify the right combination of tools for your situation.

Let Us Help You Move Forward

A strong estate plan gives you clarity and reduces uncertainty for the people you care about. If you are going through a probate or trust dispute, our Washington County civil litigation lawyers are ready to advocate for your interests in Washington County District Court.

Schedule a consultation with us today. Call Messick Law, PLLC, at 651-505-2655 or send us an email. We have offices in Woodbury, St. Paul and Faribault.