Category Archives: probate

Physician Statement Admitted as Harmless Error but may be Inadmissible Going Forward.

Posted on July 22, 2019 by

A physician statement in a guardianship-conservator proceeding was admissible evidence over hearsay objection (as harmless error) but may not be admissible under 803(6). Minn. R. Evid. 803(4). In re the Emergency Guardianship and Conservatorship of: Gary Burke, A18-1894 Filed July 22, … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservatorship, Emergency guardianship or conservatorship, Evidence 801, Evidence 802, Evidence 803, Guardianship, Physician Statement, probate, Rules of Evidence, Vulnerable Adult

Excluded spouse under slayer statute can still have standing in probate, 524.1-201(33), 2-803(a), (f).

Posted on December 10, 2018 by

In re: Estate of Sandra Sandland, Deceased, A17-2016; Filed December 10, 2018. In this case the husband killed his wife. Under the Minnesota slayer statute Minn. Stat. § 524.5-803 the husband is no longer an heir of the estate. When … Continue reading →

Posted in 524.1-201(33), 524.3-803(a), Interested person, probate, Standing

Guardians have the power to bring a harassment restraining order for a ward.

Posted on November 26, 2018 by

In the case of Thompson v. Thompson, A18-0309, Filed November 26, 2018 the guardian for a ward sought a harassment restraining order (Minn. Stat. 609.748, subd. 5(b)(3)) on behalf of the ward against the former step-parent/former co-guardian. The court granted … Continue reading →

Posted in 609.748, Guardianship, Harassment Restraining Order, HRO, probate, Uncategorized, Ward

Statute of limitations Minn. Stat. § 541.05, Subd. 1, ran on breach of fiduciary duty claim- be mindful of tolling by fiduciaries

Posted on July 2, 2018 by

Hansen v. U.S. Bank, as Special Administrator and Personal Representative of the Estate of Robert J. Hansen, Filed July 2, 2018, A17-1608 (MN.App. 2018). Seller (and his brother) was to sell property to the City in 2009. The City was to … Continue reading →

Posted in 541.05, Subd, 1, Malpractice, Personal Representative, probate, Statute of Limitations, toll, tolled, Uncategorized

Significant Malpractice Case for Estate Planning Attorneys

Posted on June 28, 2018 by

Security Bank & Trust Co. v. Larkin, Hoffman, Daly, Lindgren Ltd., __ N.W.2d __ (Minn. 2018); File June 27, 2018, A16-1810. I reported this case when it was in the Court of Appeals. This Court reversed the Court of Appeals. … Continue reading →

Posted in 524.1-201(8), 524.3-703(c), 524.3-803(a), 573.01, Claims, Malpractice, Personal Representative, probate, Some Damage, Standing, Statute of Limitations, trust, Uncategorized

Under Minn. Stat. § 524.3-101 real property devolves at death of testator to devisee even if through a residuary clause and not a specific devise

Posted on June 21, 2018 by

Estate of Howard Arnold Laymon v. Minnesota Premier Properties, LLC, ___ N.W.2d ___, (Minn. 2018) filed June 21, 2018 upholding 903 N.W.2d 6, (Minn.App. 2017)(A17-0162) filed October 9, 2017. The Minnesota Supreme Court upheld the Court of Appeals decision in … Continue reading →

Posted in 524.3-101, Personal Representative, probate, Uncategorized, vesting

Election against the will was late and waived by agreement

Posted on June 14, 2018 by

In the Matter of the Estate of: Martha R. Houle DeHaven et al, A17-1762 filed June 11, 2018 (MN.App. 2018). The wife died in 2015. The husband had signed a consent and waiver of the elective share 6 years before … Continue reading →

Posted in 524.2-211, Augmented Estate, Election Against The Will, Elective Share, probate, Waiver