Estate Planning & Probate

Messerli Kramer’s Estate Planning & Probate group is dedicated and committed to providing strategic, practical guidance tailored to your goals – whether you are building a plan, administering an estate, protecting a loved one, or resolving a dispute. Our attorneys and paralegals serve individuals, families, business owners, fiduciaries, and beneficiaries with the clear advice, counsel, tools and experience necessary to protect their family, preserve their legacy, and transfer their businesses and other assets pursuant to an integrated and coherent plan designed to accomplish their objectives.

Estate planning is not one-size-fits-all. Whether you are planning ahead, navigating probate, preparing for long-term care, transitioning a business, or facing a dispute, Messerli Kramer provides experienced counsel and practical solutions at every stage.

Services

• Business Succession Planning: Stepping down from running a business, whether through a sale or transition to family or key leadership, requires careful planning to ensure continuity and stability. We develop succession strategies aimed to minimize disruptions and financial loss, preserves institutional knowledge and relationships, protects business value, and prepare the company for both planned and unexpected leadership changes.

• Contested Wills & Probate Litigation: Contesting a will can be an emotional and challenging process, especially when family relationships and significant assets are involved. Our attorneys provide steady guidance in evaluating legal grounds, such as lack of capacity or undue influence, explaining probate procedures, and pursuing thoughtful, strategic solutions whether you are challenging or defending a will.

• Elder Law: As legal needs evolve with age, our attorneys provide seniors and their families with guidance to maintain independence, protect assets, and plan for incapacity and long-term care. Through comprehensive planning and strong advocacy, we help navigate complex benefit programs, prevent financial exploitation, and safeguard dignity and security for older adults.

• Guardianships & Conservatorships: Estate planning includes preparing not only for death, but also for incapacity, ensuring trusted individuals can make financial and health care decisions if you cannot. When advance directives are not in place, guardianships or conservatorships may be necessary, and our experienced counsel can help guide families through the court process and ongoing responsibilities.

• Long-Term Care Planning: Long-term care planning helps individuals prepare for the physical, medical, and financial challenges that often accompany aging by exploring care options based on specific needs, protecting assets, and planning for public benefit eligibility. With proactive legal guidance, you can secure quality care, preserve resources, and create a personalized plan that provides stability and peace of mind for the future.

• Probate & Trust Administration: The loss of a loved one is difficult enough without navigating the unique legal complexities of probate or trust administration. Our attorneys guide personal representatives and trustees through every step of the process, whether court-supervised probate or the private administration of a trust, helping ensure assets are properly managed, legal obligations are met, and distributions are handled efficiently and in accordance with Minnesota law.

• Wills & Trusts: Estate planning involves more than drafting documents, it requires thoughtful strategies to protect your assets, loved ones, and medical wishes using the right combination of legal tools. Our attorneys work closely with you to evaluate your goals and circumstances, explain the distinct roles of wills and trusts, and build a comprehensive plan that controls asset distribution, minimizes probate, preserves privacy, and provides confidence for the future.

Professionals

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