Jeremiah described it as “resting with your ancestors.” John Cleese called it “joining the choir invisible.” Brendon Small dubbed it “hamburger time.” Referring to it euphemistically does help to make that fated celestial tea party a touch more palatable. Just don’t forget: You received your invitation on the day you were born, and attendance is mandatory.
You would much rather have the world keep turning in your favor, of course, which is why you can’t afford to miss the deadline for estate planning. Your loved ones will already be beside themselves once you’ve acquainted yourself with the great unknown. Adding uncertainty, bureaucracy and squabbles to the mix will only make things harder on them.
You need an attorney whose expertise comprises equal parts estate planning and estate and trust administration; a right-hand man, who will tirelessly devote himself to formalizing and effectuating your wishes so nothing is left to doubt. To put it less ambiguously, you need Andy Gregory.
“Many attorneys in my field tend to focus on one side of the coin or the other,” said Andy. “Some realize their strengths lie in wills, trusts and incapacity planning. Others prefer the distinctive challenges of trust administration and probate. By specializing in the before and the after, I’m able to give my clients unique peace of mind. They already know and trust the attorney who will shepherd their beneficiaries and fight for their rights. And because probate court has taught me all the issues that could result from estate planning errors, I’m able to avoid them altogether. I mend holes before they become leaks.
“Unfortunately, I don’t always have the liberty of helping my clients avoid preventable problems. Several of them come to me once probate is already in effect, as in a recent case where I represented one of two siblings who had formerly co-owned a cabin. The other sibling’s passing revealed that the cabin had not been properly titled. The fact that neither party had done any estate planning beforehand didn’t simplify the matter. Had they only come to me sooner, we could have set up a cabin trust or LLC that would have seamlessly transitioned ownership. We still reached a happy outcome, but the whole ordeal truly underscored the importance of taking action today – not later.
“My focus may be multifaceted, but my areas of practice are still highly specialized. Exclusively working in estate planning and administration gives me a greater degree of flexibility than most other firms can offer. My services are totally transparent. I meet my clients wherever they are. Instead of a paralegal or associate, they always speak with me directly. And because I’ve rehearsed my field of law’s (admittedly impenetrable) lexicon so many times before, I’m able to explain all its intricacies in plain English. You don’t want your surviving family members bombarded with legalese. I will spare them that grief.
“Making estate law accessible is one of my greatest passions. It motivates the pro bono work I do for Wills for Heroes, which provides free estate planning services to first responders and their spouses throughout Minnesota, as well as the Minnesota State Law Library's Probate Clinic which provides free legal advice to the general public – many of whom live in Eden Prairie.
“I also give back by regularly teaching free estate planning and probate clinics in Eden Prairie and nearby suburbs. Each class is an opportunity to explain the vital importance of having a general healthcare directive and power of attorney. And thanks to my extensive involvement with the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce, Minnesota State Bar Association, and Rotary International, I take even greater heart knowing I have helped many people avoid needless distress during already distressing times.
“Simple though it may sound, that’s really what I take from all of this. I enjoy helping people, and consider myself blessed to practice an area of law that allows me to do just that – and only that – on a daily basis.”
If you want an estate plan that is perfectly tailored to your unique needs – or ironclad representation that will secure your interests in the wake of a loved one’s passing – then you need Andy Gregory. Please call (612) 562-9130 or visit andygregorylaw.com to book a virtual or in-person consultation.
Wills • Trusts • Incapacity Planning • Trust Administration • Formal & Informal Probate