It’s not here yet, but it’s visible on the horizon. In today’s evolving tech landscape, Artificial Intelligence is transforming industries by offering innovative solutions to longstanding challenges, including safety improvements across a variety of business sectors. This evolution raises a crucial legal question: If AI can make your industry safer and you opt not to use it, could you be held liable for choosing the less safe (non-AI) option? It’s a legitimate question prompted by the nexus between plaintiff’s lawyers and the rapid advancement of large language models like Chat GPT. The Potent ..read more

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Dougherty Molenda, nestled in the heart of Apple Valley, Minnesota (Right inside the Wings Financial Building)! On this day of love and affection, we’re stepping out of the courtroom to share a message straight from our hearts to yours. And guess what? In a delightful twist of fate that’s as rare as a perfectly written contract on the first draft, there’s no snow on the ground this Valentine’s Day (at least not yet)! Why You’ll Love Our Lawyers Personalized Attention: Like a carefully chosen Valentine’s Day gift, our services are tailored to fit your uni ..read more

When someone passes away, it requires settling their affairs and distributing their assets according to their wishes. This responsibility often falls on the shoulders of an executor, the person designated to carry out these tasks. Being named as an executor comes with various duties and obligations that require careful attention and organization. Inventory and appraise assets The executor’s first task is to compile an inventory of the deceased’s assets, including property, investments, bank accounts and personal belongings. This involves locating relevant documents such as wills, deeds and fin ..read more

Divorce can be a life-altering event, especially for homemakers who have dedicated their time and energy to managing the household and raising a family. In the state of Minnesota, spousal support, also known as alimony, plays an important role in helping homemakers make ends meet after a divorce. This financial assistance helps bridge the gap and provides the necessary support for homemakers to rebuild their lives independently. Fairness Spousal support is not about penalizing one spouse or favoring the other. It is about ensuring fairness in the financial aftermath of divorce. It recognizes t ..read more

Having a Minnesota estate plan helps you maintain control over many elements of your life, including certain personal, medical and financial affairs. However, many people neglect to create estate plans, and they feel they lack the time or do not have enough assets to make estate planning worthwhile. In truth, though, everyone, regardless of income or asset level, benefits from putting together an estate plan, and a plan does not have to be lengthy or extensive to be effective. On the contrary, Bankrate recommends drafting an estate plan that includes three primary elements: a will, a power of ..read more

Estate planning involves deciding who gets what when you pass and ensuring your family fulfills your wishes. However, a comprehensive plan goes far beyond that. It can also include instructions in case of incapacitation, arrangements for income insurance in case of disability, transfer businesses after your death, guardianship for your children, provisions for your family, provisions for other loved ones and minimizing estate taxes. That said, this is a long-term process. Therefore, you should know a little more about this before you decide if it is for you because you will have to review your ..read more

Being decisive about going through with a divorce can help you plan a clear future for yourself, but there are likely to be many uncertainties to address along the way. One such issue is regarding the fate of the home you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse currently share. You likely feel a certain attachment to the family home, especially if you are raising your children there. You can proceed with clarity by understanding your options when it comes to deciding whether or not to sell the house in your divorce. When should you sell your house in a divorce? Minnesota courts follow a policy of equita ..read more

After the passing of a loved one, you will likely attend a probate court that oversees the verification of the deceased’s will and the distribution of their estate. During this process, issues may come to light that give you cause to challenge the will. As one example, you might feel as if you are wrongly left out of the will while your siblings or other family members stand to inherit everything. Should you wish to challenge the will in such an event, it is important for you to understand who actually has the right to challenge the will during probate and how to do so. Can you contest a will ..read more

As a young parent, you are likely looking to your family’s future with unbridled excitement. There are great possibilities ahead, so legal matters like naming a guardian for your new child are probably at the very back of your mind. You might be under the impression that estate planning is something you can nonchalantly put off until later in life.  Accidents can happen to anyone at any time though, so choosing a legal guardian that can care for your child in a worst-case scenario is an important duty. What does it mean to name a guardian? When you are drafting a will to determine the fat ..read more

For many divorcing parents, determining when children will spend time with each parent can be a challenge. There are many different factors to take into consideration, and most families have chaotic work and school schedules that make things even more complicated. In Minnesota, the courts determine parenting time based on the best interest of any children involved in ending a marriage. Both parents should work together to ensure that they each have a continuing and positive relationship with each of their children. Here are a few tips to help make that possible. 1. Make room for compromise If ..read more