A well thought out, properly drafted, and comprehensive estate plan will do much more than just create a roadmap for the distribution of your estate assets after you are gone. It will also help those assets grow over the course of your lifetime, protect you and your loved ones in the event of your incapacity, and provide for your family after your death. With this in mind, your choice of estate planning attorney to help you create your estate plan takes on a heightened importance. At the German Law we are committed to helping our friends and neighbors in the East Grand Forks, Minnesota community create an estate plan that accomplishes all of this and more.
History of East Grand Forks, Minnesota
Located in the flat, fertile Red River Valley formed by the ancient glacial Lake Agassiz, the town of East Grand Forks developed on both sides of the Red River. The first official post office was opened back in 1883 and the city, named for its location east of Grand Forks, North Dakota, was incorporated four years later in 1887. The north side of the river developed first and is where you will find the downtown portion of East Grand Forks as well as several of the earliest residential neighborhoods. The area south of the river is known as “The Point.” The land narrows almost to a peninsula at the confluence of the Red and Red Lake rivers. “The Point” contains more residential development.
The entire city of East Grand Forks, along with Grand Forks, suffered severe damage in a major flood that occurred in 1997. The entire city was under a mandatory evacuation and almost no homes were spared damage. Entire neighborhoods had to be demolished as a result of the damage caused by the flood. After the flood waters subsided, the city cleared development from the floodplain bordering the Red and Red Lake Rivers and developed a large park known as the Greater Grand Forks Greenway to provide a new recreation area for residents along the river. A similar park was developed in Grand Forks, North Dakota on the opposite side of the river. The parklands, with trees and a variety of greenery, can absorb floodwaters and now provide a natural method of protecting the residents from future floods. In addition, a new system of dikes was constructed to protect the city from future flooding and many residents and businesses were moved out of the most vulnerable areas and relocated to higher ground.
East Grand Forks, Minnesota Today
Located in Polk County, Minnesota on the border of neighboring North Dakota, the city of East Grand Forks covers approximately six square miles. Because of the rural nature of Polk County, the 9,000 residents of East Grand Forks make up the largest community in the county. The cities of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks form the center of the Grand Forks, ND–MN Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is often called Greater Grand Forks. The Greater Grand Forks metropolitan area has an estimated population of just over 100,000 residents.
Residents and visitors alike may enjoy the numerous annual local community events, such as the Frosty Bobber fishing tournaments, Heritage Days, and the various arts and crafts shows. Catfish Days, based on an annual summer catfishing tournament, attracts people from all over the United States and Canada. It is one of the largest fishing tournaments in the region. The city also holds an Art & Wine Walk one Saturday each month during the summer. East Grand Forks shares certain events with Grand Forks, such as the Potato Bowl parade and First Night, a New Year’s celebration that’s alcohol free. Each June, the Grand Cities Art Fest takes place in the downtowns of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks. You don’t want to miss the farmer’s market either, where you will find local produce and craft items for sale in the Town Square on Saturdays, starting in late June and running until late September.
German Law in the East Grand Forks, Minnesota Community
Creating a comprehensive estate plan is among the most important endeavors you will undertake during the course of your lifetime. At the German Law we understand the importance of your estate plan to you and to your family. We strive to create lasting relationships with each of our East Grand Forks, Minnesota clients so that we can help you create an estate plan that reflects your needs, goals, and wishes both now and in the future.
Estate planning is not something you ever truly finish. On the contrary, a successful estate plan is something that grows with you and that changes with you as you move through the various stages of your life. Initially, a simple Last Will and Testament may be sufficient to prevent the state from dictating who will receive your estate assets in the event of your death. Laster on, however, you will need to review and revise that plan to ensure it reflects your current needs and goals. If you marry and/or become a parent, for example, you will want to include incapacity planning in your estate plan as well as start merging your retirement plans with your overall estate plan to ensure that they work in harmony with each other. Issues such as tax and probate avoidance may need to be considered when reviewing your estate plan as well. As you move toward your retirement years, Medicaid planning may be necessary to ensure that your assets are not lost to the high cost of long-term care. Finally, if you have strong beliefs with regard to end of life medical care and/or funeral and burial customs, you will want to incorporate those beliefs into your estate plan as well to ensure that your wishes are honored when the time comes.
Contact Us
If you have additional question or concerns regarding estate planning in the East Grand Forks, Minnesota area, contact the experienced estate planning attorneys at German Law by calling 701-738-0060 to schedule an appointment.
