A well thought out estate plan can help grow your assets during your working years, protect you and your loved ones from unexpected events such as your incapacity or death, and provide for your loved ones once you are gone. Giving everything your estate plan can accomplish, finding the right estate planning attorney to help you create your plan should be a priority. At the German Law we have dedicated our Minot, North Dakota legal practice to helping people just like you create an estate plan that reflects their immediate and long-term estate planning needs and goals.
The History of Minot, North Dakota
Minot city is currently the fourth largest city by population in North Dakota. The city grew to its size very rapidly thanks to James J. Hills Great Northern Railroad, of which Minot is the last stop on the line. The land the town was built upon was initially owned by Erik Ramstad, who was convinced to give the land over to the railroad and eventually became a town leader. Mr. Hill’s progress extending the railroad came to a stop for the winter in 1886 because of a failure to cross the Gassman Coulee. While progress on the railroad was stopped, everyone who came to the end of the line made camp in Minot. In a few short months the town’s population grew to over 5,000 residents, which helped create the town’s nickname, the “Magic City,” so named because it appeared to spring up overnight like magic. Minot city is named after a railroad investor and ornithologist named Henry D. Minot, and was officially incorporated in June of 1887.
In addition to the pioneering railroad laid by Mr. Hills, the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad reached Minot in 1893 and opened the town up for all kinds of activity. From early 1900 to 1920 Minot grew very rapidly due to its wide open tracks of land and accessibility by railroad. This accessibility and profitability lent itself to criminal activity of all kinds, especially smuggling goods from Canada into the U.S. Due in large part to Minot being a supply hub of Al Capone’s liquor smuggling operations, all manner of crimes were being perpetrated in the city, which led to its second nickname, “Little Chicago.” The Minot Air Force Base was constructed just north of the city in the 1950’s, which led to even more expansion and federal funding finding its way into the city.
The City of Minot Today
Unfortunately, the last half of the 20th century and into the 21st saw a number of disasters hit Minot, which ultimately served to strengthen the community. In 1969 the Souris River flooded the city and caused extensive damage. Fortunately, the Army Corp of Engineers worked hard to address the problem by straightening the path of the river and building flood control implements throughout the city. Despite their improvements, the river flooded again in 2011 and caused catastrophic damage to the city and surrounding areas. Minot is still a thriving city with a strong beating heart and an interesting cultural heritage. Over 40 percent of Minot’s residents are of Scandinavian descent and consequently, it is host every year to the largest Scandinavian-American festival, the Norsk Hostfest. Minot is also host to the North Dakota State Fair.
As well as this interesting heritage and the celebration that surrounds it, Minot is home to a symphony orchestra, opera company, dance and theatre troupes, as well as over a dozen parks and recreational facilities. The largest employer in Minot is by far the Air Force base, which employs almost 7,000 of the town’s 40,000 residents. Other major economic producers include; Trinity Health, Cognizant, and Minot State University.
The German Law in the Community
The attorneys and staff at The German Law are proud to be part of the Minot, North Dakota community. To us, our clients are much more than just clients – they are our neighbors, little league coaches, teachers, friends, and even family members. We are honored, therefore, to be able to help each and every one of them with their estate planning needs.
Unlike many other areas of the law, estate planning is not something that has a definitive beginning and end. On the contrary, estate planning should be a lifelong process and your estate plan should grow and evolve and you do over the course of your lifetime. Initially, your estate plan may focus primarily on protecting you and your young family from financial devastation should something happen to you. As you travel along through life, your estate plan may start to expand to include components that will help grow and protect your estate, such as retirement planning, business succession planning, and tax avoidance.
Your plan should also be individualized to include components that apply to you and your specific needs, such as special needs planning, business succession planning, or pet planning. Finally, as you contemplate your “Golden Years” you may wish to review your estate plan and include funeral planning to ensure that your wishes will be honored and that your loved ones won’t have to endure added stress while grieving your loss. At The German Law we would be honored to be by your side throughout each stage of your life, making sure that you, your assets, and your loved ones are protected.
Contact an Effective Estate Planning Attorney in North Dakota
If you have questions or concerns regarding your Minot, North Dakota estate planning needs, contact the experienced North Dakota estate planning attorneys at The German Law by calling 701-738-0060 to schedule your appointment.
