A comprehensive, and properly drafted, estate plan can protect you, your assets, and your loved ones throughout the course of your life and even 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 Bemidji, Minnesota community create an estate plan that accomplishes all of this and more.
Bemidji, Minnesota
Covering just over 14 square miles, Bemidji is a city in Beltrami County located in northwest Minnesota. The United States Census Bureau estimates the total population of Bemidji as of 2016 to be 14,664 residents. Bemidji lies on the south west shore of Lake Bemidji, the northernmost lake feeding the Mississippi River and as such is deemed “The First City On The Mississippi.”
Prior to the arrival of European settlers, about 50 Leech Lake Indians lived along the south shore of the lake. They called the lake Bemidjigumaug, meaning “river or route flowing crosswise.” In the 1880s, Freeman and Besty Doud claimed 160 acres in the area, making them Bemidji’s first homesteaders. Bemidji was incorporated on May 20, 1896 and just two years later the railroads came to Bemidji bringing more business. By 1900 the Village of Bemidji’s population had grown to 2,000.
During the early part of the 20th century, lumber production was Bemidji’s major industry; however, a fire that occurred on July 19, 1914 burned down a sawmill causing disaster for the industry. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, Bemidji’s businesses profited, providing food, materials, and services for the Civilian Conservation Corps and Youth Conservation Corps programs. Today Bemidji stands as an important educational, governmental, trade and medical center for north central Minnesota. The wood industry is still a significant part of the local economy with Georgia-Pacific, Potlatch and Northwood Panelboard all having waferboard plants in the local area, utilizing wood species that were once thought to be waste trees.
According to folklore, Paul Bunyan came from the Northwoods which led to the creation of the statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox which stand proudly in Bemidji and serves as a popular tourist attraction. It was unveiled January 15, 1937, to kick off a Winter Carnival that drew over ten thousand visitors.
Bemidji also houses many Native American services, including the Indian Health Service. The city is the central hub of the Red Lake Indian Reservation, White Earth Indian Reservation and the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. Located near Chippewa National Forest, Itasca State Park, Lake Bemidji State Park, Big Bog State Recreation Area, and state forest areas, Bemidji has 400 lakes within 25 miles, 500 miles of snowmobile trails and 99 miles of cross country ski trails. Bemidji is also the self-proclaimed “curling capital” of the U.S.
Residents and visitors to Bemidji may enjoy Art in the Park, an annual arts, entertainment, and food celebration. The first week of August, brings the Dragon boat races to Bemidji while the Bemidji Polar Days, also known as Winterfest, brings a week of cold weather festivities to Bemidji.
German Law in the Bemidji, Minnesota Community
Creating a comprehensive and cohesive estate plan is the most precious gift you can give to yourself and your loved ones. 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 Bemidji, 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 Bemidji, Minnesota area, contact the experienced estate planning attorneys at German Law by calling 701-738-0060 to schedule an appointment.
