Can I Keep My House If I File a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?
Student loans and credit cards have fueled a spike in filing personal bankruptcy in Minnesota last year, with a 54 % increase from the previous year. For personal bankruptcy, most people file a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. This article will focus on Chapter 7 and the exemptions Minnesota offers in terms of protecting your house. You can qualify for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy by passing the “means test.” The means test is a two-prong analysis of your household income. If you fall below it, you can file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, meaning almost all of your debt would be wiped away with a... Read More
2024 Eviction Law Updates
The Minnesota legislature passed new renter protections that took effect on January 1, 2024, that landlords must follow to evict tenants. As of April 2024, landlords must: Give renters 14 days’ notice before filing an eviction; include all required fees in the advertised rent; ensure units maintain a temperature of at least 68 degrees during the winter; and provide tenants 24 hours’ notice before entering a unit. All evictions will be removed from a tenant’s record after three years. Evictions can be expunged sooner if the renter and landlord agree to it as part of a settlement; for example, in... Read More
Electronic Will Act
Effective August 1, 2023, the Uniform Electronic Wills Act (Act) has been adopted by State of Minnesota. This Act has significant ramifications for Minnesotans seeking to adopt an estate plan. Prior to the adoption, Minnesota required a physical signature for a Will to be valid. Although for the past decade or so, many legal and financial documents were considered valid when signed or notarized electronically, the execution of a Will was the exception, until now. The new law authorizes the creation, witnessing and notarization of wills electronically. The Act defines an Electronic Will as “a will or codicil that (i)... Read More
Estate Tax Exemption Changes for 2024
The federal estate and gift tax exemption continues to increase. For the tax year 2024, the estate/gift exemption is $13,610,000 per individual or $27,220,000 for a married couple. The top tax rate for estate taxes remains at 40%. The federal estate tax provisions still include the concept of “portability”. Portability allows a married couple to double the estate tax exclusion. For 2024, married couples are able to protect $27,220,000 without incurring federal estate tax. However, absent action by Congress, the estate tax rates are scheduled to sunset on January 1, 2026. At sunset, the estate tax exemption will revert to... Read More
Minnesota Supreme Court Protects Sex Assault Victims’ Privacy Rights
The Minnesota Supreme Court recently reinforced the privacy rights of sexual abuse victims. In In re Hope Coalition, the court held that a criminal defendant’s interest in obtaining the records of a sexual assault victim’s counselor for the purposes of developing his defense did not overcome a statutory protection in Minn. Stat. § 595.02, subd. 1(k), which “creates a privilege for sexual assault counselors.” In sum, the court held that the statutory privacy protection “cannot be pierced in criminal proceedings without the victim’s consent.” The statute did “not permit disclosure of privileged records in a criminal proceeding, even for in camera... Read More
Unemployment Law in Minnesota
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many uncertainties to our society, including to our work force. Many people had to quit their job or were fired. Often, it is assumed that if an employee quit or was fired, they will be unable to receive unemployment in Minnesota. However, this is inaccurate. Under the law in Minnesota, you may be able to get unemployment if you were fired for several reasons, including simple unsatisfactory conduct, conduct an average and reasonable employee would have engaged in under the circumstances, mere inefficiency, or inadvertence. If you had to quit your job or were... Read More
Evictions During the Pandemic: Update
On June 29, 2021, the State of Minnesota enacted a law, Minnesota Session Laws 2021, 1st Special Session, Chapter 8 H.F. No.4, Article V, which phased out the COVID-19 based moratorium that suspended evictions and landlord-initiated lease terminations since March of 2020. As of today, most off-ramp protections ended on October 12, 2021. Landlords can file evictions for any legal reason except for non-payment of rent evictions for tenants who have a pending COVID-19 emergency rental assistance application. Moreover, on June 1, 2022, protections for tenants with pending COVID-19 emergency rental assistance applications expire on June 1, 2022; thus, eviction... Read More
Minnesota Court of Appeals Decides Liability Waiver Issue
In Justice v. Marvel, LLC, A20-1318 (Minn. App. July 19, 2021), the court of appeals decided several issues related to the enforceability of liability waivers. First, the court held that a “parent is authorized to sign, on behalf of his or her own minor child, an exculpatory clause that releases a negligence claim against a third-party.” The court further held that if “the exculpatory clause is valid and enforceable, it is binding on the child after the child becomes an adult.” Second, the court held that an “exculpatory clause that is overly broad because it purports to release claims of... Read More
Minnesota Court of Appeals Decides Privacy Case
In Smallwood v. State, A21-0001 (Minn. Ct. App. Aug. 23, 2021), the court of appeals decided several issues effecting privacy claims. The case concerned a hacker accessing a Minnesota Department of Human Services e-mail account. Smallwood, who was civilly committed to the state sex-offender program as a sexually dangerous person, was informed that his private information may have been accessed. He sued the state arguing that this caused him emotional and economic harm. Smallwood’s first claim against the state was for violation of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. The district court dismissed this claim at the outset for failing... Read More
Evictions During the Pandemic
COVID-19 has brought unprecedented changes in our world, including evictions in Minnesota. Governor Tim Waltz executed Emergency Executive Order 20-79 on July 14, 2020, which is still in effect for evictions in Minnesota. Under this Order, you cannot evict a tenant unless it falls under a few exceptions. Notably, the tenant may be evicted if they (1) seriously endanger the safety of others, (2) cause significant property damage, or (3) violate Minnesota Statutes 2019, section 504B.171, subdivision 1 (including but not limited to: controlled substances, prostitution, and unlawful possession of a firearm). It is unknown when Executive Order 20-79 will... Read More