Pending Legislation Will Significantly Change How Some Community Associations Operate in Minnesota
Pending legislation that was originally introduced in 2025 that seeks to make major changes to the Minnesota Common Interest Ownership Act, Chapter 515B (“MCIOA”), is poised to become law within the next few weeks. The bill passed the floor of the Senate but failed to make it through all necessary committees in the House in […]
Bunching for Impact: How CLATs Turn New Deduction Hurdles Into Strategic Opportunity
With the higher standard deduction and new giving thresholds introduced by recent legislation, many taxpayers no longer receive a tax benefit from annual charitable contributions. A Charitable Lead Annuity Trust (CLAT) offers a strategic way to “bunch” those deductions into a single, high-impact year. By front-loading charitable giving through a CLAT, donors can generate a […]
Oil and Gas Lease Issues Every Mineral Owner Eventually Trips Over
What Actually Matters—and Where People Get Hurt Oil and gas leases are not standard contracts. They can lock up property interests for decades, shift millions of dollars through a single sentence, and quietly transfer leverage from the mineral owner to the operator if drafted carelessly. Most problems don’t come from bad actors. They come from […]
Contractor Blind Spots: The Top 10 Mistakes You Cannot Afford to Make
Hellmuth & Johnson and TMG Consulting will present a joint seminar on April 29 at 8:00 am. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Blake Nelson, construction law attorney with Hellmuth & Johnson, and Tom Klein, CFO of TMG Consulting, will discuss the most common mistakes made by construction industry professionals and how to avoid them. Schedule: Breakfast: […]
Does My Spouse’s Citizenship Affect My Estate?
Noncitizen spouses are treated differently from U.S. citizen spouses for estate and gift tax purposes. They do not get the unlimited marital deduction. Married US citizen spouses can generally transfer unlimited amounts of money between each other during life or upon death in various qualifying ways without any gift or estate tax concerns. This […]
Five Contract Provisions That Prevent Business Partner Disputes
…And Why Every Bulldog Lawyer Insists on Them Most business partner disputes don’t start with betrayal. They start with silence. Silence about what happens when partners disagree. Silence about exits, transfers, divorce, disability, or deadlock. Silence that gets filled later—with lawyers, litigation, and regret. After decades of cleaning up business divorces, I can tell you […]
HOA Spring Seminar 2026
The Hellmuth & Johnson HOA practice group will present its annual fall seminar on November 15th at 9:00 am. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Topics for this seminar include information about: Collections & Foreclosures Insurance Policy Deadlines that Matter Hot Topics in Community Association Law Presenters Anthony Remick Ayesha Khan Kristine Spiegelberg Nelson Phaedra Howard Each […]
A Smarter Way to Give: Using Your IRA to Maximize Charitable Impact
For individuals age 70½ and older, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from an IRA is one of the most efficient ways to support charitable causes, especially when those funds are not needed for living expenses. A QCD allows you to transfer up to $111,000 per year (2026 limit, indexed for inflation) directly from your IRA […]
Cracked Concrete or Major Structural Damage from Frost Heaves this Spring? Is Your Contractor Responsible for the Repairs?
Every spring, many property owners are shocked to discover new cracks or structural movement caused by winter freeze-thaw cycles. Shifting foundations, cracked concrete, damaged pool decks, and new drainage issues are all common problems for property owners in cold-weather states like Minnesota and Wisconsin. While some earth movement or cracking may be normal, severe damage […]
Phrases We Get Wrong—and Why It Matters
A Visit from the Word Police Language is a precision tool. Used well, it clarifies thinking, sharpens arguments, and signals competence. Used badly, it does the opposite. It muddles meaning. It undermines credibility. And in law, business, and negotiation, it quietly costs people leverage. Which is why the word police exist. No badges. No sirens. […]