Top Best Estate Lawyers

I am the Owner and Principal Attorney of Paden Legal Services. Professionally, I have worked in the healthcare industry for over 20 years in various roles such as: Compliance, Medical Staff Services, Behavioral Health, Human Resources, and Finance. My experience in the healthcare industry has shaped my approach to working with clients. Like patients, clients are the center of my focus. I truly enjoy helping my clients and creating solutions for them.. I graduated Cum Laude from Upper Iowa University with a bachelor's degree in business administration, and graduated Cum Laude from Mitchell Hamline School of Law with a juris doctorate degree and certificate in health law.

I'm an Estate Planning Attorney. I work for the law firm of Fafinski, Mark & Johnson (FMJ) located in Eden Prairie, MN. I meet with clients to design, draft, and execute estate planning documents (Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, and Health Care Directives). For many people, that means I take care of what matters most - their family.. I was admitted to the Minnesota State Bar in October 2017. I'm a graduate of the University of St. Thomas School of Law (2017) and the University of Minnesota (2014). Prior to college, I grew up and went to high school in Delano, Minnesota.. Outside of the law, I am a Delano Tiger hockey coach, a Minnesota Gopher and Minnesota Wild aficionado, a pond hockey enthusiast, a frequent visitor of local breweries and an amateur BWCA paddler.. If you are looking for an attorney that talks Minnesotan and walks you through the estate planning process in an understandable fashion, I hope I'm your guy!

Joel assists individuals and families throughout Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding communities with estate planning, cabin planning, trust administration and probate, planning for loved ones with special needs, family business succession planning, and planning for children.. Joel enjoys teaching Minnesotans about the importance of having a good estate plan in place. Joel frequently presents free public educational seminars to explain the benefits of estate planning and to help clients decide what type of estate plan (i.e., Will, Living Trust, Cabin Trust, Powers of Attorney, Healthcare Directives) makes sense for their personal situations.. Joel is passionate about helping families prevent conflict through prudent estate planning. He is a frequent speaker on family conflict resolution and has committed himself exclusively to estate planning as a practice.. Joel is a graduate of Hamline University School of Law, a former board member of the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Elder Law Council, and a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association.. Joel grew up in Excelsior and currently resides in the West Metro with his wife and two beautiful children. They spend their leisure time on Lake Minnetonka and in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Matt enjoys counseling Minnesotans on the importance of proper estate planning. A significant portion of Matt’s practice focuses on helping families after the passing of a loved one (Estate Administration/Probate), which often involves the commencement of a probate proceeding and/or a trust administration. Matt strives to provide the firm’s clients with compassionate and efficient representation. Matt seeks to become a trusted advisor for each of his clients. Matt believes in using a team approach to estate planning, often working directly with a client’s financial advisors, accountants and personal advisors to create a plan to achieve his client’s goals.. Matt earned his bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University, School of Management in Binghamton, New York and earned his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in New York, New York, where he also served as associate editor of the Fordham International Law Journal.. Matt resides in the suburbs of the western metro with his wife and three children. When he is not assisting clients, Matt can be found shuffling his children from activity to activity, watching his children’ soccer, basketball, lacrosse and baseball games, and enjoying time with family and friends. Matt is also a huge baseball fan who loves catching major league games in stadiums in throughout the U.S.

For Sophia, being an effective legal advocate is about educating, empowering and then confidently guiding her clients to family law and estate planning solutions in line with they and their family’s best interests. In both of her practices, Sophia brings a unique perspective and skillset attributable to her ongoing involvement in complex commercial negotiation and contracting, which has proved advantageous to her private family law and estate planning clients. In her family law practice, Sophia’s approach is straight forward and solution-focused, as she has found that often the best outcomes come from those negotiated between parties who are the experts of their own lives, and often not the Court. However, Sophia is mindful that a trial is necessary in some cases, and prepares for this possibility throughout her clients’ case. In her estate planning practice, Sophia enjoys helping her clients write and carry out their own legacy. She sees estate planning as an opportunity to dictate strategic outcomes after a life well-lived, and enjoys the long-term nature of the estate planning practice as it allows her to establish long-lasting and trusting relationships with her clients. No matter the task, Sophia will provide honest input and guidance, and will work tirelessly to obtain the best possible outcome for her clients and their families.. When not at work, Sophia enjoys hiking, eating delicious meals at local restaurants throughout the Twin Cities, and exploring the abundant State Parks and International destinations with her adventurous family and friends.. Education:. Admitted to practice law in Minnesota & Oregon (inactive). J.D., University of Minnesota Law School. B.A. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Communication Studies and Family Violence Studies. Magna Cum Laude. Professional Experience:. Current Commercial Negotiation Expert at Top Fortune 500 Company headquartered in the Twin Cities. Previous Family Law and Estate Planning Attorney at Highly Regarded Family Law and Estate Planning Law Firm located in Edina, MN. Previous Family Law Attorney at Top Family Law and Estate Planning Law Firm located in Portland, Oregon. Law Clerk at Hennepin County District Court. Law Clerk at Twin Cities Construction and Insurance Law Firm, and Estate Planning and Family Law Firm. Affiliations:. Minnesota State Bar Association

Julie Wilcox has been practicing estate planning and family law for nearly a decade. She deals in death and divorce because these areas deeply affect families and allow Julie to have meaningful conversations, and develop real relationships, with each of her clients.

Dedicated to providing clients with quality service, drawing on over three decades of experience in estate planning and related practice areas.. Ronald M. Otten practices in the areas of estate planning, probate, trust administration, business succession planning, charitable giving, medicaid planning and real estate. Since these practice areas have many sub-categories that cross over into other practice areas, he works closely with other firm attorneys to meet the legal needs of our clients.. Ron has a strong belief in client service. His experience, spanning more than three decades, ranges from the representation of individual clients in simple estate planning matters to the advising of family businesses with complex succession and tax issues. No matter the nature of the issue, Ron applies the same dedication, intelligence and good humor.. Ron can be reached at  or at. Education:Bachelor of Arts, Moorhead State University, Moorhead, MinnesotaJuris Doctorate, Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota. Bar Admission:Minnesota State Bar (1983)United States District Court for the District of Minnesota (1983)United States Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (1997)United States Supreme Court (1997). Professional Activities and Memberships:Minnesota State Bar Association, Trust and Estates SectionHennepin County Bar AssociationGuardianship/Conservatorship Attorney Panel. Fourth Judicial District.Completed Certified Alternative Dispute Resolution Training Minnesota State Bar (1997)Past member of American Arbitration Association (AAA)Past panel arbitrator with the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD)Completed coursework in advanced charitable giving at William Mitchell College of LawCompleted coursework toward an LL.M in International Taxation from Regent UniversityNational Planned Giving Alum (1986) Robert F. Sharpe & Company. Community Service Activities:Member of the Resource Development Committee of the Ridgeview Foundation, Waconia, MinnesotaMember of the Development Committee for Opportunity Partners, Minnetonka, MinnesotaMember of Rotary Club, Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Other Lifetime ExperienceAssistant Blue Earth County Attorney (1988-1990)Director of Development, Lakeview Foundation, Fairmont, Minnesota (1988-1990)Operated solo law practice (1990-1995)Six years as a Hennepin County paramedic.Four years military service in the U.S. Air Force as a medical corpsman. ReceivedOutstanding Service Commendation.

People who hire me are looking for a listener who makes the numbers and the law work in their family and business dynamics.  Mother of 3, married 30 years and counting, member Emmaus White Bear Lake, avid vegetable gardener, informal student of economics and human behavior, serious home cook.

Geordie spent 3 years working in Special Education, then after a 2-year photography apprenticeship, established and ran his own commercial photography business for over 15 years before attending law school. He brings to the practice a strong desire to help clients establish a legacy for their families, through individualized services tailored to meet the client's needs.. Geordie is an active member in the New Lawyers section of the Hennepin County Bar Association, the Trust & Probate and Elder Law sections of the Minnesota State Bar Association, and the Minnesota Lavender Bar Association. Geordie also serves on the Board of Directors of Living Well Disability Services, a non-profit whose mission is to deliver exceptional services that transform the lives of people impacted by intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities.. Geordie also volunteers with the Minnesota State Bar Association's chapter of Wills For Heroes, a program designed to provide free legal services to First Responders (police officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and corrections officers) in preparation of basic estate planning documents.

Gregory Singleton is a skilled attorney, experienced in both litigation and transactional work. He has tried multi-million-dollar cases and has negotiated multi-billion dollar contracts. With Signature Law, his goal is to make the law accessible to you and your family. This is not a job for him, it’s a passion. Gregory strives to provide the most effective representation, personalized for each client, with world class customer service.. Career Highlights- Founded Signature Law PLLC, 2019- Graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Minnesota, 2013- Founded Singleton Financial Services, 2003- Graduated from the University of Washington, 2001- Served as a board member to Tools for Teens, 2019-present- Served as a volunteer investigator for the 4th District Ethics Committee, 2014-2020. Awards. - Minnesota Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2021- North Star Lawyer, 2016- North Star Lawyer, 2015- University of Minnesota Law School Public Service Award, 2013- University of Minnesota Legal Concentration: Business Law, 2013- University of Minnesota Legal Concentration: Labor & Employment Law, 2013. Admissions. - Minnesota Supreme Court- United Stated District Court for the District of Minnesota- United States Tax Court. When not practicing law, Gregory can be found rock climbing, hiking the Superior Hiking Trail, collecting board games, or spending time with his family.

Rory is a transplant from California to Minnesota and is thrilled to be a member of the Stone Arch Law team. A background education in Philosophy at San Francisco State University created a deep interest in logic, sound argumentation, and critical thinking that drew Rory towards the study and practice of Law at Santa Clara University School of Law.. Rory’s professional focus is putting his client’s minds at ease --- whether that means creating an estate plan for their family and legacy or guiding them through the administration of the estate of a loved one. With a background in advising clients on Estate Planning, Probate, and Trust Administration, he is focused on helping families to feel secure in their planning while helping probate clients to make bad situations better.. Rory’s personal interests include playing board games with his wife, Laura, or heading to a game store to enjoy the cult classic card game Magic: The Gathering with friends.