South Dakota’s Simplified Probate Process for Small Estates
- posted: May 12, 2021
If you are a surviving spouse or descendant of someone who has passed away with a small amount of property, or you are the executor of an estate with minimal Read More
How Does the Court Decide Who Gets What in a Divorce?
- posted: May 12, 2021
There are many misunderstandings about how a court decides who gets what in a South Dakota divorce. Some people think that the court will always split property equally between the Read More
How Allegations of Domestic Abuse Could Affect a Child Custody Decision
- posted: May 12, 2021
In South Dakota as elsewhere, child custody determinations are based on what a judge deems to be in the best interests of the child. In situations where allegations of domestic Read More
South Dakota Still Resists Presumption of Equal Joint Child Custody
- posted: Apr. 21, 2021
South Dakota lawmakers failed to join nine other states that recognize a presumption of equal joint custody — also known as shared parenting — for children of divorced parents. A Read More
Using Payable-on-Death Accounts and Transfer-on-Death Deeds to Avoid Probate
- posted: Jan. 04, 2021
Probate in South Dakota can be a complicated and drawn-out process if the estate has a net worth of more than $50,000. Fortunately, there are methods that allow even wealthy Read More
Using South Dakota Domestic Asset Protection Trusts to Shield Your Property from Creditors
- posted: Jan. 04, 2021
If you hold substantial wealth and you fear that you might be exposed to liability or incur serious debts in the future, you may need a way of protecting your Read More
Advantages of Chapter 12 Bankruptcy for South Dakota Farmers and Ranchers
- posted: Jan. 04, 2021
Farms and ranches are often liability-heavy businesses and the recession of 2020 has hit them particularly hard. Fortunately, federal law provides a tailor-made way for those primarily engaged in agricultural Read More
Business Valuation Issues in Chapter 11 Cases
- posted: Oct. 19, 2020
Chapter 11 is a form of bankruptcy protection that allows creditors to be partially paid back as an insolvent company regains its financial viability. However, there are a number of Read More
Driver Fatigue: A Major Cause of Truck Accidents
- posted: Oct. 19, 2020
Tractor-trailers, semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles are ever-present dangers on South Dakota highways, made worse when there are lapses in drivers’ attention. Lane drifting, abrupt braking and other erratic Read More
What Types of Property Transfers Are Excluded from Probate?
- posted: Oct. 19, 2020
Probate is a court proceeding that occurs when a deceased has left a will to direct how his or her assets are to be distributed. In the absence of a Read More
Texting and Driving
- posted: Jul. 30, 2020
In South Dakota, House Bill 1169 goes into effect July 1, 2020. This new law expands prohibitions on use of a cell phone while driving. While this law may be Read More
The Dirty Dozen
- posted: Jul. 30, 2020
Every year the Internal Revenue Service announces a list of tax scams, which it terms the “Dirty Dozen”. Tax scams tend to rise during tax season or during times Read More
Farm Bankruptcies Rising as Coronavirus Pandemic Drags On
- posted: Jul. 24, 2020
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, American farmers were already struggling with export market disruptions, low commodity prices, weather events and declining farm income. The virus has made a tough Read More
Can a Motorcyclist Who Wasn’t Wearing a Helmet Recover Compensation in a Personal Injury Case?
- posted: Jul. 24, 2020
Motorcycle helmets are not mandatory in South Dakota for riders who are 18 or older. As a result, many adult riders choose not to wear helmets, which greatly increases their Read More
How the CARES Act Benefits Small Business Bankruptcy Filers
- posted: Jul. 24, 2020
Small businesses around the country, including many in South Dakota, are struggling in the face of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Stimulus efforts like the CARES Act’s Paycheck Protection Program and Read More
Four Reasons to Consider a Living Trust
- posted: Mar. 30, 2020
Most people know that a will is an essential element in an estate plan, but there are other instruments worth considering. Living trusts can help you accomplish different goals for Read More
