Estate Planning & Business Law

Building, serving, and sustaining long-term client relationships in the practice of estate planning and business law is our mission.

Our Clients are dentists, business owners, individuals and families. We often are asked to work with multiple generations within a given family. Orchard Law Firm works to advise, nurture and protect each client and grow the business upon which our clients depend.

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Matthew J. McClenahan, Esq.

With 15 years of professional experience, I believe in the value of forming strong and lasting attorney-client relationships rather than serving one-off transactions. I help individuals and families responsibly plan their future, protect family members and family assets, and avoid unnecessary court involvement, taxes, and professional fees.

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Tax Reform 2018: How It Could Impact Your Estate Plans

The Minnesota Legislature is making big decisions on tax reform this week that will have an impact on estate and gift tax planning. The changes come as the state legislature tries to align the state tax system with the new federal system that saw a major overhaul in 2017 thanks to the 2017 Tax Cuts […]

An Estate Planning Checklist to Facilitate Wealth Transfer

Studies have shown that 70% of family wealth is lost by the end of the second generation and 90% by the end of the third. Help your loved ones avoid becoming one of these statistics. You need to educate and update your heirs about your wealth transfer goals and the plan you have put in […]

Do you really need a will?

You May Not Think You Need a Will, But You Really Do. Most Americans do not have a simple will as part of their estate plan. You might believe that a will is only for the rich and famous, and not the average person who has a far smaller net worth. On the other hand, […]

5 Reasons to Embrace the Emotional Nature of Estate Planning

When you hear the phrase “estate plan,” you might first think about paperwork. Or your mind might land on some of the uncomfortable topics that estate planning confronts head-on: end-of-life decisions, incapacity, and your family’s legacy from generation to generation. Those subjects hit home for everyone. But while that could feel like a reason to […]

The Difference between Lifetime and Deathtime Planning… and Why a Comprehensive Plan Must Include Both

According to a March 2017 survey by caring.com, six out of ten Americans have no will or any other kind of estate planning. Many said they’d get around to it, eventually. When they’re old. (The survey did find that the elderly are much more likely to have some plan in place.) It’s all too clear […]

How to Get Organized to Meet With Your Estate Planning Attorney

OK, great! You’ve finally decided it’s time to meet with an estate planning attorney and get your affairs in order. It’s time to make sure your family is protected. Now that you’ve scheduled the first appointment, what’s the next step? You can do one of two things: (1) Simply wait for the meeting date to […]