Areas of Practice

Business Law

 

Schmitz Ophaug, LLP provides business clients with a full range of legal services. This includes choosing and organizing the appropriate business entity, preparing organizational documents, maintaining corporate records, handling the acquisition or sale of a business, and navigating the buyout of a partner, member, or shareholder. We also advise clients on their daily business activities, including employment contracts, non-compete agreements, and commercial transactions.

Estate Planning and Probate and Trust Administration

 

Our attorneys assist clients with estate planning, probate and trust administration needs. We draft wills, trusts, health care directives, and powers of attorney in order to carry out our clients’ desires, while minimizing estate and gift taxes. We work extensively with clients who wish to pass the family farm or closely-held business on to the next generation. We also provide a full range of legal work in connection with probating a will, administering a trust and distributing a decedent’s assets.

Elder Law, Special Needs Planning, Guardianships and Conservatorships

 

Schmitz Ophaug, LLP represents clients in advising, planning and applying for Medical Assistance. Our attorneys also assist families in planning for individuals with special needs and disabilities by planning for their loved one’s future through their estate plan, including supplemental and special needs trusts, and setting up guardianships and conservatorships, when necessary.

Real Estate

 

Our firm represents clients in a broad range of real estate matters, including the purchase, sale, financing, and leasing of property ranging from single-family homes to complex commercial and industrial properties. Other real estate matters include easements, title examinations and title insurance, quiet title actions, land registration proceedings, closings, and like-kind exchanges. Attorney Ryan L. Blumhoefer is certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association as a Real Property Law Specialist.

Employment Law

 

Our firm advises employers and employees on matters related to hiring and termination, performance management, and employment contracts. We assist with employment training, conducting internal investigations, and drafting employment policies and agreements.

Townhome and Condominium Law

 

Our attorneys assist townhome and condominium associations and their boards with a variety of issues. We draft and amend governing documents and advise boards on the enforcement of rule violations. Along with our real estate practice, we also represent clients in the purchase and sale of townhome and condominium units.

Township Law

 

Schmitz Ophaug, LLP regularly represents townships in the Northfield and surrounding areas with a wide range of issues, including land use regulation, special assessment procedures, establishment and administration of subordinate service districts, road establishment and vacation, and cartway proceedings.