We are pleased to announce three developments this week at practicelaw, all in response to user requests and designed to make the work of the probate practitioner easier.

Subsequent Administration Forms. We have posted five new probate forms covering situations of omitted or incorrectly described property in the practicelaw probate area (sign in required for MSBA members):

• PBT-340    Petition for Determination of Descent of Omitted Property
• PBT-342    Notice of and Order for Hearing on Petition for Determination of  Descent of Omitted Property
• PBT-344    Decree of Descent of Omitted Property
• PBT-346    Petition for Determination of Descent of Incorrectly Described Property
• PBT-348    Decree of Descent of Incorrectly Described Property

Over the years, many MSBA members have requested that we post probate forms on practicelaw. In response, we asked members to volunteer their time and expertise to develop and review a core set of forms. This group met several times over the last two years, reviewed forms and solicited input from other practitioners, judges and registrars. Thanks to members, we have a great set of forms.

Transfer on Death Deed Revisions. Last fall we worked with the state’s Uniform Conveyancing Blank Task Force to draft transfer on death deeds (TODDs) in response to new legislation. Shortly after posting the TODDs, a user suggested that they be formatted in a larger font since these forms are frequently executed by the elderly. We raised that suggestion with Task Force members in May when they met to discuss the technical amendments to the TODD legislation. The result? Yesterday, we sent the proposed large print TODD forms that comply with the recent amendments to the Department of Commerce for its approval. Stay tuned for the posting of those later this month.

Medical Assistance Clearance.  Last month a member posted to the solo small listserv expressing frustration that there was no reliable state-wide list of persons and agencies responsible for the issuance of medical assistance clearances in Minnesota’s 87 counties. We contacted attorneys who work in the area, tried an experiment in “crowdsourcing” and also also contacted the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) about the issue. Once brought to their attention, DHS officials recognized the need and, within two weeks, provided a list of the contact person in each county throughout the state. That list will be available on practicelaw soon, and we also hope to enhance it by adding searchable features enabling you to quickly find the appropriate county contact.

MSBA’s practicelaw.org is in a unique position to bring interested parties to the table to make a lawyer’s work easier. Our contacts with members, state officials and the bench allow us to bring together interested parties from different segments of the community to accomplish tasks. So, contact us to keep your suggestions coming. You are the new EF Hutton. When you talk, we listen.