Frequently Asked Questions
Below are general answers about our office – they are not a replacement for an individualized consultation with an attorney. Because every situation is unique, please CONTACT US to have your specific questions answered.
General Questions
Where is your office?
What are your office hours?
Do you charge for initial consultations?
Do I need to bring documents to my first appointment?
Do you handle personal injury or wrongful death actions?
Do you handle bankruptcies?
Will an attorney be able to call me back today?
If I drop off paperwork will someone be able to help me or call me back?
Are there notaries in the office? Do you charge a fee for notarizing a document?
Do you have a late night dropbox?
Are you the city attorneys?
The abstract company referred me to your office. Who do I talk to?
I want to buy or sell property. Who do I talk to?
What do you charge for a deed/will/trust/affidavit, etc.?
Who do I talk to about my divorce/child custody matter/family law issues?
Abagail M. Nouska. Please call the office to book an appointment.
My family member has passed away and I don’t know what to do. Who do I contact?
To begin a probate action or inquire about what to do after your family member has passed away, please contact our office and book an appointment with Abagail M.
Estate Planning / Probate
How long will it take to complete a probate?
The length of a probate proceeding depends upon many variables, including how many issues are in dispute. Please discuss any questions or concerns you have at your consultation.
What information and documents do you need to open a probate?
We ask that you complete a Probate Information Sheet and provide us with a certified copy of the Death Certificate. We can email, fax, or mail you the Probate Information Sheet, or you can stop in to pick it up at your convenience.
What is estate planning?
Estate planning is the general term for planning for what will happen to you and your property when you become incapacitated and pass away. It typically involves creating a will, making a healthcare directive, and may even involve granting a power-of-attorney, creating a trust, and strategically transferring your assets prior to your death. Planning for these events before you encounter health-related crises has the benefit of making sure your wishes are known and followed, preventing conflict among your heirs and family members, easing the burden on your heirs and family members of the formalities involved in your passing, as well as handling your assets in a more financially advantageous manner than would otherwise occur in the absence of estate planning.
What do I need to do to initiate estate planning work?
We ask that you review and complete an Estate Planning Packet and book an appointment when you are ready.
Real Estate
What information and documents do you need to begin real estate work?
We will generally ask you for the necessary information and documents after meeting with you; however, you can speed up the process by locating the most recent deed or deeds for the property, contact information for every person who has or will have an ownership interest in the property, as well as make us aware of any liens, easements, and other encumbrances on the property.
How long will it take to record my deed?
The Recorder’s Office can have your document for 10-14 days before returning it to our office by regular mail.
Why won’t the recorder record my deed?
The real estate document recording system is formal and complex. There are many requirements for documents that are recorded. By mandating compliance with these requirements, many real estate problems are avoided later on, such as when you are trying to get a mortgage or sell your property. The Recorder may decline to record your deed because it is not legible, there are delinquent property taxes, you did not include enough payment for fees, or for several other reasons set forth by law. Please contact one of our real estate attorneys for assistance to re-submit your documents.
Can I close my real estate transaction at your firm?
Please contact one of our real estate attorneys to discuss the specifics of your real estate closing needs to see if handling a closing at our firm is available. In general, most closings are handled at Carlton County Abstract & Title Company, which is next door to our office. Carlton County Abstract & Title Company charges their own set of fees for closings.
How long will it take to complete a real estate transaction?
There is a wide variation in how long it can take to complete a real estate transaction. The timeline often depends on how complex the transaction is, how much additional information needs to be gathered, the number of parties, and whether statutes mandating specific time periods are involved.
Can you help me transfer real property to my child(ren)?
There are a number of ways to gift or sell
Can you help me with a lot line adjustment or lot split?
There are many conditions that your property must meet as required by the zoning authority to approve a lot line adjustment or lot split, including a survey of your property. Please call or stop in the office to book an appointment to meet with one of our real estate attorneys to discuss whether a lot line adjustment or lot split is appropriate. Our real estate attorneys will work with the surveyor and the zoning authority to facilitate a lot line adjustment or lot split.
Family Law
Do you charge for initial consultations?
We do not offer any free consultations for family law, either by phone or in person. Please contact our office for our attorneys’ hourly rates and to make arrangements for billing.
How long will it take to complete a divorce?
The length of a dissolution of marriage proceeding depends upon many variables, including how many issues are in dispute. Please discuss any questions or concerns you have at your consultation.
What information and documents do you need to start an action for child custody/parenting time when the parents were never married?
We ask that you provide us with any child support orders or any court orders as well as a copy of the Recognition of Parentage (ROP
What information and documents do you need to start a divorce?
We ask that you complete a Dissolution Questionnaire following your initial office conference and provide us with the documents requested in that packet.
I have a family law hearing in less than a week. Can I talk to an attorney right now?
Please contact Abagail M. Nouska to discuss your needs concerning your family law matter. If we are able to assist you, Ms. Nouska will require a retainer payment before she will begin working with you. Please call our office for further information on retainer amounts and availability for short notice hearings.
Why Choose Rudy Law Firm?
Trusted Experience
As Carlton County’s largest and most experienced
Local Insight
Our roots are deeply planted in the community where we live and work, and we consider it our privilege to provide legal representation for our neighbors. The attorneys at Rudy Law Firm are well known as collaborative deal makers – we know how to pull people together and get deals done.