Overview
Craig Erickson has a long history of estate planning experience. He founded the firm of Erickson & Associates, P.A. in order to provide individuals and families with the tools they need to plan for the protection and distribution of their assets to the next generation.
Craig provides legal services in the areas of trusts and wills (from simple to complex), trust administration, domestic partnership agreements, business and succession planning for family owned and closely held businesses, commercial and residential real estate transactions.
Estate planning is important for anyone who wishes to exert control over how their property is distributed before and after death. An estate plan allows an individual to focus on the accumulation, conservation and distribution of assets. All people, regardless of age or income, whether just starting out or planning for retirement, can benefit from a plan.
Craig brings together the knowledge he has obtained in over 30 years of practice, including work at the St. Paul Foundation, as a board member for non-profit organizations, and as a private practice attorney, to assist you in creating a personalized plan.
As a result of his charitable planning practice, Craig has developed a close working relationship with financial advisors and community foundations. This enables him to provide clients with a solid base to make decisions on conserving their wealth while alive and directing distribution at death, including donations to their favorite charities.
Firm Practice Areas
Estate Planning, Business, Conservatorship, Contested Wills, Probate, Wills, Trusts, Corporate, Non-Profit, Prenuptial Agreements, Adoption, Elder Law, Domestic Partnership Agreements, Step-Parent Adoption, Real Estate, Pet Care Trusts, Succession Planning, Charitable Planning, Buy/Sell Agreements, Health Care Directives
Biography
Craig Erickson has been practicing law in Minnesota since 1974, concentrating in the areas of estate and business planning. He founded the law firm of Erickson & Associates, P.A. in June of 2004 because of his passion for assisting individuals, families and businesses in achieving their estate and business planning goals. Craig has over 32 years of experience in the areas of:
- advanced estate and trust planning
- business and succession planning for family owned and closely held businesses
- commercial and residential real estate transactions
- wills, trusts and trust administration
Craig was born in Minneapolis and graduated from DeLaSalle High School in 1966 and Gonzaga University in 1970 with a BA in Political Science. He attended William Mitchell College of Law, graduating in 1974 with a Juris Doctorate. He has been married for 35 years and has three children. Craig is an avid golfer and tennis player.
Previous Work
Craig practiced law with the law firm of Chestnut & Cambronne from 1974 to February 2001. He became a shareholder in the firm in 1981 and was managing partner for eight years. While at the firm, his practice centered chiefly in the areas of trusts, estate and business planning, as well as succession planning for family owned businesses.
He joined The Saint Paul Foundation on March 1, 2001 in the position of Senior Gift Planner where he developed an expertise in charitable planning techniques. He worked primarily with professional advisors and their clients to implement sophisticated charitable planning strategies as a part of overall estate and financial planning.
Craig has served in leadership positions on a number of boards for religious and charitable organizations, including Special Olympics Minnesota, Inner City Tennis, H.E.A.R.T. (Help Enable Alcoholics Receive Treatment), Home of the Good Shepherd, St. Olaf Catholic Church. He is a frequent speaker for financial planning groups, charitable foundations and senior citizen groups.
Craig is a member of the Minnesota and Hennepin County Bar Associations. He is on the Real Estate Committee of the State Bar Association. He belongs to the Minneapolis and St. Paul Financial and Estate Planning Council.
Mission Statement
It is the mission of Erickson and Associates, P.A. to treat each other, our employees and clients with Christian care and respect and to give each client the opportunity to experience the security and sense of well being that accompanies proactive business, financial and estate planning.