Financial elder abuse is one of the most insidious financial crimes around. Taking advantage of someone who is elderly due to their inability to fend for themselves is more common than many people know. Wisconsin residents who want to prevent financial elder abuse...
Wisconsin Estate Planning Legal Blog
What an advance medical directive is and why it matters
An advance medical directive is a straightforward document or a group of documents that details your medical wishes and preferences. A key part of the long-term care planning process, drafting an advance medical directive is something that every aging Wisconsin...
What type of assets is subject to probate?
Any assets you own in your name are subject to probate once you pass away in Wisconsin. This includes your real estate property, vehicles, bank accounts, business interests, lands, bonds, and stocks. Additional assets include clothing, artwork, electronics, and...
Five Reasons to Protect Your Retirement Accounts Now
Your retirement account provides asset protection during your lifetime, but as soon as you pass that account to a loved one, that protection evaporates. When your spouse, child, or other loved one inherits your retirement account, creditors have the power to seize it...
Reasons to avoid probate
In the most extreme cases, it's not uncommon for probate to take months or even years for your estate to make it through the probate process, leading to staggeringly high legal bills. There are several reasons to try to build an estate plan that avoids probate in...
Do you have to review your estate plan?
Once you've written your estate plan in Wisconsin, you should make a plan to revise it every few years. An outdated will can be just as bad as no will at all. Instead of writing your will once and forgetting about it, think of it as a fluid document that changes as...
How a Medicaid Spend Down Can Work for You
Medicaid qualification starts with an asset or income assessment. For some Wisconsin residents, this may require a spend down. A sound strategy, but there are confusing and complex restrictions you have to adhere to in Wisconsin. Read on for a brief review to see how...
What is digital property?
When someone dies in the state of Wisconsin, their will dictates how the court must divide their assets. This typically includes physical properties like cars and houses as well as financial assets like life insurance policies and savings accounts. However, an...
My Loved One Has Died – What Do I Do Now?
When a family member or other loved one dies, grief and shock can sometimes be overwhelming. The last thing most people want to think about is making phone calls or funeral arrangements. Some things do not need to be done immediately, but there are some steps that...
What is a trustee?
When you place your assets into a trust in Wisconsin, you'll need someone who can manage them on behalf of the beneficiary. This is an especially important decision because you'll want someone who will conscientiously follow your directives after you're gone. A...