What to Expect from Estate Planning in 2018
The year 2017 is now fading into the rearview mirror. As we continue through 2018, let’s consider a few things to watch regarding estate planning, so you and your family ...
A Simple Will Is Not Enough
A basic last will and testament cannot accomplish every goal of estate planning; in fact, it often cannot even accomplish the most common goals. This fact often surprises people who ...
Estate Planning For the Newly Married
Now is the perfect time to start working on an estate plan. As newlyweds, you are figuring out how to consolidate two households into one. You’ve already been working on ...
Do you really need a trust?
Although many people equate “estate planning” with having a will, there are many advantages to having a trust rather than a will as the centerpiece of your estate plan. While ...
What are Letters of Testamentary?
An individual who has been named as a personal representative or executor in a will has a number of important duties. These include gathering the deceased person's property and transferring it to the beneficiaries through a court-supervised process known as probate. In order to initiate this proceeding, the executor must first obtain what are referred to as Letters of Testamentary. In Wisconsin, they are called Domiciliary Letters. This document gives the executor the legal authority to administer the deceased person's estate.
What is Settlement Planning?
Settlement planning is a unique and expanding area of law that is designed to help individuals preserve benefits that have been received from a personal injury settlement, inheritance or judgment. ...
Gun Trusts: What You Need to Know
Recent tragic events underscore the importance of maintaining a dialogue about the responsible, accountable, and safe possession and transfer of firearms in our country. This is why it’s critically important ...
Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples
Estate planning is important for everyone. We simply don’t know when something tragic could happen such as sudden death or an accident that could leave us incapacitated. With proper planning, ...
Q & A with Attorney John Haslam: Special Needs Planning
What is special needs planning? People planning for beneficiaries with a special needs must address the following concerns: How will financial benefits be used for their benefit? Who will control ...
3 Reasons Why Every Young Family Needs an Estate Plan
On February 12, 2017,a husband and wife, both in their 30s, were driving down Highway 30 on the east side of Madison. Suddenly, a driver going the opposite direction lost control ...