Articles
Tips to Avoid Scams and Identity Theft
In today’s fast paced world, there is no end to the types of scams that target people of all ages, income levels and backgrounds. According to the Federal Trade Commission, one out of every ten adults in the United States will become a victim to a scam or fraud every...
Do Pedestrians Have the Right-of-Way?
I recently heard someone say as they confidently stepped off a curb into the street, “In Wisconsin, cars have to stop for us. Pedestrians always have the right-of-way.” Having grown up in Michigan, where our rules of the road have their own oddities (look up a...
Tax-Exempt Nonprofit Organizations in Wisconsin
Do you hold a charitable intention close to your heart but are not sure on how to begin the process to form your new organization? It is important to note that a nonprofit and a tax-exempt are commonly thought to be the same entity; however, these entities have a...
Hospital Liens: A Threat to Your Personal Injury Case
If you have health insurance, Medicaid or Medicare and you go to a hospital in your insurer’s network for treatment, the hospital is required to submit the treatment bills to your health insurer, Medicaid or Medicare. You may have to pay a deductible, co-pay or...
Spoliation of Evidence
Spoliation is the “intentional destruction, mutilation, alteration, or concealment of evidence.”[1] The legal maxim In odium spoliatoris omnia praesumuntur means “all things are presumed to the prejudice of the despoiler.” If a potential litigant or party destroys,...
Is It Legal to Write Your Own Will?
We often hear this scenario: you handwrite your final wishes and sign the document before storing it in your safe, bank box or another safe place. Is this document a valid Last Will and Testament to carry out your wishes? In Wisconsin, this handwritten document is...
The ABCs of ATVs and UTVs
In Wisconsin, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) are becoming increasingly popular not only for recreation but for travel between and within local communities. In turn, more cities, villages, towns and counties are opening roads, streets...
How do Gift Taxes and Annual Exclusion Gifts Work?
Many people are aware that gift taxation rules exist, but do not understand the actual process for determining when reporting or payment is required. Fortunately, the types of gifts most people make each year fall under broad exclusions to the gift tax rules such as...
What is the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act?
When you are buying real estate there are many different documents that need to be executed at closing. One of those documents is the FIRPTA Affidavit. Although this document is only executed by the Seller, it is still important that the Buyer understands the...
Can Amazon be Held Responsible for Defective Products Sold by Third Party Vendors?
Amazon, the e-commerce giant, sells over 350 million products online, which includes millions of products from third-party vendors. More than 95 million Americans now have Amazon Prime memberships. What happens if someone gets seriously injured by using a defective...
How to Prepare for Your Estate Planning Meeting
The thought of preparing an estate plan can be overwhelming. This is especially true if you are completing the estate planning process for the first time. You may have a long list of questions or perhaps you may not know where to begin. An experienced estate planning...
Protecting Retirement Accounts for Spouses Who Need Long Term Care
Given the rapidly increasing cost of long-term care in a nursing home or assisted living facility, many couples inquire about how to protect their assets from being consumed by such costs, particularly their retirement accounts which often account for the majority of...
How Long Will My Divorce Take?
Everyone who is going through a divorce wants the process to be over as soon as possible through either the granting of a final divorce decree or, in certain cases, reconciliation of the spouses. The uncertainty and emotional toll that accompanies almost all divorces...
Post Pandemic Public Benefits, Who Will Lose Eligibility?
During the Public Health Emergency (PHE), the State of Wisconsin was required to keep people enrolled in Medicaid as a condition of receiving a temporary increase in the federal share of Medicaid costs. When the PHE ends (recently extended to January of 2022) so will...
Joint Tenancy vs. Tenants in Common, What is the Difference?
When buying real estate in Wisconsin, one of the items you will need to consider is how you would like to take title of the property. If you are buying the property as an individual, then this is usually not an issue; however, this item will play an important role if...
As Afghans Resettle, A Reminder for Wisconsin Employers on Federal Discrimination Law
Fort McCoy in Wisconsin recently became the temporary home of thousands of Afghan refugees following the U.S. military withdrawal in Afghanistan. As of this writing, Wisconsin has been designated by the U.S. Department of State to permanently receive approximately 400...
Can I Disclaim an Interest in an Estate?
When someone dies and leaves you property in their will, by beneficiary designation, or through the intestate beneficiary laws of their state, it is possible, and sometimes wise, to reject the would-be inheritance by “disclaiming” your legal interest to it. However,...
Go Buy An Umbrella
The above title is not encouraging you to buy something to protect you from the rain! It refers to purchasing an umbrella insurance policy to protect you and your family from liability claims, and to provide you with ample coverage for your losses due to injuries...