Articles
Insight into Legal Developments and IssuesLegal Separation or Divorce?
A physical separation of spouses is not a “legal separation” regardless of how long it has been since the parties have lived together. A “legal separation” occurs through a court proceeding that is almost identical to a divorce proceeding. There are two main...
Imperfect Title: A Survey Exception Primer
There is little risk in presuming that the majority of homeowners rate their property as their most important asset. Paradoxically, homeowners likely know more about their car insurance than the insurance purchased for the purpose of protecting legal title to their...
Beneficiary Designations
Clients often ask questions about the use of beneficiary designations in their estate planning. Beneficiary designations can be a convenient way to avoid probate in some situations. If an individual is named as a direct beneficiary on an asset, that asset passes...
Seller’s Closing Costs
Many sellers of real estate do not realize the costs associated with selling real estate in Wisconsin. I am frequently in meetings with clients and catch sellers by surprise when I start mentioning the fees that are associated with the standard offer to purchase form...
Seller’s “Right to Cure”
A Seller’s “right to cure” does not mean that the Seller must cure any defects uncovered during a home inspection. Rather, a Seller’s “right to cure” means that the Seller simply has the option to cure a defect once the Buyer notifies the Seller that there are defects...
Wisconsin’s Recreational Immunity Statute
Does Wisconsin's Recreational Immunity Statute protect you from liability? As the snow finally melts and spring arrives, our focus will be on enjoying the great outdoors in Central Wisconsin. Recreational activities that we enjoy may include hiking, biking, fishing,...
Taking Control of Your Estate Plan
Have you ever considered making a will or a revocable trust? Did you ultimately find a reason not to do so? If so, according to a recent survey by Caring.com, you are not alone. The survey indicates that only 42 percent of U.S. adults have estate planning documents...
Wisconsin Fair Employment Act & the ADA
What can Wisconsin Employers Learn From an Employer in Churubusco, Indiana (Pop. 1,800)? Wisconsin employers should be aware of the root cause of a lawsuit that led to a settlement between the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and an Indiana...
Managed Forest Land Program Changes
The enactment of 2015 Wisconsin Act 358 on April 16, 2016 (Act) has caused significant changes to the Managed Forest Law (MFL) Program. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) monitors the MFL Program which was created to incentivize private forestland...
Transferring the Residence to a Caregiver Child-Exception to Divestment
I’m often asked whether transferring a parent’s residence to an adult child or children will “save the house from the nursing home.” Parents have heard that their friends or other relatives have made such a transfer in order to protect the residence, or to avoid...
