What Does Per Stirpes Mean?

If you have ever completed a beneficiary designation for a life insurance policy or retirement account, you may have encountered the term “per stirpes” and...

National Health Care Decisions Day

National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) is celebrated each year on April 16th. Founded in 2008, the mission of NHDD is to encourage and empower people...

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...

Wisconsin Expands Ability to Activate Powers of Attorney for Health Care

Wisconsin is facing a shortage of primary care doctors, particularly in rural areas. According to a report by the Wisconsin Council on Medical Education and...

So, You Want to Sell Your Life Estate?

Many people have established a life estate in their residence to protect it if they require Medicaid benefits to pay for their long-term care.  A...

Naming a Trust as the Beneficiary of a Tax-Qualified Retirement Account

Many have heard the quote often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”  The...

Estate Planning for a Disabled Spouse

Caring for a spouse who suffers from physical and/or mental decline can be an overwhelming task. The healthy spouse often spends the majority of his...

I Signed My Will, Now What?

Completing your estate plan for the first time is a significant milestone.  It means that you have taken an important step forward in planning for...

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...

Medicaid Program – Partial Repeal of Wisconsin Act 20

As of December 2013, the Wisconsin Legislature enacted a partial repeal of Wisconsin Act 20. The partial repeal is contained in Wisconsin Act 92, which...