Blog Articles
The ABCs of LLCs
Are you considering going into business with a friend? A limited liability company (LLC) is certainly a great choice. Limited liability companies are easy to form, offer the tax advantage of a partnership, and the liability protections of a corporation. However, like...
Wisconsin Medicaid Law Allows Some Exceptions to Divestment
In Wisconsin, there are specific exceptions to the divestment rules for Medicaid qualification, allowing certain asset transfers without incurring a penalty. These exceptions are narrowly defined and strictly enforced. Below are the key exceptions: Transfers to a...
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 wondered what exactly it meant. Per stirpes is a Latin phrase that means “by branch” or “by roots.” In estate...
Legal Separation V. Divorce
Clients often ask what the difference is between a legal separation and a divorce. While the court process for both is similar, the legal consequences of each are significantly different. Below are some of the differences between these two judgments: Legal Definition...
Permanent Partial Disability and How it Could Affect You.
When thinking about workers’ compensation injuries, workers understandably focus on the immediate necessities of (1) getting medical expenses paid and (2) wage replacement for missed work. Medical expenses and wage replacement, also known as, temporary total...
Divestments and How They Affect Medicaid Qualifications
When applying for Medicaid in Wisconsin, particularly for long-term care services, one key concept to understand is divestment. Divestment refers to the transfer of assets for less than fair market value, such as gifting money or property to others, including family...
What Landlords Should Know About the Wisconsin Consumer Act
Residential landlords in Wisconsin now face liability under the Wisconsin Consumer Act (WCA) following the Wisconsin Court of Appeals’ decision in Koble Invs. v. Marquardt, 412 Wis. 2d 1, 7 N.W.3d 915 (Ct. App. 2024). The WCA aims to: simplify, clarify and modernize...
Understanding Medical Payments Coverage
Medical payments coverage through your automobile insurance is often an overlooked and sometimes misunderstood coverage. Reasonably, consumers are more interested how much coverage they have for liability (if they are at fault), underinsured/uninsured (if someone else...
Corporate Transparency Filing Deadlines
Congress passed the Corporate Transparency Act in 2021. The Corporate Transparency Act and its requirements took effect on January 1, 2024. Under this Act, certain business entities are required to file a Beneficial Ownership Information Report (a “BOIR”) with the...
How Adverse Possession May Impact Your Property Rights
Adverse possession is a legal doctrine that allows a person who occupies another person’s property for a specified period of time may gain title to that property. The law of adverse possession is based on a combination of statutes and Wisconsin Court decisions. For...
If a Trespasser is Injured on My Property, Am I Responsible?
As a landowner, you might wonder whether you need to be concerned about injuries that occur when someone trespasses on your property. Generally, trespassers enter your land at their own risk. Both common sense and the law acknowledge that you have “no duty to...
Legal Custody vs. Placement
Wisconsin has two distinct concepts relating to minor children in family law cases: Legal Custody and Physical Placement. Many people use these terms interchangeably, but they have distinct legal meanings and implications in the State of Wisconsin. A. Legal custody...
“You Don’t Say?!” Political Speech in the Private Sector Workplace
Another election season is upon us. That means that there may well be spirited discussions around the workplace water cooler or on social media as we express opinions on candidates and political issues. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution generally protects...
Shipwrecked by a Sidewalk
With the exponential growth of technology occurring today, there is an often-repeated adage that “the law struggles to keep up with technology.” As such, it is always interesting when the highest Wisconsin court must spend its limited time with the bleeding edge...
Medicaid Myths and Truths
The cost of nursing home care can be substantial, leaving many people wondering when Medicaid will cover long term care costs. Medicare only covers a small amount of nursing home costs under limited circumstances. As a result, many seniors will rely on Medicaid,...
On The Road Again
If you are traveling out of state and are injured in an automobile accident due to the fault of another, you may have many questions, including where a claim should be brought, whether you will need a local attorney, and what your rights to recovery are. Your first...
Judicare Mediation Services
Our firm receives many calls regarding small claims cases. One issue that immediately becomes a problem is that small claims are limited to damages under $10,000. Legal fees a client pays to us will cut into those damages very quickly, without any guarantee of a court...
Are They Really Faster and Cleaner?
In October 2020, the Department of Energy (DOE) adopted a rule defining a new dishwasher class as “standard residential dishwashers with a cycle time for the normal cycle of one or less from washing through drying.”[1] Not long after passing the 2020 Dishwasher Rule,...