Do IRAs and 401(k)s Count as Assets for Medicaid in Wisconsin?
If you apply for long-term care Medicaid in Wisconsin, your IRA will almost certainly be counted as an available asset. Whether it’s a traditional or Roth account makes no difference. However, the same type of account held by your spouse at home will be ignored entirely. That split shapes nearly every planning decision a married… Read more
ATF Stopped Enforcing NFA Registration. Do Wisconsin Gun Owners Still Need a Gun Trust?
A suppressor bought in Wisconsin today without federal registration may still be a felony under state law. This detail is getting lost in the news about the ATF. Federal enforcement has changed this fall, but Wisconsin’s statutes have not. Does a gun trust still matter for most Wisconsin owners of suppressors and short-barreled firearms? Yes…. Read more
Wealth Can Fund a Special Needs Plan—It Cannot Be the Plan
There is a fear every parent carries from the first sleepless night: What happens to my child when I am not here to hold everything together for them? For some parents, that fear dulls with time as the child matures and ultimately carves out their own path. For parents of a child with a disability,… Read more
The Risks of Using AI to Create Your Estate Plan
Artificial intelligence has quickly become part of everyday life, including in the legal world. Today, a person can type “Create a will for me” into an AI chatbot and receive a polished-looking document within seconds. It may use legal terminology. It may appear organized and professional. It may even seem personalized to the user’s situation…. Read more
When Should You Update Your Estate Plan? 7 Life Events That Trigger a Review in Wisconsin
Wisconsin law can change parts of your estate plan without your knowledge. A divorce may cancel some gifts. A new spouse or child may receive a share that you never mentioned in your will. Consider these seven events as review points for your estate planning. 1. Marriage or Remarriage Marriage doesn’t cancel a will that… Read more
What Happens to Jointly Owned Property When Someone Dies in Wisconsin?
The deed controls the outcome, not the will. This is a fact that many Wisconsin families discover too late, after a loved one has passed away and the question of who owns the house has no clear answer. How property is titled determines what happens to it at death, often regardless of any estate plan…. Read more
What Happens If You Die With Debt in Wisconsin?
It is one of the most common and misunderstood questions in estate planning: Will my family inherit my debt? The short answer is that your loved ones usually do not become personally responsible for debts you leave behind. However, the longer answer is more complicated, and in Wisconsin, specific rules about how creditors are paid… Read more
What Is a Power of Attorney in Wisconsin and When Do You Need One?
Most people don’t worry about having certain legal documents created, and that is, until they need one. A power of attorney is one of those things that flies under the radar. However, it can become important at the exact moment life takes an unexpected turn. Planning for your power of attorney can make a difficult… Read more
What Wisconsin Residents Should Know About Estate Planning and Taxes
When most people think about estate planning, they imagine trusts, big estates, or complicated legal documents. But even if your assets are not enormous, taxes can still take a big bite out of what you leave behind. In Wisconsin, estate planning is more than deciding who gets what. This is about minimizing tax exposure, protecting… Read more