Joining the military often sets individuals on a path that is distinctly different from pursuing higher education or entering the civilian workforce. Every year around Veterans Day, we honor the sacrifices of those who have served our country. However, we do not always pause to consider the unique experiences and challenges Veterans...
Category: Family
Homestead Exemptions and Estate Planning in Madison, WI
The term homestead may seem like a throwback to pioneer days, but homestead exemption laws are directly relevant to today’s estate planning and can play a valuable role in a modern plan.
Almost every state has some form of homestead exemption law primarily focused on reducing property taxes and...
Your Madison, WI Family Is Not One-Size-Fits-All; Your Estate Plan Shouldn’t Be, Either
What comes to mind when you think of the typical American family?
Today’s families take many different forms: Some are blended through divorce and remarriage while others are built through long-term partnerships, adoption, or fostering. Families may include same-sex or opposite-sex couples; married or unmarried partners; or children from...
Give Thanks by Planning Ahead: Create or Protect Your Family Traditions with an Madison, WI Estate Plan
Thanksgiving is built on a shared story and tradition, but every family has a different way of celebrating the country’s second-favorite holiday.[1] Unlike Christmas and the gift-giving anxiety that can accompany it, Thanksgiving is more about keeping things simple. Sure, hosting has its share of stress, but that stress melts...
Treating Children Fairly Does Not Necessarily Mean Equally in Madison, WI
Parents generally try to treat all their children fairly. We often assume that fairness means leaving an equal inheritance to each child. However, “fair” does not always mean “equal.” A thoughtful estate plan considers each child’s unique circumstances to create distributions that truly support their needs.
Here are some...
Being Deployed? Here Is What You Need to Do
You have just received your orders, and you will be deployed shortly. No matter how soon you are leaving, there is still time to ensure that your affairs are in order.
Review or prepare a Family Care Plan. Regardless of the branch of the military...How to Protect Your Family When You and Your Spouse Work in the Same Business in Madison, WI
You and your spouse live together, work together, and likely spend a great deal of your free time together. Having a successful marriage and business takes hard work and dedication, but it can also be among the most rewarding things in life. To help keep you on the right track, here are...
Have a Harmonious Family that Does Not Fight? You Still Need an Estate Plan in Madison, Wisconsin
In many families, everyone gets along, happily gathering for the holidays, sharing laughs, telling stories, and enjoying each other’s company. Then, the matriarch or patriarch dies. Suddenly, years of pent-up resentment and hurt feelings surface, and the once-happy family is now embroiled in litigation over the head of the family’s money and...
Shannen Doherty Understood That With Divorce, Timing Is Everything
According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey, there were more than 670,000 divorces[1] and more than 2 million marriages in 2022. Divorce is a common life event that many Americans face during their lifetime. Some states have laws that automatically end an ex-spouse’s appointment as decision-maker in...
Kids Going Away to College? Why You Should Include Estate Planning in the Preparation
You have likely been preparing for weeks to get your new college student off to school. It is exhilarating, and your heart may be bursting at the seams. You are probably prouder than words can express but also afraid. How can you ensure your child is safe at their new home away...