A pour-over will is a safety‑net document that works alongside a revocable living trust in Wisconsin. It does not replace the trust—it supports it by catching anything that was missed so your estate plan still works even if something isn’t perfectly set up before death. In simple terms, a pour-over will says...
Category: Living Trust
Wisconsin Estate Planning: How do you protect biological heirs in a blended family in Wisconsin?
Protecting biological heirs in a Wisconsin blended family is less about “cutting out” a spouse and more about balancing two competing goals: providing for the surviving spouse and ensuring children from prior relationships ultimately receive their intended inheritance. Without careful planning, Wisconsin’s default rules and common estate tools can unintentionally favor one...
Estate Planning Tips for Someone Facing Major Surgery in Wisconsin
Receiving news that you need major surgery is never easy. Preparing for work absences, planning for childcare and household responsibilities, and understanding the procedure itself and your recovery timeline may be among the things you are worried about. If you have only a short time (weeks or days) to react, focusing on...
Passing Along a Benefit, Not a Burden: Why Planning for Absence and Incapacity Is Indispensable for Business Owners
As a business owner, you have likely considered establishing an estate plan to ensure your company’s continued success after your passing. However, comprehensive estate planning also addresses what will happen if you become mentally incapacitated (unable to manage your affairs) due to illness, injury, or cognitive decline, or if you need to...
Mission Accomplished: Your Guide to Veterans’ Planning Essentials
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...
Do I Need a Will or a Trust in Madison, Wisconsin?
Yes, everyone needs a will, a trust, or both. These important tools ensure that your legacy will be carried out according to your wishes and allow you to provide for loved ones after your passing. A properly prepared trust can also help avoid probate, which is a lengthy, public, and often expensive...
How a Directed Trust Can Change Everything
The idea of one-size-fits-all no longer fits a world where people expect products and services to be tailored to their individual preferences.
The estate planning world, long rooted in tradition, has relied on time-tested tools such as trusts to plan for what happens to a person’s money and property....
“Reel” America
An Estate Plan Is Your Script to a Lasting Legacy
“We are all storytellers, and we are the stories we tell,” wrote American psychologist Dan McAdams. Narrative thinking refers to how we view our own role in the story of our lives. It is a more formal way of...
What Can I Not Do as Trustmaker and Trustee of a Revocable Living Trust?
Wills and living trusts are two of the most fundamental estate planning documents. While both accomplish the same primary objective in an estate plan of directing the distributions of your money and property to your desired beneficiaries after you pass away, a revocable living trust, often referred to simply as a living...
The Real Story Behind Trust Fund Kids
When we hear the phrase “trust fund kid,” words like “entitled,” “privileged,” and “financially irresponsible” might come to mind. But another word we should associate with “trust fund kid” is “protected.”
What Is a Trust Fund Kid?
According to a Forbes article published in 2021 about...