If you die in Wisconsin without naming a guardian for your minor children, the court, not you, decides who will care for them. That process is a guardianship proceeding, and it can become one of the most emotionally and legally sensitive parts of probate. The judge selects a guardian based on what...
Category: Minor Children
Wisconsin Estate Planning: What Happens to your Minor Children in Wisconsin if you do not Name a Guardian?
If you die in Wisconsin without naming a guardian for your minor children, the court—not you—decides who will care for them. That process is a guardianship proceeding, and it can become one of the most emotionally and legally sensitive parts of probate. The judge selects a guardian based on what is in...
New Parents and Estate Planning
Congratulations on your new baby! Becoming a parent is an incredible journey filled with joy, love, and a whole lot of sleepless nights. It is also a time when you start thinking about the future in an entirely new way. You want to ensure that your child is always protected, no matter...
Name a Guardian for Your Minor Children
It is a topic no parent wants to think about: What would happen to your children if you were gone? However, facing this question is one of the most loving and powerful things you can do for your kids. If you take no steps to legally nominate a guardian for your minor...
How to Leave Assets to Minor Children
You love your children and want to ensure that they are always taken care of. The desire to provide for them may also be shared by their grandparents, aunts, and uncles. However, when leaving money and property to minor children, even the best intentions can lead to big problems. Common mistakes can...
Should I Have a Trust for My Mature Child
From the moment a child is born, a parent feels an instinctive drive to protect and nurture. We childproof our homes, carefully choose schools, offer guidance through adolescence, support their careers, and watch with pride as they start their own lives.
The desire to be there for them extends...
Tools for Parents of Minor Children
Approximately three-fourths of Americans do not have a basic will.[1] Many of the same people also have children under the age of 18, which underscores a major misunderstanding about estate plans: They can accomplish much more than just handling financial assets (money, accounts, and property).
One of...
Naming a Guardian for Your Minor Children
We know it is difficult, even horrific, to imagine someone else raising your children. However, you must consider who you would choose to fill this important role. Otherwise, a judge—a stranger who does not know you or your wishes, your child, or your relatives and friends—will determine who raises your children if...
Putting Conditions on a Child’s Inheritance
You have two primary options for leaving an inheritance to a child. The most straightforward is to give it to them in a single lump sum, with no strings attached. But this might not be the best option for some children. You may be concerned about the child’s ability to handle the...
Caring for a Child After Your Death
As a parent, you are responsible for the care of your minor child. In most circumstances, this means getting them up for school, making sure they are fed, and providing for other basic needs. However, what would happen if you and your child’s other parent were unable to care for them?