Preventing digital lockouts after death in Wisconsin starts with creating and maintaining a secure, up‑to‑date inventory of your online accounts and access information—without putting passwords directly into your will, which can become part of the public record. Keep credentials in a password manager vault, an encrypted document, or a physical list stored...
Category: Planning
Wisconsin Estate Planning: The Risks of an Unfinished Estate Plan—and Why You Should Complete Yours
Planning for the future, especially your own mortality, is never easy. Even when you understand the importance of creating a will or trust to protect your loved ones, finding the motivation to complete an estate plan can be difficult. Yet an unfinished estate plan is almost as risky as having no plan...
Your Family’s Estate Road Map: A Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Assets and Wishes in Wisconsin
Maps help us get where we are going. Nowadays, phone apps provide detailed directions, making it nearly impossible to get lost. A physical map may seem outdated, but in an emergency, it can be a lifesaver.
An estate plan without a “road map” leaves your loved ones guessing what...
How to Make Funerals and Memorials Meaningful in Madison, Wisconsin
Many people have a childhood memory of somebody close to them passing away. Whether the deceased was a parent or grandparent, an aunt or uncle, or a family friend, it may have been their first real encounter facing grief or attending a funeral.
That experience may have left a...
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...
Caution: Writing Your Own Deed in Wisconsin to Avoid Probate Can Lead to Costly Unintended Consequences
One goal of estate planning is to ensure that your assets, including your home, pass to your chosen beneficiaries quickly and with minimal expense. In real estate, a common strategy to avoid probate (the court process of validating a will and distributing assets) is to add others to the title.
Why Retirement Is the Right Time to Revisit Your Estate Plan
Retirement can mean many different things to different people. For some, it opens up a new world of travel, experiences, and creative pursuits. For others, it may herald quiet days at home with a good book, a steaming mug of tea or coffee, and no other plans for weeks.
Estate Planning for Kids Going Away to College
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...
Pensions and Other Retirement Accounts in Estate Planning
The first private pension plan in the United States was established in the late 1800s. Through 1980, nearly 40 percent of Americans were covered by a traditional employer-funded pension. But employer-provided retirement plans have now largely shifted to retirement savings vehicles like 401(k) plans and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) that place most...
Choose the Right Agents for Your Incapacity Plan
Many people believe that estate planning is only about planning for their death. But planning for what happens after you die is only one piece of the estate-planning puzzle. It is just as important to plan for what happens if you become unable to manage your own financial or medical affairs while...