Out-of-state assets can significantly complicate a Wisconsin probate because Wisconsin courts generally lack authority to transfer title to real estate located in another state. That jurisdictional limit often forces families to juggle multiple proceedings, added legal costs, and delays which may turning a single estate administration into a multi‑state project.
Category: Transfer of Assets
Wisconsin Estate Planning: How can you prevent your digital assets from being locked-out after death in Wisconsin?
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...
Wisconsin Probate: What do Wisconsin Intestacy Laws say About How my Assets will Pass at my Death?
In Wisconsin, intestacy rules apply to assets you own in your name alone at death that don’t have a built‑in transfer mechanism. By contrast, beneficiary‑designated assets (like life insurance and retirement accounts) and many TOD/POD accounts pass directly to the named beneficiary, and joint property with a right of survivorship passes to...
Wisconsin Probate: How are Real Estate Transfers Handled in a Wisconsin Probate?
Real estate is often one of the most important—and slowest—parts of a Wisconsin probate because title to land must be legally transferred, usually with court authority unless a non‑probate mechanism applies. The first question is whether the property even goes through probate. Real estate may pass automatically if it is held in...
Wisconsin Probate: How do you Prepare an Inventory of Assets in a Probate in Wisconsin?
In a Wisconsin probate, the Inventory of Assets is a required filing that lists everything the deceased owned at death that is subject to probate. It’s one of the most important early steps because it establishes the estate’s value, guides how debts get paid, informs beneficiaries, and sets the foundation for distributions....
National Regifting Day: Regifting for Your Future
During the holidays, we usually receive at least one gift that, let’s face it, falls a bit flat.
When we were young, it might have been an itchy sweater from Grandma or a toy from Mom and Dad that we had outgrown. As adults, maybe someone got your clothing...
Passing the Torch: Smart Business Succession Strategies
For many business owners, their business is one of the most valuable and important things they own. When it is time to sit down and create an estate plan, it is critical that business owners plan for their business just as they would plan for their home or finances. Effective business succession...
Navigating the Fiscal Year 2025 Greenbook: Key Trust and Estate Tax Proposals
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has released its General Explanations of the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2025 Revenue Proposals. Commonly referred to as the Greenbook, this document lays out tax proposals that would support President Biden’s policy priorities if he is reelected to a second term.
A major focus...
What Happens to Your Venmo, PayPal, and Apple Pay Accounts at Your Death?
It has been said that nothing ever dies on the Internet. While this dictum is typically used as a warning that what we put online may come back to haunt us, it is also true that our online accounts can outlive us, and even live in perpetuity. Having a digital estate plan...