For invitations to our events and updates on key legal issues and business concerns
Please Click HerePosted on December 18, 2019 by Sara J. Ackermann
Late last week the Department of Labor announced a Final Rule that will allow employers to more easily offer bonuses and benefits without worrying about the regular rate of pay. The rule is the first major change to the regulations governing regular rate requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in over 50 years. […]
Posted on December 12, 2019 by Ruder Ware Alumni
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, easing immigration for agricultural workers. The bill would give “blue cards” to agricultural workers who have worked at least 180 days on farms over the past two years. They would become eligible for five-year renewable visas that would require working at least 100 […]
Posted on November 17, 2019 by Ruder Ware Alumni
No matter how much credence the old saying “good fences make good neighbors” may hold, Chapter 90 of the Wisconsin Statutes exists to prescribe general rules regarding fences in agricultural areas of Wisconsin. These laws lay out when a fence is required, what a legal fence is, who is responsible for the fence and how […]
Posted on November 14, 2019 by Ruder Ware Alumni
It is common for a client whose spouse is receiving Medicaid to lack adequate estate planning to protect those Medicaid benefits in the event the client dies before their spouse. Yet, after all of the time and energy spent to qualify for Medicaid, it would be awful to see those benefits lost simply because proper […]
Posted on November 11, 2019 by Linda M. Danielson
While most businesses use real estate, unique planning issues arise for family-farm owners because of the importance of real estate to the farm and family. There are several reasons for that. Family farms are not as mobile as other businesses. Family-farm owners usually have strong emotional attachments to the land. They treat the land they […]
Posted on November 6, 2019 by Mary Ellen Schill
On November 6, 2019 the Internal Revenue Service announced the cost-of-living adjustments for the various qualified retirement plan limits. All of the limits shown below have increased from last year. Qualified Plan Limit Cost-of-Living Adjustments 401(k) and 403(b) elective deferral limit 2019-$19,000 2020-$19,500 $200,000 compensation limit 2019-$280,000 2020-$285,000 $160,000 defined benefit limit 2019-$225,000 2020-$230,000 […]
Posted on October 22, 2019 by Sara J. Ackermann
My practice is dedicated to helping business owners and HR professionals work through some pretty sticky employment issues. Although there is not much I have not seen, employee behavior never ceases to amaze me. With the evolution of marijuana and CBD legalization, it is going to get even more interesting. For the latest information on […]
Posted on October 9, 2019 by Shanna N. Fink
It seems like our world becomes more digital each day. We can manage almost every aspect of our lives online. But, unless you have updated your estate plan in the last few years, chances are good that your estate planning documents do not address what will happen to your electronic documents, e-mails, text messages, blogs, […]
Posted on October 4, 2019 by Ruder Ware Alumni
A controversial federal environmental regulation has been repealed, according to an announcement Sept. 12 by the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the assistant secretary of the Army who oversees the Army Corps of Engineers. That means the definition of “Waters of the United States” will return to its pre-2015 definition. That’s important […]
Posted on October 3, 2019 by Steven P. Lipowski
Gone are the days when handshake deals suffice as a contract for a land purchase. I’ll be presenting on Ag Lease Agreements as part of the Agricultural Land Values and Lease Seminar on October 9 at the Rib River Ballroom. I plan to walk attendees through an overview of what leases are (and are not), […]