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One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Stay Tuned for Our Client Alert Series

Posted on July 10, 2025 by , and

As you may be aware, on July 4, 2025, a landmark piece of tax legislation – commonly referred to as “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” – was signed into law, ushering in some of the most significant changes to the tax code in recent years. This sweeping bill touches nearly every corner of the tax […]

Gifting, Inheritance, and Capital Gains Tax: When Should I Give My Kids Their Inheritance?

Posted on January 9, 2024 by

As people begin to think about passing on their assets to the next generation, some consider gifting to their children during their life, rather than passing their assets by inheritance at their death.  Possible motivations for this type of transfer include transferring ownership of a business to a child or the protection of assets in […]

Common Misconceptions About Estate Planning

Posted on December 28, 2023 by

There is a lot of confusion about estate planning. This is understandable. Most people don’t deal with these issues on a regular basis, and planning for what happens when we die or become incapacitated isn’t something most of us like to think or talk about. Common misconceptions about estate planning include: 1. Having a will […]

Estate Planning Considerations for Business Owners

Posted on October 23, 2023 by

When your days are consumed with running a business, it can be hard to look ahead towards tomorrow’s to-do list, much less towards a to-do list for something far in the future, like estate planning. If you’ve pushed off putting in writing what will happen to your business once you’re gone, it’s time to tackle […]

Who Plans My Funeral?

Posted on April 11, 2023 by

Many clients wonder who is responsible for planning their funeral, selecting burial or cremation, and making other arrangements after their death.  Some clients ask what happens if family members disagree about these matters. In Wisconsin, there is a default law that dictates who has the authority to make these decisions after your death.  The default […]

Authorization for Final Disposition

Posted on April 4, 2023 by

Estate Planning Attorney Shanna Yonke explores Wisconsin’s default law regarding who gets to make decisions regarding the disposition of your body, funeral arrangements, and other matters that arise after your death.  She urges viewers to utilize the authorization for final disposition as it takes precedence over default law and allows you to change your mind […]

Shaken or Stirred? Mixed or Blended?

Posted on December 15, 2022 by

When I meet with new clients I have them fill out what we refer to as our estate planning “questionnaire.”  Basically, a form that asks them to insert personal information on the first two pages and financial information on pages 3-5.  Page one asks about marital status and page two asks the potential client to […]

Nothing to Prove: Making the Case for Self-Proving Affidavits

Posted on November 15, 2022 by

In the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I wrote a blog post on how to create a valid will in Wisconsin.  At the time, we were all stuck at home by government order, and many clients signed their wills without a notary public.  Signing a will without a notary public was a short-term fix during […]

What is a Self-proving Affidavit?

Posted on November 3, 2022 by

In her latest vlog, Estate Planning Attorney Shanna Yonke shares what a self-proving affidavit is and why having one makes it easier for your loved one after your death.   Video Transcript: My name is Shanna Yonke and I’m an attorney on Ruder Ware’s Estate Planning Team. To make a valid will in Wisconsin you […]

How is That Account Titled?

Posted on September 22, 2022 by

My husband just recently opened a new account at one of those online, do-it-yourself, investment companies.  He promises that with the tiny amount of money I was willing to allow him to experiment with that he will make us tons of money.  After he got the account set up, he asked me to sit beside […]