Elder Law
As loved ones age, the task of planning for their future care can be overwhelming. Our elder law lawyers focus on the financial, legal, and health care needs of individuals aged 65 and older. As elder law advocates, our attorneys are committed to providing solutions to the needs and concerns of clients in this group and their families. Preserving a lifetime of savings and protecting one’s dignity requires a solid understanding of complex state and federal laws and the practices of Medicaid workers in individual counties.
Through active memberships in the Elder Law Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, our lawyers stay informed on the latest issues affecting their clients. One of our attorneys is accredited by the Veterans Administration and is able to represent veterans with the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims before the Administration.
Relationships between elder law lawyers and their clients are very personal. Therefore, we offer clients a single point of contact for all their elder law needs. Our services include:
Ruder Ware publishes an electronic newsletter titled Elder Law Advisor addressing current elder law issues written by lawyers who regularly provide counsel in this changing area of law.
Proud members of:
Founded in 1920, Ruder Ware provides business, employment, estate planning, and litigation services. A full-service law firm, over 45 attorneys provide clients with a one-stop approach to their legal needs. Ruder Ware, Business Attorneys for Business Success.
Posted on January 9, 2024 by Ruth M. Ross
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 […]
Posted on December 28, 2023 by Linda M. Danielson
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 […]
Posted on October 23, 2023 by Mykayla A. Dado
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 […]
Posted on April 11, 2023 by Shanna N. Fink
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 […]
Posted on December 15, 2022 by Ashley L. Hawley
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 […]
Posted on November 15, 2022 by Shanna N. Fink
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 […]
Posted on October 26, 2022 by Ruder Ware Alumni
Paying for nursing-home and long-term care can seem daunting when the cost can be $5,000 to $12,000 per month – or more. When a married couple is no longer able or willing to privately pay out of pocket for care and chooses to apply for Medicaid, it’s a complex process. The Medicaid agency must analyze […]
Posted on September 22, 2022 by Ashley L. Hawley
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 […]
Posted on June 21, 2022 by Shanna N. Fink
One of the most common questions asked by our clients is, “What is the difference between a will and a trust, and which is right for me?” Last week, I provided a brief summary of the differences between these two common estate planning tools in a vlog. You can view the vlog here. In this […]
Posted on April 14, 2022 by Ruder Ware Alumni
Do you prefer face-to-face meetings? Do you struggle getting through a phone tree or finding what you need online? Many of our clients receive Social Security Retirement benefits, Social Security Disability benefits, and various other benefits provided through the Social Security Administration (the “SSA”). Recently, Kilolo Kijakazi, the Acting Commissioner of Social Security, announced that […]
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Elder Law Advisor Newsletters
