Posted on February 14, 2022 by Ruder Ware Estate Planning Attorneys
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You likely are aware, from the news and our prior communications, that Congress currently is considering proposals that may have a significant impact on many estate plans. Although we still cannot be certain which, if any, of the proposed changes will become law, we want to provide you with an overview of their potential effect […]
Posted on March 20, 2020 by Melissa S. Kampmann
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In the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, many people are stocking up on food and other supplies to get them through prolonged periods of quarantine and government-ordered shutdowns. Schools are closed and in some locations, businesses are also closing doors to visitors. Yet people are concerned about planning for a potential incapacity or even […]
Posted on February 27, 2020 by Ruder Ware Alumni
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When people ask me what they can do to make things easier for their loved ones if something happens to them, the first question I ask is if they have power of attorney documents in place. A good financial power of attorney (“POA”) is one of the most important estate planning documents you can have. […]
Posted on January 15, 2020 by Ruder Ware Alumni
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For many people, the first time they start thinking about an estate plan is when they start to have family members that depend on them financially – typically, a spouse or a child. Let’s take, for example, a young married couple with young children. The couple may think they need a will, but they might […]
Posted on January 7, 2020 by Ruder Ware Estate Planning Attorneys
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The federal appropriations bill enacted into law on December 20, 2019 changed federal law in ways that may affect your retirement assets, including 401(k) plans and IRAs. Those changes, often referred to as the “SECURE Act,” may affect you during your lifetime and also the way those retirement assets may be distributed to your beneficiaries […]
Posted on December 19, 2019 by Ashley L. Hawley
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Picture this: you are lying on the beach in sunny Aruba, thinking about your best friend, Kristin, who valiantly volunteered to watch your three children while you and your spouse got away from the Wisconsin winter for the first time in ages – when all of a sudden you see a hotel staff member racing […]
Posted on November 11, 2019 by Linda M. Danielson
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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 June 11, 2019 by Ruder Ware Alumni
Blog
After working and saving, clients are concerned that unexpected costs will become unplanned for drains on their Retirement Accounts (e.g, 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, 403(b), etc.). As the need to pay for nursing home care nears, those concerns grow and questions begin to be asked about whether retirement accounts are safe from the nursing home. […]
Posted on February 14, 2019 by Ashley L. Hawley
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In my opinion, education is the most impactful aspect of my role as an estate planning attorney. I often tell the story that when I first decided upon estate planning – over ten years ago – I excitedly told my husband that I had settled upon my specialty. He responded supportively – “That’s great!” …So, […]
Posted on December 28, 2018 by Shanna N. Fink
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If you are married, it is likely that either you or your spouse assume primary responsibility for financial matters, like paying your bills, filing your tax returns, choosing your investments, buying insurance, and applying for loans. If you are single, then you are probably the only person who knows everything about your finances. In either […]