News & Insights

 

Our News & Insights

Search News & Insights

Keep Up To Date

For invitations to our events and updates on key legal issues and business concerns:

Please Click Here

Review Business Contract Carefully

Posted on February 22, 2019 by

Agricultural producers are often asked to enter into written contracts. Those contracts can cover a wide range of issues including buying equipment, leasing property and selling products. Although the subject matter varies widely, there are a number of issues that will typically apply to any business contract no matter what the subject matter. This article […]

I Want to Avoid Probate…Right?

Posted on February 14, 2019 by

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, […]

OSHA Pulls Back on Electronic Reporting Rule

Posted on February 1, 2019 by

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has partly pulled back on its controversial requirement that certain employers electronically file injury and illness data with OSHA.  Last week, OSHA announced that employers with 250 or more employees no longer need to electronically submit information from their OSHA 300 forms (the Log of Work-Related Injuries and […]

Western District of Wisconsin Ranks 2nd in the Nation in Chapter 12 Farm Bankruptcy Filings in 2018

Posted on January 29, 2019 by

The latest federal bankruptcy statistics contain more bad news for Wisconsin’s farmers. Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies continue to rise even though overall bankruptcies continue to fall. Although total bankruptcy filings (including Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 12 and Chapter 13) in the Western District of Wisconsin fell 2.8% in 2018 and have decreased every year […]

Will the Nursing Home take my house?

Posted on January 16, 2019 by

When faced with the possibility of paying for nursing home care, many people I meet with are concerned about what will happen to their house. Inevitably, I am asked, “Will the nursing home take my house?” To protect the house, clients want to immediately give it away to their child or children. Although this sounds […]

Create Your Emergency Money List

Posted on December 28, 2018 by

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 […]

Avoiding Guardianship

Posted on December 28, 2018 by

The term “Guardianship” makes most people think of a child whose parents passed away or are in the process of getting divorced.  However, in the estate planning arena we speak of Guardianships for adults.  In Wisconsin, a Guardian is an agent, appointed by the Court, to take over for an adult individual who becomes incapacitated […]

What Kind Of Property Owner Are You?

Posted on December 28, 2018 by

You might own a house.  Maybe you own a cabin or cottage, hunting or farm land, or other properties as well.  Regardless of the type of property that you own, the previous owner of the property gave you a deed when you bought the property.  If you bought the property by yourself, the deed named […]

Estate Planning for Blended Families and Second Marriages

Posted on December 28, 2018 by

In today’s world the “traditional family” of a man, woman and their 2.5 children is becoming a lot less common.  The term “blended family” has been coined to describe multiple families that are brought together and integrated into each other.  A blended family can mean that one or both parents bring children from a previous […]

Increased Gasoline Prices Lead to Increase in Optional Standard Mileage Rates for 2019

Posted on December 14, 2018 by

The Internal Revenue Service has announced the optional standard mileage rates for computing the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business, medical, and moving expenses for 2019, and the increased rates reflect the increase in the fixed and variable costs of operating a vehicle.  Effective January 1, 2019, the optional standard mileage rates will […]