Firm News

At Wokwicz Law Offices, LLC, we believe that regular communication with our clients on relevant and important topics is key to providing a more complete service for our clients. With this in mind, we are happy to share news of our firm and, perhaps even more importantly, legal and final news that are likely to effect our clients.

• May. 31 2018

  What to Bring to Your First Estate Planning Meeting

  As a service to our clients, we are sharing guidance on what to bring to your first estate planningPlanning in advance of disability, incapacity, or death to make sure that key life issues have been addressed while the person is still … Read more »

• Mar. 23 2018

  Avoiding Probate: Definitions and Key Reasons

  Many of our clients name avoiding probateThe court process proving the validity of a Will and conducting the orderly InventoryA document filed during probate administration and sometimes during trust administration setting forth the assets owned at the decedent’s death and the value of those assets. In a probate administration case, the Inventory is filed with the court and is a public document., Accounting, and AdministrationA process during which the deceased persons assets pay debts, claims and funeral expenses and the remaining estate funds are then distributed according to the wishes of the deceased person set forth in the Will or Trust. The Administrator is in charge of the process and must follow what is set forth in the Will or Trust. If there is no Will or Trust, the distributions and payments are made according to the law of the applicable state and is called intestate succession. of a decedent’s assets under a Will or under Intestacy laws if there is no WillA written document that sets forth and names the personal representative who will be in charge of overseeing the probate process and names the specific bequest and residual beneficiaries of property who are to receive and inherit assets and property through probate. A Will does not avoid probate, and must be properly drafted and executed to be legal. A Will can also avoid the use of a surety bond in many instances and can help utilize an “informal” Wisconsin probate process if it has the proper clauses and attestation clause.. The probateThe court process proving the validity of a Will and conducting the orderly Inventory, Accounting, and Administration of a decedent’s assets under a Will or under Intestacy laws if there is no Will. The probate process in Wisconsin typically takes between six to twelve months in Wisconsin and can take longer in some cases. Probate can be avoided by proper Estate Planning and through the use of beneficiary designations, Transfer on Death Deeds, Marital Property Agreements and Trusts. … Read more »

• Feb. 28 2018

  Irrevocable Medicaid Asset Protection Trust: Protection from Nursing Homes

  When we meet with estate planningPlanning in advance of disability, incapacity, or death to make sure that key life issues have been addressed while the person is still of sound mind and able to understand and sign key documents such as Power … Read more »

• Jan. 29 2018

  Marital Trusts: Deciding When to Update

  In recent years, there have been significant estate taxThe Federal tax that is imposed on transfer of assets at death, especially to non-spouses. The current Federal Estate TaxThe Federal tax that is imposed on transfer of assets at death, especially to non-spouses. The current Federal Estate Tax, simply speaking, is for assets in excess of 5.34 million dollars for the year 2014. There is not currently an estate tax in Wisconsin, but approximately 20 other states still have some form of estate tax., simply speaking, is for assets in excess of 5.34 million dollars for the … Read more »

• Dec. 8 2017

  Divorce and Your Trust in Wisconsin

  In Wisconsin, divorce raises significant challenges for both revocable and irrevocable trusts. Failure to address issues raised by divorce proceedings will often result in unfavorable or undesirable outcomes. In the third of our series about how divorce effects estate planningPlanning in advance of disability, incapacity, or death to make sure that key life issues have been addressed while the person is still of sound mind and able to understand and sign key documents such as Power of Attorneys, Power of Attorneys for Health Care, Wills, and Trusts to form a strategy and provide for the administration and disposition of his or her assets upon death or upon incapacity. … Read more »

• Nov. 13 2017

  Divorce and Your Last Will and Testament in Wisconsin

  In Wisconsin, divorce can significantly modify your estate planningPlanning in advance of disability, incapacity, or death to make sure that key life issues have been addressed while the person is still of sound mind and able to understand and sign key documents … Read more »