Help Your Heirs Avoid Probate With a Living Trust

dictionary picture of probate meaning
Probate can be an extremely time consuming and expensive process that is best avoided whenever possible. With this in mind, it is essential to work with an estate planning professional to safely and confidently plan ahead for the future. A living trust can be a great option when it comes to considering the future and
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I Don’t Have Children – Do I Really Need an Estate Plan?

I Don’t Have Children – Do I Really Need an Estate Plan
Many people who have no children wonder whether they really need an estate plan. After all, when they’re gone, does it really matter? For people who have no children, it can be even more important for them to have a good estate plan in place. Often, the default provisions of Wisconsin law that apply in
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Steps to Prepare for End of Life

person jumping up steps to the end
Many people neglect to take all of the necessary estate planning steps prior to their death, leaving their loved ones to clean up the mess. Currently, more than half of all American adults do not have a will or any other form of estate plan in place. In this situation, your loved ones will not
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What To Do With Your Digital Assets Before You Die

laptop and iphone on table with a cup of coffee.
We live in a modern, digital world where a large portion of our lives take place online. With this in mind, it is important to remember your digital assets when organizing your end of life plans. Instead of leaving a digital mess for your family or friends to clean up, consider some of the many
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What is a Special Needs Trust?

special-needs-trust spelled out on keyboard key
A Special Needs Trust, also sometimes referred to as a supplemental needs trust, allows the beneficiary, an individual with special needs, to receive necessary financial assistance or support without risking their eligibility for public assistance programs. Many public assistance disability programs require the individual’s income to remain below set limits. The assets in a Special
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Essential Estate Planning Documents

Essential Estate Planning Documents with pen
Thinking about your end of life plans is often uncomfortable and many people would prefer to put the process off as long as possible. However, whether you are in your 20s or you are in your 90s, there are a handful of essential estate planning documents that everyone should have in place. First, it is
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A Coordinated Estate Plan

You may have already sat down with an attorney and created a Trust but do you know if any unexpected aspects of your life will work against it? There is more to estate planning than simply creating a Will or establishing a Trust. Making sure all the parts of your life align in order to
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Protecting Your Property from Nursing Home Care Costs

According to Genworth, the national annual median cost for a nursing home facility is $93,075 for a semi-private room and $105,850 for a private room. A common concern for many individuals and families is that they may require nursing home care in the future, which could deplete the hard-earned assets of their estate. Title 19
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How to Start Downsizing an Estate Before The End

A good thing to keep in mind is that you don’t have to wait until the end to start downsizing an estate. While you or an elderly family member is still alive, you can start to go through the estate and make decisions that will help ease the transition after death. Take Inventory (of everything!):
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2021 Avvo Clients’ Choice Award!

We are excited to announce that our very own Dera Johnsen-Tracy has won the 2021 Avvo Clients’ Choice Award! This exciting achievement is because of all the exceptional, quality work that Dera provides to her clients everyday. Dera is a shareholder and co-founder of Horn & Johnsen SC and she is a 2008 graduate of
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