The Brady Bunch: What if Mike and Carol had no Estate Plan?
Wednesday, 14 September 2016
Many of us grew up watching The Brady Bunch, a popular family sitcom of the late 1960s to early 1970s revolving around a large blended family with 6 children, and many of us can also personally relate to the situation. Statistics show that more than half of all first marriages end in divorce and about 75%
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WISCONSIN RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE AND ONLINE FORMS DO NOT MIX
Wednesday, 03 August 2016
Before I start haranguing landlords about the hazards of using online forms, let me start at the beginning of why we have lawyers, laws, and even crazy laws. Lawyers are necessary in this nation of laws. Laws govern collective behavior from how fast you can drive to where you can build a building and whether
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Ten Reasons You Should Not Have a Living Trust
Monday, 23 May 2016
Have you ever considered creating a revocable living trust? If the following apply to you, you might want to reconsider… You want to make things as difficult as possible for your family members upon your death or incapacity. You want your children to fight over your estate when you’re gone. You want a lengthy public
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How Vacation Planning is Similar to Estate Planning
Tuesday, 12 April 2016
My husband and I just returned from a much-needed vacation to Cozumel, Mexico. When I considered the steps it took to get us there, it occurred to me that vacation planning is surprisingly similar to estate planning! From considering the type of vacation that made the most sense for our family, to researching options online,
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Considerations in a “Gray Divorce”
Sunday, 03 April 2016
Gray Divorce The frequency of “Gray Divorce” is increasing in Wisconsin. According to the Washington Post, in the last 25 years, the divorce rate for couples over 50 years old has doubled. The rate for those over 65 has more than doubled. As a Wisconsin divorce lawyer, I have noticed the changing demographic of my
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The Handshake Agreement is Worth the Paper it is Written On
Friday, 11 March 2016
Airplanes and Wills Co-ownership of an airplane is the cheapest way to fly. Many pilots start out in one of these. Variations of this type of ownership are flying clubs, fractional ownership, or unspoken agreements that more than one person fly an aircraft titled to one person. As the cost of aircraft maintenance and storage
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Common Questions About Medicaid and Medicaid Planning
Tuesday, 26 January 2016
What Is Medicaid? Medicaid is a need-based medical assistance program administered by federal and state governments. It provides a wide range of medical services to the aged and disabled. You cannot exceed certain income and resource limits if you wish to qualify for Medicaid; you will probably need to “spend down” your assets until you
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Even Vampires Need Estate Planning
Wednesday, 16 September 2015
I am often asked whether an estate plan is truly necessary, especially for those who feel they are too young to be concerned about death, incapacity or taxes. In my professional opinion, unless you can guarantee that you are not going to die or become incapacitated anytime soon, then yes, you do need an estate
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Three Common Estate Planning Mistakes Made with Real Estate
Wednesday, 13 May 2015
Estate planning truly is the ultimate gift for your loved ones, and a comprehensive estate plan should always include a review of the titles and beneficiary designations for all assets to ensure they are consistent with your estate planning objectives. Otherwise, unintended consequences may ensue. Real estate, in particular, can be the cause of serious family conflict
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How Can I Avoid Probate?
Friday, 20 March 2015
Estate planning truly is the ultimate gift for your loved ones, and a comprehensive estate plan should always include a review of the titles and beneficiary designations for all assets to ensure they are consistent with your estate planning objectives. Otherwise, unintended consequences may ensue. The manner in which your assets are held will determine whether or
- Published in Horn & Johnsen News