Wills, estates, probate and trusts in Wisconsin

Wisconsin wills, estates, probate and trusts lawyers frequently refer personal injury cases to the firm, but such attorneys also receive referrals from the firm.  Some Wisconsin lawyers just dabble in Wisconsin wills, estates, probate and trusts and even worse are businesses selling forms for Wisconsin wills or Wisconsin trusts, books claiming to give crash courses in estate planning, do-it-yourself forms and so-called free legal advice.  The best lawyers recognize that the days of the "general practice" are gone.  Thus, as part of the firm's goal to deliver complete service and satisfaction, the firm recommends and refers clients to Wisconsin wills, estates, probate and trusts attorneys.

Wisconsin lawyers focusing on estate planning and probate are best-suited to plan, draft and review estate plans involving your home, investments, real estate and assets.  Whether your estate is worth $50,000 or $500,000, you need attorney advice to protect your wishes and guard family security.  A look at the numerous probate forms used in Wisconsin courts or Wisconsin estate, inheritance & gift tax forms should be enough to realize the need for an attorney. 

Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (I.L.I.T.) are just one example of estate planning tools that you can establish with a qualified probate attorney.  For about $500.00 or so, a lawyer can help you save your family tens of thousands of dollars in federal taxes and/or Wisconsin estate taxes.  Basically, the lawyer helps you change the ownership of your life insurance policy.  Instead, your Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust will own the policy.  Doing this right will keep the value of the life insurance policy ($100,000, $500,000, or more) from being included in your estate when you die and keeping that money out of your estate will keep it from being subject to federal estate taxes and Wisconsin estate taxes.  The life insurance proceeds simply stay in the ILIT for the benefit of the beneficiaries you designate.  If you have been wise enough to purchase life insurance to protect your loved ones, then you should be wise enough to see an estate planning lawyer to help you put your policy into an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust.

If you want help finding a qualified lawyer, call the firm at (262) 785-0802 or send an email to attorney@frankpasternak.com to get a referral to a Wisconsin attorney.

Probate attorneys in Wisconsin are best qualified to assist and advise clients in planning, drafting and reviewing items and areas involving:

Estate lawyers in Wisconsin are able to explain: how you should title your property; the ins and outs of probate; whether you should have a living trust; how you need to pay federal and Wisconsin estate taxes and may best protect your assets from taxes; who should be named guardian of your minors; when living wills or personal healthcare directives are needed; whether a Wisconsin tax professional or Wisconsin CPA is needed to complete the complex tax forms; how lifetime events, like remarriage and nursing home admission, affect estate plans; and recent changes to Wisconsin estate taxes and federal tax law.

Related links:

Internal Revenue Service

Abusive Tax Shelters

Social Security

Wisconsin Department of Revenue

Probate Forms for Wisconsin Courts

Estate, Inheritance & Gift Tax Forms for Wisconsin

If you wish to know whether the firm can help with a Wisconsin personal injury or wrongful death case or need a referral to a attorney practicing in another area of Wisconsin law, please call (262) 785-0802 or send email to attorney@frankpasternak.com.