Estate Planning
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Estate Planning
Milwaukee and Waukesha Estate Planning Attorney
It’s never too early to thing about estate planning. An accident can change your life without warning. Without basic estate planning documents such as powers of attorney or a living will, your family will not have the legal authority to make medical or financial decisions for you while you are incapacitated.
At any age of life, estate planning allows you to protect your assets, care for your loved ones and plan for incapacity. At our firm, lawyer Rollie R. Hanson provides comprehensive estate-planning services to families throughout southeastern Wisconsin, including West Allis and the Greater Milwaukee area.
Here are some examples of how your estate planning needs may change at different stages of life:
  • People of all ages should have powers of attorney to give a trusted person the ability to make health care and financial decisions for them if they are disabled. The should also have a living will or health care directive to communicate their wishes concerning end-of-life care if they are in a coma and unable to communicate for themselves.
  • Parents with minor children need a will or a trust to name a guardian for their children if they both should die. These documents can also direct how and when children will receive their inheritance.
  • People who have accumulated assets such as a home and vacation property should consider placing those assets in a living trust (also known as a revocable trust) to save their beneficiaries the time and expense of a probate proceeding if the should die.
  • Parents with a disabled child may wish to create a special needs trust to provide money for their child without making him or her ineligible for government benefits.
  • The elderly can use Medicaid planning to prevent their life savings from being wiped out by nursing home expenses.
While some lawyers take a cookie-cutter approach to estate planning, ever family is unique. At the Law Office of Rollie R. Hanson, we will take the time to get to know you so we can tailor an estate plan for your family and your assets.
Learn more about estate planning
If you plan to schedule an appointment with lawyer Rollie R. Hanson, for your estate planning needs, please feel free to click on the link below and download your estate planning questionnaire. This will help you to prepare for a meaningful consultation.
Estate Planning Questionnaire
Wills and Trusts
Powers of Attorney
Elder Law
Partner Protection Planning
Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples
Lawyer consultation
 
To set up an appointment to discuss guardianship of a loved one with lawyer Rollie R. Hanson, call 414-321-9733 or complete our simple contact form on this site. We are conveniently located in The Summit Place on Washington Street in West Allis.
 
Law Office of Rollie R. Hanson S.C.
The Summit Place
6737 West Washington Street
Suite 1420
West Allis, WI 53214
 
 
Elder Law
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Elder Law
Milwaukee and Waukesha Elder Law Attorney
As we age, many of us go through a period of incapacity. For family members and spouses, it can be a stressful time. At the Law Office of Rollie R. Hanson in West Allis, we can help reduce your level of stress through our elder law practice.
Elder law provides a set of legal and financial tools to protect your assets, care for your loved one sand plan for potential in capacity. Lawyer, Rollie R. Hanson, a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, provides counseling and advice to seniors and their throughout the Greater Milwaukee area and southeastern Wisconsin.
Mr. Hanson has gone through many of the elder law issues our clients face. When his mother developed health problems, he helped her relocate, find assisted living and make financial decisions. As his mother’s health declined, he helped her make the transition to long-term care in a skilled nursing facility.
Planning for incapacity
As you grow older, documents such as powers of attorney for health care and financial decisions become an essential part of your estate plan. If you become incapacitated and have not named an agent to represent you, your loved ones would have to go through the expense and delay of a guardianship proceeding to make health care and financial decisions for you.
You should give your agent sufficient authority to carry out the asset protection strategies you want them to do.
Protecting our assets
Many families are concerned that nursing home expenses will wipe out their savings. This can be especially true when one spouse requires long term care while the other spouse remains healthy at home. The community spouse will have great concern for protecting the assets to make sure he or she will have enough to live on. Attorney Rollie R. Hanson can help with Medicaid planning (also known as Title 19 planning) to help protect and preserve assets for a spouse and other beneficiaries instead of having it all go toward the expense of long term care.
Lawyer consultation
 
To set up an appointment to discuss your needs with lawyer Rollie R. Hanson, call 414-321-9733 or complete our simple contact form on this site. We are conveniently located in The Summit Place on Washington Street in West Allis.
 
 
Law Office of Rollie R. Hanson S.C.
The Summit Place
6737 West Washington Street
Suite 1420
West Allis, WI 53214
 
 
Wills and Trusts
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Wills & Trusts
What is a will?
A will is a written document that accomplishes three tasks” (1) it directs the distribution of your property after your death; (2) it states who will care for and distribute that property; and (3) it names someone to care for any minor children.
What happens if I die without a will?
If you die in Wisconsin without a will, state law says that your entire estate will be distributed to your spouse unless you have children from a prior marriage. In that case, your spouse receives half you estate while the remaining half is shared equally by all the children of your prior marriage.
If you do not have a spouse or surviving children when you die, the law lists the order in which parents, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, grandparents, grandchildren and other relatives will inherit property. The state school fund receives your property only if you die with no heirs.
What is a revocable living trust?
A revocable living trust is created by you to retain your assets before and after your death. During your lifetime, you will retain total control over your assets as the trustee of your trust. The trust will require that the successor trustee distribute the assets in the trust according to your wishes upon you death. If all of your assets are in the trust at the time of your death, there will be not need to probate your estate.
How much does it cost to set up a revocable living trust?
Depending on the nature and extent of your assets, it costs no more than $300-$800 to set up a revocable living trust, which is considerably less than the cost of a probate or guardianship proceeding.
Can I write my own will or living trust?
Yes, if you comply with Wisconsin’s legal requirements regarding witnesses. However, an experienced attorney would be able to give you the best advice regarding choices that you make in your will and clauses that should be included in your will to make sure your wishes are followed.
How do I change my will or living trust?
There are two ways to change a will. The first is to execute a new will. The new will replaces all previous ones (although it is not necessary, it is best to destroy all previous wills). The second way is to write a supplement, called a codicil, which amends your existing will. The codicil must be made with the same formalities requited for executing the original will.
Will I have to pay estate taxes when I die?
Estates of less than $650,000 are generally no subject to federal estate taxes although they may be subject to probate. Those who believe their estate will be worth more than $650,000 can take steps to avoid or reduce the estate taxes.
Lawyer consultation
 
To set up an appointment to discuss your estate planning needs with lawyer Rollie R. Hanson, call 414-321-9733 or complete our simple contact form on this site. We are conveniently located in The Summit Place on Washington Street in West Allis.
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Law Office of Rollie R. Hanson S.C.
The Summit Place
6737 West Washington Street
Suite 1420
West Allis, WI 53214
 
 
Living Trusts
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Living Trusts
Milwaukee and Living Trust Lawyer
 
A living trust (also known as a revocable trust) gives you the ability to both manage your assets while you are alive and to distribute those assets to your beneficiaries after you die. Attorney Rollie R. Hanson creates trusts for families throughout southeastern Wisconsin, including West Allis and the Greater Milwaukee area.
As the trustee, you retain total control over assets in al lving trust. Like a will, you can choose how those assets are distributed after your death. Placing assets in a trust provides for efficient and private estate planning.
Trust assets do not have to go through the probate process. Instead, assets are distributed according to your wishes by the person you name as your successor trustee. Avoiding probate saves time and money for your beneficiaries, and also keeps your family’s financial affairs private. In a probate proceeding, your administrator must file and inventory of the estate with the court and this document becomes public record. Placing assets in a trust keeps this information private.
Types of Trusts
There are many different types of trusts to meet your special goals.
  • Spendthrift trusts provide additional protection against creditors and allow you to attach conditions as to how and when you assets are distributed to heirs.
  • Generation-skipping trusts enable you to leave money for grandchildren.
  • A real estate trust saves your beneficiaries a lot of probate expenses, especially if you own property outside Wisconsin.
  • Pet trusts allow you to set aside money for the care of a beloved animal.
  • Marital deduction and life insurance trusts help your minimize or avoid estate taxes if you have a large estate. In Wisconsin, estate taxes are assessed on assets in excess of $675,000. Federal estate taxes are currently assessed on assets in excess of $2 million.
  • Charitable trusts allow you to set aside money for favorite charities.
  • Special needs trusts enable you to proved assets for a disabled adult child or family member without making them ineligible for Medicaid.
 
Lawyer consultation
 
To set up an appointment to discuss guardianship of a loved one with lawyer Rollie R. Hanson, call 414-321-9733 or complete our simple contact form on this site. We are conveniently located in The Summit Place on Washington Street in West Allis.
 
Law Office of Rollie R. Hanson S.C.
The Summit Place
6737 West Washington Street
Suite 1420
West Allis, WI 53214
 
 
Probate & Estate Administration
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Probate & Estate Administration
 
Milwaukee and Waukesha Probate and Estate Administration Lawyer
 
Being named as the personal representative or executor of someone’s estate is one of the highest compliments that any of us can receive. However, it is also a serious responsibility, one you would not want to undertake without legal advice. Attorney Rollie R. Hanson represents personal representative and executors throughout southeastern Wisconsin, including West Allis, Waukesha and the Greater Milwaukee area. 
 
What is a probate?
 
Probate is a court-supervised process with two goals:
 
·         To pay all outstanding debts of the deceased, including any federal and state estate or income taxes.
·         To transfer a deceased person’s assets to the beneficiaries named in the will (or to legal heirs, if there is no will).
 
The probate process protects the rights of creditors and beneficiaries of the estate. It ensures that one property is transferred to heirs or beneficiaries it is free from any creditors’ claims and any liens for estate or income taxes.
 
What types of probate are available?
 
Wisconsin offers informal probate and formal probate. If family members are in agreement about the terms of the will, then the informal probate process can be used. Informal probate usually takes from nine to 12 months sometimes longer if real estate needs to be sold. Formal probate proceedings can take longer and generally require more hearings before the court.
 
Are all wills subject to the probate?

Probate is required whenever property in excess of $50,000 passes under the provisions of a last will and testament.
 
How much does probate cost?
 
The probate process generally costs an amount equal to 3 percent to 5 percent of the assets of the estate. Such costs include lawyer fees, personal representative fees, bonding, publication and filing fees.
 
If the will is contested, the costs may be much more.
 
Will an attorney be necessary to probate my estate?
 
In a formal probate proceeding, it is necessary to have an attorney to represent the personal representative. In other types of probate, an attorney is not formally required. The staff of the county Register in Probate can help you obtain and prepare the correct forms. However, the register cannot evaluate your will or offer legal advice e.
 
A probate lawyer can guide you through the process and help protect you from liability as the personal representative or executor.
 
Can I avoid probate?
 
Yes. The most popular method of avoiding probate is by the use of a revocable living trust. By having your assets pass to your beneficiaries under a trust rather than a will, you can avoid a probate and save the costs of the proceeding.
 
Lawyer consultation
 
To set up an appointment to discuss probate or estate administration with lawyer Rollie R. Hanson, call 414-321-9733 or complete our simple contact form on this site. We are conveniently located in The Summit Place on Washington Street in West Allis.
 
Law Office of Rollie R. Hanson, S.C.
The Summit Place
6737 West Washington Street, Suite 1420
West Allis, WI 53214
 
 
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