Planning for your own death is not something you want to do; however, an estate plan can protect your loved ones after you are gone. A Wisconsin estate planning lawyer can ensure your family is secure with a comprehensive and thorough estate plan. Since our founding partner, John McLario, opened this practice in 1953, the law firm of McLario has assisted families in Menomonee Falls and throughout Southeast Wisconsin with their estate planning needs.
As our practice and firm have grown over the years, so has our ability to provide you with reliable estate planning services in a wide variety of situations. Estate planning is not something you should delay. Make sure your final wishes are in place so your family is taken care of after you are gone. Our Wisconsin attorneys put you and your family first. Contact our lead estate planning attorney, Al Spiegel, for a free initial consultation.
An estate plan has 3 main purposes:
When you have an estate plan you will feel prepared knowing that your wishes will be fulfilled, and your loved ones will know that you cared enough to make sure there is one less thing to worry about during an already stressful situation.
1 in 3 Americans without an estate plan say they don’t have anything to leave behind. *
*Daniel Cobb (2022). 2022 Wills and Estate Planning Study by Caring.com.
Most people think that they don’t need an estate plan unless they have young children or a large amount of assets. Here is why anyone 18 years or older should have an estate plan.
An experienced and trustworthy estate planning attorney will review all of your assets to determine what will transfer based on the contract and what if anything could trump what you have outlined in your will. Our attorneys will ensure everything is accounted for and will operate how you intend without surprises.
Do you want your three children to receive equal amounts, or do you wish for each grandchild to also receive equal inheritances to be distributed later? There’s a big difference!
Even a small gift might negatively impact someone who is receiving government benefits. Instead, you can create a “special needs trust” to support a special needs child or an adult that is receiving social security, Medicare or other government assistance.
Take control of what happens to you if you become incapacitated. A power of attorney is a legal document that allows you to appoint a person or organization as an agent to manage your medical, property, or financial affairs if you cannot do so yourself.
Continue ReadingWhen you are gone, who will protect your family? You still can. Documents like wills, trusts, and power of attorney are extremely useful legal tools. They shield your spouse, children and grandchildren from a drawn-out legal process by simplifying, streamlining, or eliminating the probate and guardianship process.
Continue ReadingProbates and trust administration in Wisconsin requires careful attention to detail and a comprehensive knowledge of the law. Because we have extensive background in estate planning and experience drafting wills and trusts, it allows our Wisconsin attorneys to provide reliable and effective representation in probates and trust matters for you and your family.
Continue ReadingOne of the most important parts of the estate planning process is tax planning. As part of our estate planning services, we can provide valuable advice concerning estate taxation matters. Our Wisconsin estate tax attorneys help you obtain the maximum benefit from tax exemptions during your lifetime. So, you can preserve the value of your estate for loved ones.
Continue ReadingReading Time: 3 minutes There is no time like the present to check out where your estate plan stands, and how Milwaukee estate planning attorneys can help you avoid headaches or misunderstandings down the line.
Learn MoreReading Time: 3 minutes After a loved one’s passing, their belongings and assets are usually left to their loved ones. However, confusion and arguments can arise if they have not made proper arrangements but how wills, trusts and probate really work can feel confusing and overwhelming and is often something that we don’t like to discuss. Here’s what you need to know and if you find you still have questions how a Menomonee Falls estate planning or probate lawyer can assist you.
Learn MoreReading Time: 2 minutes Grandchildren are amazing, and you want to ensure yours will have something to remember so your legacy lives on and perhaps that they have an easier life than you had. It’s easier than you think.
Learn MoreReading Time: 2 minutes At the McLario Firm we believe that everyone 18 years old or older should have a plan in place in case they are incapacitated and unable to make their own decisions. At this point as a legal adult your parents don’t have automatic rights to your health care information and to make decisions on your behalf without taking extra steps which might cause additional stress and take critical time when decisions often need to be made quickly.
Learn MoreReading Time: 5 minutes Drawing up a trust is an area where experience counts, but that doesn’t mean you need to go to a large national law firm. On the contrary, many large firms have dropped this practice, and some of the savviest trusts and estates attorneys have their own firms or practice in small and moderate-size law firms.
Learn MoreReading Time: < 1 minute Now that you’ve learned all about your options, and have started thinking about how you want to handle your estate, it’s important to take action. There are three main ways to get started:
Learn MoreReading Time: 8 minutes We’ve all watched that scene in a movie in which the family gathers around to hear the reading of a loved one’s last will and testament. The document is intoned, everyone listens solemnly, and we assume everything’s taken care of. So it’s no wonder that most Americans write a will to indicate their wishes regarding inheritance and leave it at that.
Learn MoreReading Time: 4 minutes When most people think about estate planning, the first type of document that probably comes to mind is a will—and for good reason. Wills are generally the centerpiece of an estate plan, allowing people to direct how their property should be divided and who should get it after they die.
Learn MoreReading Time: 4 minutes If you haven’t done any estate planning—i.e. finalizing legal documents to manage and pass on property and set out wishes for end-of-life matters—it should be on your list of priorities. But before you call an attorney or start drafting documents on your own, it’s important first to understand some of the basic arrangements involved in estate planning, and the protections and assurances they can provide.
Learn MoreReading Time: < 1 minute No matter what stage of life you are in, estate planning is essential and ensures all those close to you are taken care of. An estate plan is a legal document that helps care for your loved ones after death or during incapacity. As we celebrate simplicity day, we want to make it as simple as possible to create your estate plan.
Learn MoreWhen you contact our Milwaukee area law firm, your case will be treated like a unique request for assistance.