Trust, Probate and Elder Law Group

Across the generations, the attorneys in Lathrop & Clark’s Trust, Probate and Elder Law Group have provided estate and other planning during a client’s lifetime, and administered those plans after the client’s death.

During a client’s lifetime, significant events, such as illness and disability, marriage, birth of children, and divorce, all trigger the need for planning. Our attorneys advise clients on the creation of Durable Powers of Attorney for financial purposes, and trusts for the management of an individual’s assets under a wide range of circumstances. Our attorneys also prepare Health Care Powers of Attorney and related documents.

We are also experienced in planning for long-term care and establishing temporary and permanent guardianships, conservatorships, and protective placements. In addition, if assisted living becomes necessary, including nursing home care, we assist our clients in protecting assets and maximizing the benefits available from government programs, including Social Security, Medicare, and other medical assistance programs.

Marriage or remarriage also creates the need for planning, to ensure appropriate property arrangements and the continued support of both spouses. Wisconsin law affecting the income and property of a husband and wife is complex, and may not reflect the actual intent of the parties. Our trust and probate attorneys assist individuals in creating Marital Property Agreements and Pre-Nuptial Agreements to ensure that the wishes of both parties are carried out.

Planning for the transfer of property at the time of death, and minimizing death and income taxes, can be accomplished through the use of wills, trusts and other arrangements. Our attorneys are experienced in assisting our clients in the use of various documents and other arrangements governing the transfer of value at the time of death including the naming of beneficiaries on life insurance and retirement plans and the use of forms of ownership with rights of survivorship and payable on death arrangements.

Careful planning and execution is also required for the transfer of a family-owned business or other special assets for which long-term family ownership is desired. With skillful individualized planning, our attorneys assist our clients in achieving their estate and succession planning goals.

The death of an individual can create significant death and income tax complications and the members of the Trust, Probate and Elder Law Group are experienced in creating strategies for reducing or eliminating both death and income tax consequences resulting from death. Upon the death of a family member, our attorneys assist families with post-death administration, including probate and trust administration or termination.

Our clients depend on us to protect their assets during their lifetime. They also depend on us to ensure that their assets are disposed of according to their wishes upon incapacity or death. With skillful, individualized planning, we help them accomplish those goals.