Waukesha Wills Lawyer: Personalized Estate Plans For Your Life’s Work

Your home, possessions and other assets are at the core of who you are. They represent your life’s work and protecting them is essential. A will ensures your loved ones are cared for according to your wishes. Attorney Ashley Lillesand-Leonhard, founder of Lillesand Leonhard Law LLC, seeks to give clients the peace of mind that comes from knowing their wishes will be honored.

Since 2007, her work as a lawyer has been focused on helping clients in Waukesha and Milwaukee counties create estate plans that include personalized wills. For professional legal will services, schedule your free consultation today.

What Happens If I Die Without A Will In Wisconsin?

If you die intestate in Wisconsin, the state determines the distribution of your assets through a legal process called intestate succession. This default plan may not align with your wishes. During intestate succession, Wisconsin law prioritizes inheritance in this way:

• If you have a spouse and children: Spouse and children inherit
• If you have children only: Children inherit (no spouse)
• If no spouse, children and other relatives only: Parents, siblings and other relatives Inherit

Ashley can help you sidestep this cookie-cutter approach. Why leave it to chance? Let a wills attorney help. Together, you’ll craft a will that fits your unique family situation and ensures you, not the state, decide who inherits your assets.

Challenges To Intestate Succession

Intestate succession can be complicated and gives way to various issues, such as:

• Loss of control: You won’t have the opportunity to express your wishes and the state’s default plan might not align with your intentions.
• Family conflict: Disagreements can arise among loved ones about asset distribution.
• Guardianship decisions: You won’t be able to choose a guardian for your children.
• Specific bequests: You can’t leave items to specific people.
• Public process: Probate is a public process, meaning your financial affairs become an open record.

In addition to these stressors, dying without a will usually means your estate will likely go through probate. Probate is the court-supervised process of administering an estate. You can avoid this process with a will, saving your family time, money and unnecessary stress.

Steps To Creating A Will In Wisconsin

If you’ve decided to create a will, you’re on the right track. Here’s a quick checklist to guide you through the process: 

• Choose a personal representative to manage your estate
• Designate your beneficiaries
• If you have minor children, name a guardian for them
• Specify bequests to people or organizations you care about
• Sign and witness your will according to state law
• Store your original will safely, ensuring your executor knows its location

Consult with a wills attorney like Ashley. She can guide you through each item on this checklist. She can also ensure your will meets all of Wisconsin’s legal requirements.

How Can You Ensure That Your Wishes Will Be Respected After You Pass Away?

The first step in ensuring that your will meets your goals is ensuring that it is valid in the state of Wisconsin. A will must be signed by the person making it and witnessed by two people who will not benefit from the will. Failing to meet these requirements could result in disputes about the will or the will being declared invalid by the court.

However, this is only the first step. Providing clear instructions is essential. If the will is unclear or confusing, loved ones may disagree on the intent of your will. This can lead to fights and even legal challenges. It can be particularly helpful to have the guidance of an experienced attorney when creating your will because they can ensure that your will communicates what you want it to. They can also help you avoid ambiguity.

Choosing the right person to carry out those instructions is also crucial. Choosing the right personal representative is key because they carry out the instructions in the will under the oversight of the Waukesha County Register in Probate. They will also handle the estate during the probate process. Your attorney can help you make informed decisions about who will take on this role, ensuring that they have the financial and personal skills to perform these tasks with integrity.

Naming guardians is also very important if you have underage children. This decision needs careful thought because they are the people who will care for your loved ones after you are gone. It is essential that you choose someone who will raise your child with the values and care that you want.

At Lillesand Leonhard Law LLC, attorney Ashley E. Lillesand-Leonhard understands that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to estate planning. That is why she makes sure every document reflects the values and wishes of Waukesha residents. From building a valid will to choosing the right people to manage your legacy, she can help you make informed choices that offer you peace of mind. Lillesand Leonhard Law LLC provides personalized advice that helps families make these big decisions, making sure their will fits their needs and values.

How A Milwaukee Wills Attorney Can Help

Creating a will isn’t a one-and-done thing. Your life changes and your will needs to change with it. A Lillesand Leonhard Law LLC wills attorney can guide you through the necessary adjustments. Your will should also integrate seamlessly with other estate planning tools, such as powers of attorney, as well as trusts. It all comes down to having a solid, comprehensive estate plan, which Ashley can help you create.

To start the wills preparation process, schedule your free consultation today. Call her Waukesha-based estate law firm at 414-488-6511 or inquire via email.