Estate planning and probate issues require knowledge of the law, experience and extraordinary attention to detail. At Kindt Phillips Friedman & Fremgen, S.C. our lawyers put their experience and knowledge to work for our clients in all types of estate planning, elder law and trust situations.

We will explain what probate is and how to divide your estate between probate and non-probate property. We will draft your will to simplify probate.

If you have minor children or other dependents, we will help you arrange for their care and financial security. We can help you evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of planning for medical assistance or family care benefits.

We will help you arrange a living will and/or healthcare and financial powers of attorney to protect you and your estate if you should become unable to manage your own affairs. If you have religious or personal preferences, we can tailor your healthcare power of attorney and other documents to meet your needs. If Medicaid is a concern, we can help you understand the benefits and risks of Medicaid plannig.

If probate is necessary, we can help your personal representative administer probate assets, prepare probate papers and file estate tax returns. If you have established a trust to avoid probate, we can assist individual trustees value and sell assets in preparation for investment or distribution.

Kindt Phillips Friedman & Fremgen, S.C., represents estate planning and elderlaw clients in matters involving:

Wills
Testamentary and Family Trusts
Business Succession
Estate Tax Planning
Charitable Giving
Living Wills
Healthcare Powers of Attorney
Financial and Durable Powers of Attorney
Guardianships
Living Trusts
Special Needs Trusts
Medicaid Planning and Long Term Care
Probate Planning and Avoidance
Probate Administration
And others

Effective Business Succession Strategies and Execution

Fashioning an estate planning strategy to transition a family-owned or closely-held business requires special abilities. Our attorneys’ experience in business law and commercial matters as well as estate planning, gives us a practical understanding of business operations, valuation and financing options. Combined with our estate planning skills, we help clients plan for the smooth transition of business ownership while treating other family members with fairness.

Probate and Probate Property

At your death, the law classifies your estate into probate property and non-probate property. Probate property enters probate and is distributed according to your will. If your estate is less than $50,000 or has only one major asset, probate is straightforward. Probate is not difficult or expensive unless your probate estate has more than a few items for which it is difficult to establish the original cost of purchase or present value.

Non-probate property passes directly to your heirs. Non-probate property includes any titled property indicating beneficiaries or survivorship rights. Real estate owned as marital survivorship property, bank accounts, retirement funds, stock accounts and life insurance can be set up as non-probate property.

You can avoid or minimize probate by holding non-probate property or establishing a living trust. We can help you understand which are the best methods for your situation.

A Long-Term Focus

Some clients with small estates are concerned about their rights if they need Medicaid benefits for nursing home care or other long term care. Medicaid planning can be beneficial, but may also involve substantial risks. We can help you understand the best strategy for your situation.
A Long-Term Focus.

The laws affecting estate planning, trusts and elder legal issues change with some frequency. We keep current with these changes and work with our clients over the long term to ensure that their estate plans take advantage of any tax and other legal developments as they arise. Equally important, we can help you avoid legal provisions that may lead to unintended results or affect the value of your estate. At Kindt Phillips Friedman & Fremgen, S.C., we believe that estate planning should not be a one-time event in a person’s life.

Christopher R. Kindt and Kennard N. Friedman handle our practice in the estate planning area. For a consultation with one of them at Kindt Phillips Friedman & Fremgen, call 920-231-1500 or contact us online.

Lawyers serving northeastern Wisconsin, including Appleton, Oshkosh, Neenah, Fond Du Lac, Menasha, and other communities in Outagamie County, Winnebago County, Green Lake County, Waushara County, Waupaca County, and Calumet County.

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