Milwaukee Estate Planning Lawyer

Looking to Set up an Estate Plan?

Areas we practice in: milwaukee estate planning Lawyers

Wills

Will is a document which expresses one’s “testamentary intent.” In simple terms, a Will sets forth how one wishes to leave his or her property, and on what terms, upon death.

Trust

A Trust is a contract that usually sets forth who will manage one’s assets, how bills are to be paid, and how distribution of one’s property is to take place upon death to your beneficiaries.

Durable Power of Attorney for Finances

The Durable Power of Attorney is a simple and reliable way to arrange for someone you trust to care for your finances given a scenario where you are incapacitated.

HIPPA Release

A HIPAA release form allows a trusted individual of your choice to obtain your medical information from a health care provider. Without filing a HIPAA release form, your health care provider will be unable to provide your medical information to anyone, even your spouse or close family.

 

Healthcare Power of Attorney

A Healthcare Power of Attorney allows you to choose someone that you trust to make healthcare decisions for you given a scenario in which you are incapacitated.

 

Declaration to Physicians (Living Will)

A Living Will ensures that your physicians respect your wishes, by outlining your wishes regarding medical treatment at the end of your life.

 

What is necessary to protect your estate?

What is Estate Planning?

Estate Planning is the process of arranging and managing your assets, property, and financial affairs during your lifetime and beyond. It involves making a comprehensive plan to minimize taxes, manage your assets, and provide for your loved ones after you pass away. Estate Planning is not only about distributing assets; it also encompasses decisions related to healthcare, guardianship for minor children, and other important matters.

Our promise to you

No two Estate Planning issues are exactly the same! We make sure to plan your estate with the upmost care. Our attorneys deliver responsive, professional and committed representation to plan the future of your estate. We have built our reputation on delivering personalized services that are designed to meet unique needs. 

Is an estate planning lawyer worth it?

The short answer: YES!
Probate Costs

Probate can consume 3-7% of an estate’s value in legal fees and court costs. For a $500,000 estate, avoiding probate could save $15,000 to $35,000.

Tax Savings

By utilizing tax-efficient estate planning strategies, significant savings can be achieved. For example, if a lawyer helps set up a charitable remainder trust that reduces the taxable estate by $200,000, this could save $70,000 in estate taxes, assuming a 35% tax rate.

Legal Dispute Costs

Family disputes over inheritance can lead to costly litigation. Legal fees for probate disputes can range from $10,000 to over $100,000. Clear estate planning can help avoid these disputes and associated costs.

Our Milwaukee Estate planning attorney process

  1. First things first, contact us! We want to hear from you, so we can set you up with our easy-to-follow Questionnaire. 
  2.  Fill out the Questionnaire! Our goal is to have all the information we need to create a more personalized plan on tackling your Estate Planning. 
  3. Schedule a meeting with our attorneys! The meetings take approximately an hour and a half, where we will go over your Questionnaire so that you know all of your options before before you leave our office. 
  4. Once you and our attorneys agree upon a plan of action, we get to work! Our office prepares all of the documents which you decided upon, keeping you in the loop along the way.
  5. Come in and Sign! Come into our office for your one-stop shop for signing your documents in the presence of witnesses. 
  6. Head out of our office with your estate plan in hand, knowing that your family’s future is protected!

Fill out your Estate Planning Questionnaire

EP Questionnaire - Single (PDF)
EP Questionnaire - Married (PDF)

The importance of an estate planning lawyer

Why you need your estate plan done:

An estate plan isn’t about the money… it’s about making sure you protect what’s most important to you: your family, your children, or your charities. Make sure you are doing what you can to ensure your final wishes are carried out exactly as you want. Many think Estate Planning is only for the wealthy, when in fact, everyone should consider some form of Estate Planning. Just as important as it is to plan your finances, emphasis should also be given to planning your Estate.

A solid Estate Strategy is composed of two main parts:

  1. A Financial Plan to build and manage your wealth
  2. An Estate Plan to ensure YOU – rather than the courts – control how to distribute your wealth when you pass.

Konstantakis Law Office, LLC can ensure that these crucial strategy elements are executed to protect what is important to  you. 

 

At Konstantakis Law Office, LLC it is our fiduciary duty and honor to plan and care for your estate. As your legal representative, we will prepare crucial documents that will accurately reflect your testamentary wishes and protect your family’s future.

We will use our knowledge of Wisconsin law to protect your assets until they are distributed to heirs of your choosing. This can take the form of deciding allotments of money, real estate, and securities owned by the decedent.

Our firm will also determine whether probate court proceedings are needed. While some clients’ assets are not able to be a part of probate, it is important to have an experienced attorney capable of streamlining the probate process. Seeking expert legal advice and establishing an estate plan is essential to ensuring you and your family are prepared for the unexpected.

REVIEWS

P.B.
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“Georgia and her team are exceptionally thorough and present the facts and how to solve your needs in a clear way. They will absolutely take care of your account with the utmost professionalism. I highly recommend!”
J.B.
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Georgia helped my husband and I work out our estate plan. Because of the age of our only child, she recommended a trust which we wholeheartedly agreed with. She was very meticulous and thorough with all the paperwork we would need. It is definitely peace of mind that if something were to happen to my husband and I, our young child would be completely taken care of - no details left to chance. Thank you, Georgia, for giving us excellent service with your genuine caring attitude. I have worked with a number of attorneys and few have your blend of professionalism and compassion.
G.F.
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I'm so glad I chose Konstantakis Law Office and had Georgia prepare my last will and testament and all the documents that go with it. She made it so easy and understandable! I am very happy I came here!
M.G.
M.G.
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Georgia is professional, knowledgeable, friendly, and explains things in ways that lay people can understand. I am seeing her for my will and trust and am so glad I met her.
M.G.
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Georgia is professional, knowledgeable, friendly, and explains things in ways that lay people can understand. I am seeing her for my will and trust and am so glad I met her.
T.K.
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Georgia created a trust and other Estate Planning documents for my wife and I and did a really terrific job. She made the process very easy, answered all our questions, many before I even asked them. She is a very experienced attorney and I feel fully confident in her work.
C.P.
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5 1/2 stars if I could! Amazing and easy to work with! GEORGIA AND HER TEAM were patient, kind, and explained everything to me prior to signing my estate plan documents!
G.Z.
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She has been so helpful with my estate plan! Legal language can be very difficult to understand and she explained everything in detail! I am so happy I hired her!
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Frequently asked questions about estate planning lawyers in Milwaukee

  • A Will only becomes effective after death, while a Trust can be managed upon creation. 
  • A Trust would distribute property owned, while a Will covers anything the person creating the Will has owned.  
  • A Trust is considered a private record while a Will is public. 
  • Find more information about Trusts and Wills on their respective sites.
  • Read our blog post about how to set up a trust in 5 steps.

This is known as dying “interstate.” Everything you have owned such as your property, will be sent to a probate court where it will be distributed. The court will follow the “interstate succession” laws, in order to appropriately distribute your possessions. 

This is when you would grant certain legal decisions and rights to another person. This can be helpful in circumstances in which you are not able to make your decisions for yourself.

Having a living trust doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t need a will. A will can complement your living trust by addressing certain matters that the trust might not cover. It’s important to work with an experienced Estate Planning attorney to ensure that your estate plan is comprehensive and tailored to your specific needs and wishes.

The probate procedure encompasses the following steps:

  1. Verification of wills’ authenticity
  2. Settlement of debts owed to creditors
  3. Dispensation of assets to beneficiaries as outlined in the will
  4. Engagement of an impartial intermediary for conflict resolution

Learn more on our probate page here.

Yes, probate records are open to the public. So the will of a deceased person is a public record within 30 days of their death. Read more about wills on our wills page.

Trust, on the other hand, are not publicly available and are a private record. Learn more about trusts on our trust page.

Yes, if you are the owner of a business, it is essential to create a business succession plan to ensure that the business’ stability and continuance into the future.

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