Arbitration is a procedure used in the resolution of legal disputes outside of the traditional court system. In arbitration, the parties agree to submit their disputes to one or more persons, known as “arbitrators” or an “arbitration panel.” An arbitrator is someone, usually a former judge or a lawyer with significant experience in an area […]
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Effective July 2, 2013, Wisconsin eliminated its Building Contractor Registration Program.[1] The Building Contractor Registration Program was eliminated in connection with the passage of Wisconsin’s Biennial Budget Act. A new statute was also enacted that prohibits the Department of Safety and Professional Services from creating or enforcing any administrative rule that would require any person […]
Historically, if a person is no longer able to make decisions regarding their health or finances, one had to commence a legal proceeding to have the person declared incompetent. The court then appointed a guardian and, to some degree, played a supervisory role over the guardian’s decisions and actions. People often created Powers of Attorney […]
Effective January 1, 2013, pursuant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 26 U.S.C. § 1411 imposes a 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax on individuals, estates and trusts which have “Net Investment Income” and modified adjusted gross income above specified statutory threshold amounts. For individuals, the tax is imposed on the lesser of: (A) […]
Wisconsin is a marital property state, and the applicable laws are set forth in the Marital Property Act (the “Act”), codified in Chapter 766 of the Wisconsin Statutes. The Act determines the property rights of married spouses during life and at death. The Act applies to a married couple after their “determination date,” which is […]
In a durable power of attorney, the principal appoints someone to oversee his financial affairs, including in the event he becomes incompetent as a result of injury or illness. A broad durable power of attorney may authorize the agent to take any action as fully and effectually in all respects as the principal could do […]
Federal tax law allows a special manufacturing deduction, which provides incentives to keep jobs and manufacturing activity in the United States. The State of Wisconsin has disallowed this special deduction for state tax purposes over the past several years; however, with the passage of the 2011 Wisconsin Budget, an income tax credit has been included […]
A discussion of long-term care planning will inevitably include a discussion of one or more of the following: Countable Assets: Assets which are available to a Medicaid applicant and not exempt. A person’s eligibility for Medicaid depends upon the amount of his or her countable assets. A single person can only have $2,000 in countable […]
Please be advised that Wisconsin’s Concealed Carry Law goes into effect on November 1, 2011. In just a few days, your employees and visitors, provided they receive a license, will be able to carry concealed weapons into your businesses and in your company vehicles unless you properly elect otherwise according to the new laws. As […]
The NLRB has delayed the deadline for employers to post a new controversial notice to their employees informing them of their rights, including the right to organize, under the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”). Previously, the deadline for posting this notice was November 15, 2011, but amidst employer confusion, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) […]
