An estate plan should provide for management of your assets and property during any period of incapacity, as well as the payment of final bills and taxes, and the distribution of your remaining assets to your beneficiaries after your death.  The different kinds of assets that make up your estate (such as bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance, real property, and any assets in trust) should be coordinated in any well-crafted estate plan so that each of your beneficiaries receives what you intended.  An estate plan may also be crafted to reduce or eliminate estate and income taxes to maximize the value of assets that are distributed to beneficiaries.  Finally, a well-crafted estate plan may also address the need for healthcare decisions to be made on behalf of you and your spouse during any period of incapacity.

What happens if I have no will?  Under Wisconsin law, without a will (or appropriate trust or marital property agreement) all of your money and property (after paying creditors) that does not pass by a beneficiary designation (for such assets as a retirement account, insurance policy, or payable-on-death bank account) will be divided by the county circuit court among your surviving family members as specified in statute.  If you have no surviving family members, your property and money subject to distribution by the county circuit court will be distributed to the state of Wisconsin to be added to the capital of the school fund.

There are many reasons why you may wish to draft a will including:

(a) distributing your money to family in a way that varies from what would otherwise be done under statute;

(b) distributing your money to family, but placing restrictions on the money (parents often place restrictions on how and under what circumstances their minor child(ren) will receive their inheritance);

(c) specifying who will be the guardian of your minor child(ren) if you die;

(d) specifying who will serve as trustee for any trust created for the benefit of your child(ren) or grandchild(ren) (a trust can permit you to place restrictions on how and under what circumstances a child(ren) will have access to money placed in trust);

(e) specifying who will be responsible for overseeing the payment of final expenses and distributing money as specified in the will;

(f) providing for a partial distribution of your money to individuals or charities other than family;

(g) selecting who would receive your money if all of your family members predeceased you; and

(h) providing for the specific distribution of certain sentimental or cherished belongings to family members, other individuals or charities who would otherwise not receive them under the statutory formula.

[This list is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather is intended to serve as a starting point for you to consider whether you may or may not be in need of a new or updated will (or appropriate trust or marital property agreement].