Hurley Burish and Stanton, SC Attorneys at law

COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Approved Via FEMA

Author: Attorney Tom VercauterenPhone: 608-257-0945Email: tvercauteren@hurleyburish.com On Monday, February 8, 2021, US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Chuck Schumer announced that part of the December COVID-19 relief bill will include $2 billion in funds to FEMA for the reimbursement of funeral expenses for those who have died from COVID. Exact details are limited, but families […]

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Knives In – How Harlan Thrombey Could Have Saved Marta Cabrera

Author: Attorney Tom VercauterenPhone: 608-257-0945Email: tvercauteren@hurleyburish.com Spoiler alert: this article addresses some of the plot details of the film Knives Out. I’m something of a film buff.  I’ve been a big fan of director Rian Johnson ever since I saw his first feature length film Brick in theaters when I was in college back in […]

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What happens when a charity named in my estate plan goes defunct?

Attorney Thomas VercauterenPhone: 608-257-0945Email: tvercauteren@hurleyburish.com Recently, Dane County decided to end its partnership with the Henry Vilas Zoological Society, the nonprofit entity that supported the Vilas Zoo.  The county cited concerns regarding the large cash reserves that the nonprofit held and the accessibility of funds raised with the intention to support the zoo. Perhaps overlooked […]

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Craig Sager and the Age Old Estate Planning Question: To Probate or not to Probate?

Craig Sager was a popular sports reporter, primarily for the NBA, and perhaps best known for his loud attire and flashy wardrobe. Sager passed away from leukemia in December of 2016, survived by his second wife and five children (three from his first marriage and two from his second). Sager’s last will and testament, which […]

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Probate Proceedings and Fee Shifting

Authors: Attorney Thomas S. Vercauteren & Attorney Elizabeth L. Spencer Phone: 608-575-0945 or 608-257-0945 Email: tvercauteren@hbslawfirm.com, espencer@hbslawfirm.com While often overlooked in the context of a probated estate, attorney fees and costs may be available to the prevailing party of a contested matter. Recently, in Hartshorne v. Hurkman, 2016AP387 (Aug. 9, 2017), a three judge panel […]

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The Trustee’s Duty to Inform and Report

By: Attorney Tom Vercautern Email: tvercautern@hbslawfirm.com Phone: 608-257-0945 When reviewing your estate plan, it is important to evaluate whether any changes in the law or tax code have been implemented since the documents were signed. For example, the introduction of the revamped Wisconsin Trust Code in 2014 imposed several new duties for trustees and clarified […]

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Estate Planning FAQ: Internet Estate Plans

Author: Attorney Tom Vercauteren Email: tvercauteren@hbslawfirm.com Phone: 608-257-0945 Q: I have friends who did their Estate Plan on the internet. Should I do that? A: The past several years have seen a rise in the number of websites offering “self-help” estate planning services. These websites provide forms that individuals can use to prepare their own […]

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Healthcare Decisions Week

“Governor Scott Walker has proclaimed that April 16-22, 2017 represents Healthcare Decisions Week throughout the State of Wisconsin. In recognition, the State Bar of Wisconsin has provided, free of charge, their planning guide “A Gift to Your Family: Planning Ahead for Future Health Needs”  http://www.wisbar.org/forPublic/INeedInformation/Documents/A-Gift-to-Your-Family.pdf Hurley, Burish & Stanton, S.C. recognizes the importance of future […]

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Revised Planning for Future Healthcare Decisions

Authors: Attys John C. Mitby & Thomas S. Vercauteren & Law Clerk Elizabeth Spencer Phone: 608-575-4077 & 608-257-0945 Email: jmitby@hbslawfirm.com  or  tvercauteren@hbslawfirm.com   An estimated 80 percent of Wisconsin residents, including 50 percent of those with severe or terminal illnesses, do not have advance directives indicating preferences for end-of-life decisions.[1] Documenting your desires by completing […]

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