Alma's Matter

Having a will certainly won’t prevent you from dying, but it can prevent you from rolling over in your grave. The simple act of making a will can ensure that your values and priorities are applied to the distribution of your assets. 

Consider Alma’s matter: Alma died without a will.  She was survived by her husband, and two children from a previous marriage.  The court found that all of Alma’s property was “marital property,” and applied Wisconsin’s basic rules for intestate succession: it awarded Alma’s entire estate to her two children in equal shares, and awarded her husband absolutely nothing.  (Carroll v. Ansley, 2001 WI App 120.)  Do you think that Alma saw this result coming? 

What about you? Do you know what would happen to your property in the absence of estate planning? Would the “one-size-fits-all” intestacy rules yield a result that aligns with who and what you value? Let’s learn from Alma’s matter: a little estate planning can go a long way in ensuring that your loved ones and favorite causes are cared for – your family, your friends, your favorite charity, and even your alma mater.