• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Krueger Hernandez & Thompson SCEstate

Attorneys at Law

  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • About The American Academy
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
    • Communities We Serve
      • Adams County
      • Columbia County
      • Dane County
      • Madison
      • Sauk County
  • Estate Planning
    • Asset Protection & Business Planning
    • ESTATE AND GIFT TAX FIGURES
    • Estate Planning Services
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Pet Planning
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration & Probate
  • Practice Areas
    • Business Needs
    • Divorce / Family Matters
    • Real Estate
  • Resources
    • Estate Planning Resources
      • Estate Planning Checkup
      • Estate Planning Definitions
      • Estate Planning Reports
      • Incapacity Planning Definitions
      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
      • Top 10 Estate and Legacy Planning Techniques
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Estate Planning FAQ’s
      • Frequently Asked Questions for Families Without an Estate Plan
      • Legacy Wealth Planning FAQ’s
      • LGBTQ Estate Planning Frequently Asked Questions
      • Trust Administration & Probate Frequently Asked Questions
    • LGBTQ Resources
    • Pre Consultation Form
    • Special Needs Resources
    • Trust Administration & Probate Resources
      • Bereavement Resources
      • How to Know if You Need Extra Help With Your Grieving
      • The Mourner’s Bill of Rights
      • Trust Administration & Probate Definitions
      • When a Loved One Passes Away With a Trust
      • When a Loved One Passes Away With a Will
  • Testimonials
    • Review us
    • Our Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Call Us Today (800) 431-9776
  • ATTEND FREE WEBINAR
    • Medicaid Planning
    • Estate Planning
  • Show Search
Hide Search
Home / Estate Planning Articles / Make Sure Your Dreams Don’t Turn Into Nightmares

Make Sure Your Dreams Don’t Turn Into Nightmares

Stephanie Thompson, Estate Planning Attorney of Krueger Hernandez & Thompson SC · Jul 31, 2011 ·

Compliments of Our Law Firm,
By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

Parents dream many dreams for their children.  These dreams often incorporate hopes that their kids will get a good education, embrace fulfilling careers, keep their good health, and find happy, stable marriages. Sometimes reality can play out more like a nightmare in this last instance, however, as more and more marriages end in divorce.

Even when our children have grown into the independent adults we have encouraged them to be, we still want to shield them from the worst nightmares of real life. The loss of family wealth through a divorce settlement is a trauma that can be mitigated, or avoided altogether, through the use of a Divorce Protection Trust.  When you leave your assets to your heirs using this type of Trust, that inheritance is not distributed outright, but the funds can still be used at your heirs’ own discretion. Since it is held in trust, the inheritance does not become marital or community property; therefore, in most states, no part of the inheritance is lost in a divorce.

You can also protect your children from the financial consequences of your spouse remarrying after your death. By sheltering the maximum amount that may be left free of estate tax for the benefit of your spouse and/or children in a Family Trust, rather than distributing assets outright, you can provide access to both principal and income for their needs. The assets in the Family Trust will be free of estate tax at your spouse’s death. A Marital Trust can also be set up to receive assets in excess of the maximum allowable funding of the Family Trust. You decide if your spouse can access the principal of the Marital Trust for specific purposes, or if they are entitled to income only.  In either case, the remainder of the Marital Trust will ultimately reach your own children and will not be available to the new partner of your surviving spouse or that partner’s family.

While you can’t ensure that your children’s lives are nightmare-free, through thoughtful estate planning, you can ensure that your heirs have the comfort of the inheritance you intend for them. An experienced estate planning attorney can help protect your kids from the financial consequences of divorce and remarriage.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Stephanie Thompson, Estate Planning Attorney of Krueger Hernandez & Thompson SC
Stephanie Thompson, Estate Planning Attorney of Krueger Hernandez & Thompson SC
As the owner of Krueger Hernandez & Thompson SC, it is Stephanie’s mission to address each client’s goals for their estate plan. By identifying their wishes and concerns she can educate, guide, and counsel on the different tools and options that will effectively and efficiently accomplish those goals.
Stephanie Thompson, Estate Planning Attorney of Krueger Hernandez & Thompson SC
Latest posts by Stephanie Thompson, Estate Planning Attorney of Krueger Hernandez & Thompson SC (see all)
  • Spring Summit 2022: Celebrating Friendship in the Lone Star State - June 15, 2022
  • What Makes a Will or Trust Invalid - June 2, 2022
  • How Estate Planning Documents Help Prevent Elder Abuse - May 26, 2022

MIDDLETON

8215 Greenway Blvd, Ste. 590
Middleton, WI 53562
United States (US)
Phone: (608) 824-9540
Fax: (608) 824-9140

BARABOO

120 Third Street, Unit A
Baraboo, WI 53913
United States (US)
Phone: (608) 356-3961
Fax: 608-824-9140

By Appointment Only
All Mail Should be Directed to the Middleton Address

Opening hours

Monday7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday7:00 AM - 5:30 PM

Map

map for Krueger Hernandez & Thompson SC Estate ofice

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

© 2022 · American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc. | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Contact Us