Heather L. Spencer

My practice involves preparation of comprehensive estate plans which include wills, trusts, marital property agreements, powers of attorney and deeds. I also assist clients with Probate, Estate Administration and Trust Administration cases including preparation of Federal and Wisconsin Form 706 Estate Tax Returns and Federal Form 709 Gift Tax Returns, establishing and funding Credit Shelter Trusts, managing trustee and beneficiary expectations and preparing trust dissolution documentation.

I prepare Revocable Living Trusts, Spendthrift Trusts, Testamentary and Special or Supplemental Needs trust for my clients. Living Trusts are primarily used to control the distribution of assets at death without involving the probate court. Special Needs Trusts allow clients to gift money/assets to individuals who currently disabled or may be in the future. Testamentary Trusts are trusts established at death according to the terms of a Will and usually used to provide for education of an heir

Probate is the legal process by which the Probate Court supervises the distribution of a decedents assets to their heirs. I assist clients with completing the entire probate process. The probate process includes, but is not limited to, filing appropriate documentation, collecting and inventorying the decedent's assets, payment of debts and taxes, preparing an account of all expenses paid and distributing assets to beneficiaries named in a Will or heirs named by state law.

A Will is a written document which allows you to control the distribution of your assets after your death. A Will also allows you to appoint a personal representative to manage your affairs and appoint a guardian for minor or disabled children. A living Will, more accurately called a Declaration to Physicians, tells your physician whether or not you wish to be placed on a medical life support system if you are near death and there is no hope for your survival.