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How Wisconsin Manages Divorces That Include a Business.

Facing divorce when you own a business near Random Lake, Mequon, or Sheboygan, WI, brings unique legal and financial complexity.

Although almost every divorce requires determining child support, custody, maintenance (also known as alimony), and division of marital property, the process can become significantly more complex for business owners, high-income earners, and those with valuable assets.

Our highly experienced and compassionate family lawyers fully understand the anxiety that comes with determining…
Continue Reading How Do Wisconsin Courts Handle the Division of Business Assets in a Divorce?

Imagine you are having lunch with a former employee. They have moved on to a new job with your company’s direct competitor. During the conversation, they casually say, “Hey, what if we exchanged contact information and lists of our (presumably) high-value clients?”  What do you do? Hopefully, you decline your former colleague’s request. In Wisconsin, when it comes to customer information—names, contact details, preferences, purchase history—that is not yours to share.
So What’s the Big Deal?
Customer information is…
Continue Reading Keeping It Confidential: Why Protecting Client Info Matters in Wisconsin Workplaces

If you’ve been hurt at work in Wisconsin and your claim has been denied, you might assume your doctor’s medical opinion alone will be enough to counter the opinion of the insurance company and its hired doctor. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. One essential document stands between your doctor’s assessment and getting the benefits you deserve: the WKC-16-B form.

This form is critical in documenting your doctor’s opinion on your work injury, your work restrictions, and your permanent disability,…
Continue Reading Think Your Doctor’s Opinion Is Enough to Beat a Worker’s Compensation Denial? Not Without This Form.

As the social stigma associated with mental health lessens each year, the rates of formal mental health diagnoses continue to rise. With a formal diagnosis, it becomes easier for a person to navigate a treatment plan and determine appropriate mental health services. The current cultural landscape shows that public awareness and advocacy for mental health will only continue to grow. Employers should consider taking a proactive approach to update their policies, practices, and accommodations to support employees’ mental health …
Continue Reading Reasonable Accommodation for Workers with Mental Health-Related Disabilities

Date and Time: November 6, 2025 8:00 am
Location: Hilton Garden Inn151401 Cty Rd NN, Wausau, Wisconsin

Presenters:
Sara J. Ackermann, Samuel J. S. Moheban, Mary Ellen Schill, Nicole L. Stangl, Morgan H. Sweeney
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Ruder Ware’s Annual Employment & Benefits Law Conference will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn (map and directions) on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
7:30 a.m.   Registration
8:00 a.m.   Welcome & Introductions
8:05 – 8:55 a.m.
Continue Reading Annual Employment & Benefits Conference 2025

If I Get Divorced in Wisconsin, Is There a Way to Keep My Inherited Assets?

Going through a divorce is a complicated process, and the thought of losing property, assets, or money that you inherited can add to the stress, but there are legal means to protect yourself.

In Wisconsin, the laws concerning property division are complex. Our empathetic and knowledgeable family lawyers understand you may feel concerned about protecting what’s yours. This is especially true for assets from…
Continue Reading Can I Keep My Inherited Assets in a Divorce in Wisconsin?

Employers who offer employee benefits in the form of qualified retirement plans should anticipate receiving a domestic relations order at some point. Upon receipt of a domestic relations order, whether in draft form or signed and certified by a court, there are certain regulatory requirements that a plan’s fiduciaries must follow. These requirements are imposed to ensure that:

  • The plan remains compliant with and protected under all relevant regulations;
  • Appropriate parties in the matter are afforded the property and

    • …
    Continue Reading Employer Considerations for Domestic Relations Orders (DROs)

    Today’s digital landscape is different, and it’s going to keep changing. Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue. With the rising frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks, businesses face not only operational disruptions but also significant legal liabilities. Simultaneously, individuals are becoming more aware of their rights when their personal data is compromised. This article gives you a short summary of what businesses must do to mitigate legal risks and what rights consumers have when data breaches occur.
    Continue Reading Cybersecurity and Legal Liability: What Businesses Must Do to Protect Themselves, and Your Rights When Your Data is Mishandled

    The beginning of summer often aligns with the beginning of the growing season for many Midwest farmers. With the rising temperatures, fruits and vegetables aren’t the only things growing this summer. The risk of heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and other heat-related injuries are a major risk for employees. So how do employers ensure that their workers stay safe during long days in the sun? State and federal agencies have developed recommendations and policies to answer this question.
    Occupational Safety…
    Continue Reading As Summer Heats Up, What Responsibility Do Employers Have to Cool Down Their Employees?

    At Axley, we understand that divorce involves a wide range of important interests and decisions. From finances and property ownership to child-related matters, no matter what decisions you are facing, having a clear understanding of Wisconsin’s laws is crucial.  
    As discussed in Part I of this series: Marriage in Wisconsin: What Laws Apply to Me?, when you marry in Wisconsin you are subject to the state’s laws and marital property designations.  
    This continued discussion is an…
    Continue Reading Divorce in Wisconsin: What Laws Apply to Me?

    The Trump administration’s U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) rang in May by publishing guidance directing DOL to stop enforcing a Biden-era rule (that itself had rescinded a DOL rule created during the first Trump administration) on the factors distinguishing independent contractors from employees. Although the Biden-era rule remains “on the books” for now while the DOL considers replacing it, the no-enforcement transitional period leaves employers to deal with uncertainty in classifying who are employees and who are independent contractors. …
    Continue Reading Are They Employees or Independent Contractors? The Test for Classifying Independent Contractors is Shifting Away from “Economic Reality”