Spring is the season for cleaning and organization—and it can also be a good time for businesses to revisit their document retention policies. For any combination of paper files, emails, and digital records, having a thoughtful business records management strategy can help reduce risk, control storage costs, and ensure compliance with legal requirements.
As you review what to keep, archive, or dispose of, consider the following key issues.
Be Mindful of Litigation Holds
If your business is involved in
Continue Reading Spring Cleaning for Your Business: Consider Your Document Retention Practices
Fairness Is Personal: Estate Planning Lessons for Families with Unequal Assets
One of the most common issues that arises in estate and succession planning has little to do with taxes, documents, or legal mechanics. It’s family dynamics.
Parents often come into the process with the goal of being fair. But fairness is rarely as simple as dividing everything equally. When clients ask whether I think their plan is fair, I’m candid: my personal view doesn’t matter. What I can offer is perspective into how other families in similar situations typically approach these decisions, and what tends to be considered “status quo.” That judgment, grounded
Continue Reading Fairness Is Personal: Estate Planning Lessons for Families with Unequal Assets
What to Do When Your Prior Authorization Is Denied—And When to Call a Lawyer
Across the country, lawmakers are increasingly scrutinizing a health insurance practice that frustrates patients and doctors alike: prior authorization. A recent report by NPR highlights how states are stepping in with new laws designed to curb delays, reduce denials, and hold insurers accountable. For patients, this shift could be the difference between getting timely care and facing dangerous delays. But even with these reforms, wrongful denials still happen—especially as insurers increasingly rely on automated systems and artificial intelligence.
This
Continue Reading What to Do When Your Prior Authorization Is Denied—And When to Call a Lawyer
Not Monkey Business: The Scopes Trial Still Has Lessons to Teach
Emily Kelchen took a moment to ponder the long-term impact of her own legal work during the 100th anniversary of the Scopes “Monkey” Trial in Dayton, Tennessee.Photos: Emily Kelchen.
I’m a sucker for historic courthouses. So, when I realized I lived within easy driving distance of Dayton, Tennessee,
location of the Scopes “Monkey” Trial – and that 2025 was the 100th anniversary of the trial – I couldn’t wait to plan a visit.
The local community had
Continue Reading Not Monkey Business: The Scopes Trial Still Has Lessons to Teach
Workers’ Comp Pay for Follow-Up Appointments: Employer Guide
Aside from initial treatment, does workers’ compensation cover nonexempt employees’ time off to attend follow-up appointments related to their injury?
Short answer: Missed work time may qualify for temporary disability or partial wage‑replacement benefits when the appointment is injury‑related and cannot reasonably be scheduled outside working hours.
By way of brief background, workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance benefit that provides two core benefits for employees injured on the job: (1) medical care reasonably necessary to treat the injury;
Continue Reading Workers’ Comp Pay for Follow-Up Appointments: Employer Guide
Attorney Shanna Fink Elected to the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation
Ruder Ware is pleased to announce that Attorney Shanna Fink, has been elected a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (ABF). Membership is limited to just one percent of lawyers licensed to practice in each jurisdiction. Members are nominated by their peers and selected by the ABF Board.
The ABF Fellows is a global honorary society that recognizes attorneys, judges, law faculty and legal scholars whose public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the highest principles
Continue Reading Attorney Shanna Fink Elected to the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation
UNDERSTANDING PUBLIC RECORDS IN WISCONSING FAMILY LAW
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Navigating a divorce, custody dispute, or restraining‑order case can feel overwhelming – especially when you’re worried about who might see your personal information.
In Wisconsin, most family‑law matters are public records, but “public” doesn’t mean every detail is freely available online.
Attorney Kyle Kaufman breaks down exactly what’s accessible, what stays private, and how you can proactively protect your privacy while moving forward with confidence in this article.
Check out attorney Kaufman’s YouTube video via
Continue Reading UNDERSTANDING PUBLIC RECORDS IN WISCONSING FAMILY LAW
State Bar Board Discusses Budget, Approves Keller Reduction
March 4, 2026 – The State Bar of Wisconsin’s 53-member
Board of Governors (Board) discussed the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027) and set the
Keller dues reduction amount at its Feb. 27 virtual meeting. The budget arrived at the Board after Finance Committee approval and unanimous approval of the Executive Committee. Interim Director for Administration and Finance, Jackie Jacobson, presented the proposed budget, outlining the process that built it. The first round
Board of Governors (Board) discussed the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027) and set the
Keller dues reduction amount at its Feb. 27 virtual meeting. The budget arrived at the Board after Finance Committee approval and unanimous approval of the Executive Committee. Interim Director for Administration and Finance, Jackie Jacobson, presented the proposed budget, outlining the process that built it. The first round
Continue Reading State Bar Board Discusses Budget, Approves Keller Reduction
WISCONSIN CHILD SUPPORT MODIFICATIONS
One of the most common questions we hear from parents is simple:
“Can my child support be lowered?”
The answer is: possibly. But it does not happen automatically, and timing matters more than most people realize.
In this article, Family Law Attorney, Kyle Kaufman, provides insight on when you may qualify for a reduction in Wisconsin and what steps you should take if your financial situation has changed.
For additional depth, view his YouTube video at this LINK.
Continue Reading WISCONSIN CHILD SUPPORT MODIFICATIONS
USCIS Announces Registration Dates for Fiscal Year 2027 H-1B Cap Lottery
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the registration period for the fiscal year 2027 H-1B cap lottery will open at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 4 and will close at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 19. The registration fee for this year is $215 per registration.
New Weighted Selection Process
This year marks the first use of USCIS’s new weighted H-1B selection process. If the number of registrations exceeds the annual cap and a
Continue Reading USCIS Announces Registration Dates for Fiscal Year 2027 H-1B Cap Lottery
Elgersma Appointed Western District U.S. Attorney
Feb. 4, 2026 – Lifetime enforcer Chadwick M. Elgersma received appointment as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Justice on Monday. Chief U.S. District Court Judge James D. Peterson signed the order on Jan. 22. “I am honored to serve as United States Attorney,” Elgersma said. “I thank the Court, President Trump, and Attorney General Bondi for the trust they placed in me, and I pledge
Continue Reading Elgersma Appointed Western District U.S. Attorney
Can I Change My Child’s Last Name After a Divorce in Wisconsin?
Life after a divorce often brings a desire for a fresh start. For many parents in Sheboygan, Random Lake, and Mequon, this includes the question of whether a child can take on a new last name to match a restored maiden name or a new family structure.
While Wisconsin law allows adults to revert to a former legal name relatively easily during the divorce process, changing a child’s name involves a separate, more rigorous legal standard.
At HKK Law
Continue Reading Can I Change My Child’s Last Name After a Divorce in Wisconsin?
Age Discrimination Claims in the Workplace: Key Considerations for Employers
A significant element in proving an age discrimination claim in Wisconsin is that the claimant is 40 years old or older. With Wisconsin’s median age hovering right above 40, employers should be mindful of the rights of workers aged 40 and older to avoid exposing themselves to potential litigation.
Establishing an Age Discrimination Claim
The Wisconsin Fair Employment Act (WFEA) enumerates a wide variety of protected classes, one being a safeguard from age discrimination. The federal Age Discrimination in
Continue Reading Age Discrimination Claims in the Workplace: Key Considerations for Employers
Felicia Krueger Promoted to COO
Join us in congratulating Felicia Krueger on her promotion to COO. For more than ten years, Felicia has guided our accounting team with a focus on practical solutions and knowledge sharing, driving continuous improvement across the firm. She succeeds Jamie Schaefer, who recently retired from the COO role. Learn more about Felicia.The post Felicia Krueger Promoted to COO first appeared on Wisconsin Business Attorneys.
Continue Reading Felicia Krueger Promoted to COO
Protected Concerted Activity: Navigating the Rise of Employee Activism
From pay transparency to remote work, employees are increasingly vocal about working conditions, both in the office and online. The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) protects employees, union and non-union alike, when they engage in concerted activity to address terms and conditions of employment. Employers cannot discharge, discipline, or threaten employees for engaging in protected concerted activity. Given the rise of employee activism in the workplace, it is imperative for you to understand when you can and cannot lawfully
Continue Reading Protected Concerted Activity: Navigating the Rise of Employee Activism
WHO HAS CUSTODY IF THERE IS NO COURT ORDER?
If you are a parent who shares a child with another parent and you were never married to that parent, it is critical that you understand how Wisconsin law applies to your situation. The rules for custody and placement are very different for children born outside of marriage and misunderstanding them can have serious consequences.
Non Marital Children Under Wisconsin Law
When a child is born to parents who are not married, Wisconsin law classifies that child as a
Continue Reading WHO HAS CUSTODY IF THERE IS NO COURT ORDER?