Ruder Ware

In today's complex business world, legal issues affect almost every business decision. Ruder Ware is a reliable single source of valuable legal expertise that helps business owners, managers, and individuals maximize and protect their corporate and personal financial assets.

With over 40 attorneys and 100 years of experience in serving business owners and individuals, Ruder Ware has established itself as one of Wisconsin's largest and most successful law firms. Through our offices in Wausau, Eau Claire, and Green Bay we guide our clients through intricate legal issues around the world.

At Ruder Ware, we work diligently to earn your trust by providing sound, responsible counsel to proactively manage and minimize legal matters so you can focus on your profit goals.

Website: https://www.ruderware.com/
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Latest from Ruder Ware

Carbon credits have been a hot topic around the country as a potential opportunity for extra farm revenue. However, like any contract, farmers should carefully consider the terms of a carbon credit sale before signing an agreement.

There are several terms that could trip up the unwary signer.

What is a “carbon credit?” A carbon credit is a fictional currency representing the farm’s credit for undertaking certain practices to sequester carbon in the soil. Typically, each credit represents about…
Continue Reading Carefully Consider Carbon Credit Contracts

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In a perfect world, business owners could spend all of their time and money focusing on a singular task:  running their business.  Despite the best laid plans, however, at some point ancillary concerns will arise and require—at least to some extent—that a business divert its resources to address and correct an issue.  One area of concern that is likely all too familiar is dispute resolution.  Business disputes may be either internal (i.e., shareholder disputes) or external (i.e., contract disputes). …
Continue Reading Resolving Business Disputes

On April 29, 2022, the IRS announced the Health Savings Account limits for 2023.  With respect to contribution limits, the limits are higher than the ones for 2022 and the required deductible and out-of-pocket maximums have increased as well.  As a reminder, these inflation adjusted amounts are effective for calendar year 2023

HSA/HDHP Requirement
Cost-of-Living Adjustments

Limit on HSA Contributions – Self-only HDHP

2022 – $3,650

2023 – $3,850

Limit on HSA Contributions – Family HDHP

2022 – $7,300…
Continue Reading 2023 HSA Limits Are Announced

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An invention developed by a business or individual inventor may have great value to that business or individual, either through the commercialization of the invention or by licensing the invention to others in return for a license fee. That value is greater if the invention can be patented, which prevents competitors from manufacturing or selling a competitive product that incorporates your invention. But how do you know when your invention is patentable?
To be considered patentable subject matter, the…
Continue Reading You Developed a New Invention – How Do You Determine if it is Patentable?

Over the past several years, many commentators, including members of this firm, have written extensively about the potential loss of recorded easement (or similar) rights due to the passage of time and failure of notice.  The alarm was raised because of specific provisions within the Wisconsin Statutes that were read to deem easements or recorded restrictions created more than forty years prior were possibly no longer enforceable. Or, more accurately, could be found unenforceable by parties who acquired ownership…
Continue Reading Wisconsin Offers New Safe Harbor for Old Access Rights

Do you prefer face-to-face meetings? Do you struggle getting through a phone tree or finding what you need online? Many of our clients receive Social Security Retirement benefits, Social Security Disability benefits, and various other benefits provided through the Social Security Administration (the “SSA”). Recently, Kilolo Kijakazi, the Acting Commissioner of Social Security, announced that local Social Security offices would resume in-person services on April 7,2022, including offering services to individuals without appointments. According to the SSA’s Closing and…
Continue Reading Local Social Security Administration Offices Open for Business Again

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Central Wisconsin Society for Human Resource Management 2022 Spring Conference – May 5, 2022
Holiday Inn & Suites, Wausau – Rothschild1000 Imperial AveRothschild, WI
Registration – 7:30 am – 8:25 am
Introduction – 8:25
Agenda:
Opening Keynote Presentation – 8:30 – 10:30Traci Schrek, Talent Optimizer – Talent Pathway Planning
The session will help you examine how individual behaviors impact the ability to achieve career goals. You’ll receive a complimentary Predictive Index Assessment to help learn about your behavioral drives and how…
Continue Reading 2022 CWSHRM Spring Conference

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Just as things were returning to normal after this past year, a resurgence of COVID-19 cases put a pause on the much-anticipated full return to pre-pandemic life.  But Wisconsin shows no signs of reverting to the “stay at home” level of lockdown that we faced in late-spring 2020. With warm weather returning, events will likely become more in-person. Landowners who either host or attempt to profit from attractions should be aware of potential legal concerns involved with doing so.
Continue Reading Know Event, Tourism Rules

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All one needs is a simple financial power of attorney … think again.
Wendell knew he needed a financial power of attorney document in order to ensure he named someone to manage his finances and take care of his farm if he was ever unable to do so on his own.

But Wendell was busy and didn’t want to take the time or spend the money to meet with an estate-planning attorney to discuss a power of attorney.  So…
Continue Reading Beware Too-Simple Forms

Spring officially begins on March 20th – less than one month away.  In Wisconsin, that means wedding planning is in full swing.  One important item on many wedding planning to-do lists is a pre-nuptial agreement.

We hear a lot about “pre-nups” in pop culture.  One of the most iconic pop culture references is in the song “Gold Digger,” by Kanye West.  The lyrics caution getting married without a pre-nuptial agreement, lest you lose half of your wealth upon divorce. …
Continue Reading Marital Property Agreements: They’re Not Just for Kanye West and Kim Kardashian

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Wendell knew he needed a financial power of attorney document in order to make sure he named someone to manage his finances and take care of his business if he was ever unable to do so on his own.

However, Wendell was busy and didn’t want to take the time or spend the money to meet with an estate-planning attorney to discuss a power of attorney.

He went online and printed off a basic power of attorney document, signed…
Continue Reading Online Document Forms Don’t Always Do the Job

“Protecting the Farm” is a common phrase associated with succession planning but employment considerations are just as important in protecting an agribusiness. Employment considerations include how to protect confidential information and skilled farm employees.

At-Will Employment

Wisconsin is an “at-will” employment state. That means both the employee and the employer are free to terminate the employment relationship at any time, without reason – with limited exceptions.

The at-will doctrine provides flexibility for employers – so long as it’s not…
Continue Reading Protecting the Farm: Employment Considerations

You likely are aware, from the news and our prior communications, that Congress currently is considering proposals that may have a significant impact on many estate plans. Although we still cannot be certain which, if any, of the proposed changes will become law, we want to provide you with an overview of their potential effect on many estate planning situations.

The Proposals

You may have heard about two proposals introduced in Congress last year. One is a bill sponsored…
Continue Reading Current Status of Federal Estate and Gift Tax Proposals

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Today the Supreme Court ordered that OSHA’s ETS be placed back on hold (a/k/a a “stay”) and sent back to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.  In its order, the Court‘s majority noted the ETS may have gone too far because it required employers to remedy a “public health” concern:
The Solicitor General does not dispute that OSHA is limited to regulating “work-related dangers.”  She instead argues that the risk of contracting COVID–19 qualifies as such a danger. We…
Continue Reading OSHA ETS Halted Again!

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As you all know, last Friday the Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding whether the OSHA ETS vaccine mandate should be upheld. The Court has not yet issued a ruling on this issue.  As of January 10, large employers need to be in compliance with all ETS requirements.  If an employer can show it is following all of these requirements, and is acting in good faith, then it has until February 9 to require testing for unvaccinated employees.  Yesterday,…
Continue Reading Reminder—the OSHA ETS is Effective Now!