As a new lawyer handling (what I assumed was) an easy settlement disbursement meeting on a small personal injury case, I vividly recall learning that the client was on Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and then leaving the room to ask one of our firm’s estate planning and elder law attorneys, “Is this going to be an issue?”

Aside from having the good – and increasingly rare – fortune of being part of a general practice firm where I could…
Continue Reading Knowing the Intersection of Settlements and Public Benefits

  • Legislators in several states are considering certificate of need (CON) reform over the next year. According to a recent article, legislators in Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee are considering a complete repeal of their CON laws.
  • Ascension Saint Thomas announced more than $537M in capital investments to improve medical facilities across Middle Tennessee. The investments include updates and expansions to existing hospitals as well as new construction of hospitals and freestanding EDs.
  • MOB investments surged to $2.7B in

    • …
    Continue Reading Weekly Hospital Real Estate Briefing: Several States Consider CON Reform | Sanford Health Receives $300M Gift | Sutter Health Announces Flagship Hospital

    W-2s and 1099s will not have new fields this year, but the IRS has now provided guidance on how employees can still claim tax deductions for tips and overtime pay.

    This is our fourth update on the evolving tips and overtime tax deductions under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). We’ve previously covered the overall impact on your compensation strategy, the proposed rules on qualified tips, and the initial transition relief on reporting requirements.

    As…
    Continue Reading IRS Announces 2025 Documentation Workarounds for Tips and OvertimeDeductions (Notice 2025-69)

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    On October 31, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued its calendar year (“CY”) 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (“MPFS”) final rule (“Final Rule”), announcing finalized policy changes for Medicare payments under the MPFS and other Medicare Part B (“Part B”) issues, effective on or after January 1, 2026. The Final Rule is largely consistent with what was previously shared in CY 2026 proposed rules, with a few modifications as a result of public comment. Several…
    Continue Reading Key Highlights from the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

    This year has been a busy one for me, and I’m not alone. Every elder law and special needs attorney I know is busy. The demand for our services is always increasing, the supply of our time ever scarce. Admittedly, being too busy is a good problem to have – but a problem nonetheless. A Packed Agenda is a Wellness Problem When your calendar looks like the master caution panel on
    Apollo 13, it’s stressful. It takes time…
    Continue Reading Saying No to New Clients: How Elder Law Attorneys Manage Their Workloads

    A Guide from HQ Law

    When a loved one passes away, families often face not only emotional hardship but also financial uncertainty. One of the most common questions we hear at HQ Law is:
    “How do I know whether my loved one had a life insurance policy?”
    In many cases, life insurance policies go unclaimed simply because survivors don’t know they exist. And even when a policy is located, beneficiaries may face a denied or delayed claim.

    This guide…
    Continue Reading How to Find a Lost Life Insurance Policy — And What to Do If Your Claim Is Denied 

    Physicians spend years building a thriving practice—but many overlook the estate planning steps that protect their business, income, and family if something unexpected happens. The result? Court delays, tax headaches, operational chaos, and personal exposure.
    Here are the top 10 estate planning mistakes doctors commonly make—and how to avoid them.

    1. Not Having a Business Continuity Plan
    Without a continuity plan, your practice could shut down immediately if you become incapacitated or pass away. Patients, staff, and revenue would…
    Continue Reading Top 10 Estate Planning Mistakes Doctors Make

    Corporate executives in Wisconsin often receive a large portion of their compensation through restricted stock units (RSUs), stock grants, or employer equity awards. As your shares vest, they can quickly become a significant part of your net worth—and with that comes complex questions about taxes, transfer planning, and probate exposure.
    One of the most effective strategies to gain more control over how your vested shares are handled is transferring employer stock into a trust. For Wisconsin executives,…
    Continue Reading Should Executives in Wisconsin Put Employer Stock Into a Trust?

    When negotiating any type of contract, it is important to give due attention to all terms, even topics that appear merely ministerial or administrative, as their interpretation may have serious implications in the performance of the contract. The Wisconsin Court of Appeals recently analyzed a right of first refusal agreement (“ROFR Agreement”) on the sale of a property after one party failed to comply with its notice provision. The decision underscores the importance of understanding and adhering to all…
    Continue Reading Importance of Complying With Contract Notice Provisions

    Here is an update from Attorney Emily Dudak Leiter of The Law Center, S.C., regarding Davis v. Ermold and Moore:

    As most have heard already, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal constructed by Kim Davis and Liberty Counsel, which was attempting to overturn Obergefell and marriage equality. The Supreme Court declined to review the case last week, and they did so without comment. That is a huge relief. That means nothing is imminent.

    I wanted…
    Continue Reading Update Regarding Davis V. Ermold And Moore

    We’re proud to announce our Fiduciary Services Administrator, Kristi Parker, recently earned her Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA) designation from the American Bankers Association. This accomplishment highlights Kristi’s role within Ruder Ware’s Fiduciary Services team, which provides independent, objective support for trustees, executors, and families navigating estate and trust matters.The post Kristi Parker Earns CTFA first appeared on Wisconsin Business Attorneys.
    Continue Reading Kristi Parker Earns CTFA

    A strong workers’ compensation defense strategy begins long before a claim is filed. After all, an unexpected claim can costly regardless of industry. Strategic and proactive measures to prevent accidents coupled with an understanding of how to manage the claims that do arise are indispensable tools for businesses.

    In a recent webcast, two of our workers’ compensation attorneys shared their insights and best practices to help employers confidently manage claims and achieve favorable outcomes.
    Key takeaways from this presentation…
    Continue Reading Key Takeaways – Prevention to Resolution: Managing Workers’ Compensation Claims With the End in Mind

    I imagine a lot of you got into law for the same reason I did – I wanted to help people and make a decent living while doing it. It hasn’t always been easy, whether it is a difficult client or a difficult issue.

    Now, after 37 years of practice, I’m preparing to retire with one clear certainty: we are better lawyers when we’re not alone.

    I’ve been thinking about what made the difference over these decades. It wasn’t…
    Continue Reading We Are Better Lawyers When We’re Not Alone

    One of the hardest decisions estate planning clients face is naming the guardians of their minor children. In fact, in my experience, the inability to reach such a decision can greatly frustrate the estate planning process for clients, leading them to delay, postpone, or even abandon the process entirely. Although this decision is incredibly important, it can be modified in the future should circumstances change. It is far better to nominate a guardian in your will and then modify…
    Continue Reading 7 Factors to Consider When Choosing Guardians for Minor Children

    Happy early Thanksgiving week from all of us at OG+S.

    As we head into the season of gathering and gratitude, we want to take a moment to thank the clients, colleagues, and community partners who make our work meaningful. Your trust, collaboration, and commitment to doing great work together is something we never take for granted.

    This year, we’re especially grateful for the relationships that allow us to solve complex challenges, support growth, and show up as true partners.
    Continue Reading A Thanksgiving Note of Gratitude

    For generations, Wisconsin cranberry farms, like potato farms, have been more than businesses—they’ve been legacies. Passed down through families, these farms are rooted in tradition, hard work, and deep community ties. But as the industry evolves and families grow, succession planning becomes not just a smart strategy, it’s essential.
    Unlike many other sectors, retirement is rare among cranberry growers, as it is with potato and vegetable growers. Running a cranberry, potato, or vegetable farm is often a lifelong commitment,…
    Continue Reading Handing Down the Harvest: Succession Planning for Cranberry Growers