Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need an attorney?
If you have a concern that may or may not involve the law, you want to consult an
experienced attorney to determine whether your case is worth pursuing.
Do I have to pay to talk to one of your attorneys?
No, initial consultations are free of charge.
What if I can't afford to pay to have an attorney represent me?
Sliding scale fees may be available based on submission of proof of eligibility.
How do you charge for your services?
Without sitting down with you to better understand your issue, it would be challenging
for us to predict exactly what it would cost for us to handle your situation. Typically
you'll find a wide range of fees, from hourly billing to costs contingent on the
outcome. What sets our firm apart is our commitment to getting to know you and understand
your situation at a personal level. The initial consultation is essential for us
to provide a cost estimate. Once the consultation in completed, you can feel confident
that the estimated cost we provide will not change dramatically unless something
in your case changes dramatically. We can also estimate the likelihood of any such
change occurring.
What should I bring to my first consultation?
You should bring any materials that you feel might be relevant to your question.
Bring any pictures, receipts, official papers or other evidence that touches on
your case.
How do you decide which cases to accept?
Our extensive experience allows us to determine the merit of your case. Use the
email address on our website, Paul@OflanaganLaw.Com, to send us a brief summary
of your legal issue. All emails are responded to promptly. Before we accept a case
we will discuss your situation with you on the phone, and if it seems that we can
be of service we will schedule a meeting with you to evaluate your case and possible
legal actions. The fact that we always thoroughly research a matter prior to engaging
another party in attempting a resolution gives us an edge.
Do I have a meritorious case?
Only legal counsel can provide the answer to this question. We will first conduct
an interview with you and then commence an investigation to determine the merit
of the case. Delays often occur in securing records and other documentation and
in the evaluation of the case. If we go forward with your legal issue to resolve
it, we will always provide either written or telephone updates regarding the progress
of the case.
Why should I spend the time and money to plan my estate?
By planning your estate, you will: Name a guardian. If you have children under age
18 you need to nominate guardians for your children. If you do not nominate a guardian,a
court will have to decide who is the best person to care for your children without
any advice from you. The court will chose a guardian who will control your children's
money, education and life style. Choose who will receive your assets. If you do
no estate planning your beneficiaries will be determined by Wisconsin statute. Allow
your beneficiaries to receive their property quickly. You can quicken the process
of distributing your assets by avoiding probate. Common ways to avoid probate include
titling assets jointly, using a revocable trust and using payable on death accounts.
Plan for incapacity. You can plan for your mental and physical incapacity. Durable
Powers of Attorney, Health Care Powers of Attorney and Living Wills are all documents
that allow you to make decisions while you are capable that will take effect when
you are incapable." Value="4. Plan for incapacity. You can plan for your mental
and physical incapacity. Durable Powers of Attorney, Health Care Powers of Attorney
and Living Wills are all documents that allow you to make decisions while you are
capable that will take effect when you are incapable. Keep costs down. Keep the
costs associated with transferring property as low as possible, leaving more for
your beneficiaries. Choose personal representatives and trustees. You know who you
trust to manage your assets once you are gone. Estate planning allows you to choose
people or institutions that you trust. Ease the burden of planning a funeral after
your death. You can relieve your grieving family members of the need to plan your
funeral. You can also arrange to cover the costs of your funeral before you die.
Help a charity. Your estate can make a donation to a religious, educational, medical
or other charitable group. Proper estate planning will ensure that the bequest is
made in the most tax efficient manner. Reduce taxes on your estate. Your estate
may be liable for estate and income tax. Proper planning can minimize the amount
due to the taxing authorities and maximize the amount passing to your beneficiaries.
Provide for people with special needs. Establish a special needs trust for a disabled
person that will not disqualify him or her from public benefits." elp your business
continue to run smoothly. If you are an owner or part owner of a business, you can
plan for orderly succession and continuation of the business. Help your business
continue to run smoothly. If you are an owner or part owner of a business, you can
plan for orderly succession and continuation of the business.