Law Offices of Christenson and Allex, LLC

our mission.

Welcome to our website. We invite you to watch our welcome video and learn more about what we do, who we are, and how we can help you create a positive legacy for your family, your commmunity, and your environment.

Our Services

At Christenson and Allex, LLC, we empower our clients with the education they need to create a positive legacy. We review your situation, listen to your ideas, learn about your values, and determine how best to help you achieve a secure future. Contact us to begin creating your positive legacy.

Estate Planning and Settlement of Estates. We use several legal tools, such as Wills, Trusts and Powers of Attorney to meet your specific estate planning needs, and we can assist you with the probate process, whether you are an estate beneficiary or personal representative.
Elder Law and Special Needs Planning. We can assist you with Medicaid planning, special needs trusts and other legal services so that you can form a plan of care for aging family members or children who have special needs.
Nonprofit and Small Business Law. We provide a variety of services related to forming a non-profit organization or small business, such as business formation documents, partnership agreements, or education regarding Board of Directors and officer fiduciary duties.
Real Estate. We can help you prepare for buying or selling a home or condominium, represent you at closing, or assist you with the many issues that come up during or after a real estate transaction.

April 2012

Question: My husband has a son from a prior marriage and my husband doesn't have a will. Should I be concerned?

Answer: Yes. If your husband dies without a will, the intestacy law applies (Ch. 852), and his son could claim up to about half of all of the assets you and your husband own. You would only retain your half marital property interest in assets and be able to make some "spousal elections" related to personal property and your home. Unfortunately, the intestacy law applies to all assets, even assets with beneficiary designations. If your husband has a valid will, the intestacy law would not apply to ANY of the assets.

Question: My neighbor was appointed to be the personal representative of her mother's estate. What does a "personal representative" do and why is it important to nominate one?

Answer: A personal representative is appointed by a court after you die to make sure that your debts and creditors are paid and that your property is distributed according to your will or by the laws of intestate succession if you die without a will. The person serving as a personal representative does not need to be a lawyer or financial professional, but must be able to fulfill their duties with diligence, honesty and accuracy. You can nominate a person in your will to serve as a personal representative. If you die without a will or the person that you nominate is not able to serve, then a court will decide who to appoint. It is a good idea to nominate one or more people to serve as your personal representative in advance through your will so that you, rather than a court, can make this important decision.

March 2012

Question: My friends from UW and I are going on spring break. Is there anything I should bring related to my estate planning documents?

Answer: Yes. You should bring copies of your Health Care Power of Attorney and Living Will. If during your trip you need medical help and can't make your own health care decisions, these documents will provide the doctor with contact information for your health care agent, and also let the doctor know your desires about life sustaining care in the event your agent cannot be reached. Ideally, you want to carry these documents with you at all times and make sure that your agents have copies as well. You might also want to carry a card in your wallet or purse indicating that you have a health care agent and provide the contact information for your agent.

Question: Are there any reasons why I should not write my own will?

Answer: While you will save money if you prepare your own will, you or your family may find that hundreds or thousands of dollars in legal costs must be spent later if incorrect or incomplete language was included within your will. In addition, if you write your own will, you and your family may be faced with a result that you did not intend because of incorrect or incomplete language. Before you spend much time writing your will, we recommend that you consult with an estate planning attorney to discuss ways to minimize the costs associated with your estate plan.

A message from Iris and Johanna

A positive legacy...

your goal...

our mission.

Our Services

Question of the Month

April 2012

March 2012