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1 Answer | Asked in DUI / DWI for Wisconsin on
Q: My name is Clara and I'm assisting someone with a legal situation. I would appreciate your help very much.

He was arrested in Wisconsin in 2012 for 7th offense OWI, (class "G" Felony). However, It is my understanding that in 2016, the penalties pertaining to this type of offense in Wisconsin became more severe, and now are designated class "F". There is an upcoming hearing but he has not yet been... Read more »

Michael Hayes
Michael Hayes answered on Apr 27, 2020

The applicable range of penalty for an offense is determined by the violation date, not the conviction date. The arrest record correctly shows a Class G Felony, punishable by a fine not to exceed $25,000 or Imprisonment not to exceed 10 years, or both. Section 939.50(3)(g). The initial confinement... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Wisconsin on
Q: How does a land contract work. The seller still has a mortgage on the house. What will happen if the seller dies. .

My father-in-law would like to sell my husband and I his house on a land contract. My father-in-law still has a mortgage on the house currently but he was diagnosed with Cancer and put on Hospice. Can we use a land contract to obtain the house.

Thomas B. Burton
Thomas B. Burton answered on Apr 27, 2020

You should examine the mortgage documents carefully. Usually, the bank will have a lien on the house, as a secured interest on the property, superior to all of the other lien holders. Therefore, if your father-in-law should die, his heirs (the people he names in his Will if he has one, or the heirs... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Wisconsin on
Q: My landlord has entered my unit multiple times without notice - what can I legally do?

I was unable to get a response from my property manager, so I filed a case with the state. They're willing to pay for damages, but only what they believe things to be worth.

Jason Anthony Greller
Jason Anthony Greller answered on Apr 23, 2020

Generally, a landlord can enter at reasonable times to inspect the premises, make repairs, or show the premises to prospective tenants. The landlord usually must give 12 hours notice before entry, unless immediate entry is necessary to preserve or protect the premises, such as in case of a fire or... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Social Security for Wisconsin on
Q: I am in Wisconsin. I receive SSI. I received a check from MetLife after my sister's death. I was a beneficiary. It was

$7900. I have to keep my resources under $2000 for SSI. I want to spend the money on my sister's funeral costs. Can I do that? What do I do with the check?

Thomas B. Burton
Thomas B. Burton answered on Apr 20, 2020

Hello, I am sorry to hear about the death of your sister. If your sister's Estate had no other assets, and there are funeral debts outstanding, then in a situation where you were not receiving SSI benefits you could use that money to pay for her funeral. However, normally, her Estate would pay... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Wisconsin on
Q: My mother recently passed, she did not have a will, and has very little assets (about $1200 after mo bills are pd).

No home, no car, no investments , no life insurance, no death benefit on her pension income, just household items. Do I have to set up a probate case? How do I handle her remaining medical bills. She has no other debt, just medical bills that exceed her assets. Do we have to sell her household... Read more »

Thomas B. Burton
Thomas B. Burton answered on Apr 20, 2020

I am sorry to hear about the passing of your Mother. In Wisconsin, for small estate less than $50,000 in value, there is a transfer by affidavit process to transfer assets when the total value of the estate is less than $50,000. In this case, if there are no financial assets, and no real estate,... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Wisconsin on
Q: May I pay my last rent with the security deposit? If not, what can happen if I do?
Jason Anthony Greller
Jason Anthony Greller answered on Apr 17, 2020

Generally, the security deposit may not be used to pay the last month of rent. Doing so may trigger a late payment charge. Given the current pandemic, you might consider contacting the landlord and discussing this option. They may be more lenient and understanding at this time.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Wisconsin on
Q: Commercial Real Estate LLC

I’m wondering if there is anything I can do? I had 36% ownership in a building. The other partners borrowed $1.5M against a paid building without notifying me. I never signed anything on the loan & found out 5 months later from St. MN. The bank loaned the money without an appraisal – after... Read more »

Jason Anthony Greller
Jason Anthony Greller answered on Apr 14, 2020

I'd recommend that you post this question to the Business Lawyer section as this matter appears to concern your rights and obligations as a member of the LLC as opposed to real property rights. The attorneys in that section may be better suited to assist you.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Wisconsin on
Q: I need to know if my sister was allowed to give my cousins money from our inheritance

No wills

Uncle Billy passed away estate years before my Uncle Bobby passed away. My mother inherited my uncle's bobbies estate because she was alive when he passed away So when my mother passed away my mother's inheritance from my uncle Bobby's estate went to her three children

My... Read more »

Thomas B. Burton
Thomas B. Burton answered on Apr 14, 2020

If both Uncle Billy and Uncle Bobby passed away without a Will, then the Estate of each one would be governed by the Wisconsin basic rules on intestate succession. Those rules are found here in Chapter 852.01. Under Chapter 852.01(2) there is a survivorship requirement, and that requirement is... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets and DUI / DWI for Wisconsin on
Q: Getting a license reinstated in another state

so I got my license revoked in Wisconsin because of a dui 2 years ago, I'm eligible for reinstatement starting tomorrow. I'm also moving to Illinois in 4 days, do I still have to pay reinstatement in Wisconsin, or can I just get my license in Illinois?

Michael Hayes
Michael Hayes answered on Apr 13, 2020

Section 343.38(1) of the Wisconsin Statutes requires you to comply with the reinstatement requirements, including paying a $200 reinstatement fee. The court ordered that the DMV revoke your operating privilege for 2 years, but this does not mean your privilege to drive is automatically reinstated.... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Medical Malpractice for Wisconsin on
Q: Is your doctor committing malpractice when they refuse to give post-operative care?

I had a medical procedure on March 13th 2020. On March 20th 2020 I was supposed to have my first post-op care check-up visit. Upon getting there basically the appointment ended up being just a meet and greet. They told me that the pandemic prevented them from giving me the treatment that I needed.... Read more »

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar answered on Apr 13, 2020

Hopefully, it will not come to that and hopefully, you will enjoy a healthy recovery. But your question is difficult to answer because it calls for speculation as to whether the physician's conduct amounted to a breach of duty. If something did go wrong, the conduct would be evaluated with the... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce for Wisconsin on
Q: I am living with a man who is still married but separated, in my house,does his ex have any rights to move in?
David N. Iancu
David N. Iancu answered on Apr 11, 2020

No, his wife does not have the right to move in to your home in this situation.

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Wisconsin on
Q: My tenant stopped paying rent. He has been there for almost 10 years. During the virus, what can I legally do?

He responded that he has been laid off since November, I asked if he will be paying. He is no longer responding.

Jason Anthony Greller
Jason Anthony Greller answered on Apr 10, 2020

Governor Evers’ Emergency Order 15 created a temporary ban on evictions.

Evers’ Order went into effect on March 27, 2020 and continues for 60 days.

1) Landlords are prohibited from serving any notice terminating tenancy for failure to pay rent.

2) Landlords are...
Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Wisconsin on
Q: with this virus thing going on and i cant pay it this month what happens to me
Marcos Garciaacosta
Marcos Garciaacosta answered on Apr 9, 2020

talk to your lenders, landlord, bank.

try to defer, negotiate, reduce.

everybody is in the same boat.

best luck

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Wisconsin on
Q: my brothers inherited our family farm the property was never split,my brother left his half to me how do i claim it
Thomas B. Burton
Thomas B. Burton answered on Apr 8, 2020

The answer to this question depends on whether your brother left you his half through his Will, or through a trust, or by deed. Depending on which instrument he used, you will need to examine the instrument itself. If he left it through a Will, it is likely a probate action will be needed in... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Gaming for Wisconsin on
Q: Are there any legal issues with running an online trivia game as a fundraiser?

I am an employee of a tax-exempt Catholic Parish in Wisconsin. I am considering doing a series of trivia nights through an online platform during COVID-19. These would be to raise money for the youth group, the mission club, etc. There would be an entry fee paid by credit card or debit card... Read more »

Jason Brooks
Jason Brooks answered on Apr 8, 2020

There is more to it than this, but generally, there are specific state and federal rules against hosting a lottery (i.e. a game of chance). If you're hosting a game of "chance" (as opposed to one of skill) there must be a "No purchase necessary to Play" option for EVERYONE eligible to play.... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Wisconsin on
Q: My landlord added an addendum to my current lease that says all previous six years addendums are still active. Is that

legal?

Jason Anthony Greller
Jason Anthony Greller answered on Apr 7, 2020

Generally, any Addendum to a lease is enforceable if the Addendum is properly made part of the lease, properly executed by the Parties and does not contain a provision prohibited by existing law.

1 Answer | Asked in Business Formation and Business Law for Wisconsin on
Q: A friend and I want to merge our separate LLCs within the next few years to make one business. Is this possible legally?
Gregory Byrnes
Gregory Byrnes answered on Apr 6, 2020

Yes, it is possible. You will want to review the Wisconsin LLC Law under "SUBCHAPTER XII MERGER; CONVERSION" - Here is the statute: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/183/XII/1207. If the other company is not a Wisconsin LLC, the steps may be different, but every jurisdiction I can... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Appeals / Appellate Law for Wisconsin on
Q: Hi is there a statue of limitations on appealing a general court martial
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar answered on Apr 5, 2020

You could repost this under the Military Law section. It is not an ordinary appeals matter in a civil court. You could also consider reaching out to military law attorneys you find under that section, or ones you find on your own independently on the outside to see if they could offer you a free... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Wisconsin on
Q: How long after moving out can you get charged for cleaning?

I moved out end of June 2019. I got my security deposited back within the 21 days as expected. I just got an invoice dated April 2nd 2020 for cleaning that supposedly happened on June 30th 2019. It doesnt included a receipt or anything proving they brought in the cleaner either. Can they still... Read more »

Jason Anthony Greller
Jason Anthony Greller answered on Apr 3, 2020

Arguably a landlord may return the security deposit in full and then seek contract damages. This makes some sense for the landlord because if the tenant challenges a security deposit violation then the landlord can be on the hook for double damages and tenant's attorney fees. In this case, if you... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Appeals / Appellate Law and Gov & Administrative Law for Wisconsin on
Q: Hi is there a statue of limitations on appealing a general court martial
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar answered on Apr 2, 2020

You should repost your question in the Military Law category. You're asking about something which is outside normal civilian appellate practice. Good luck

Tim Akpinar

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