On April 2, 2014, the United States Supreme Court struck down a cap on the total amount one individual can contribute to Federal candidates in a two year election cycle. This decision, with a new round of elections in the immediate future, will open the floodgates for “money talks” politics in the United States. The reasoning behind … Read more
Maintenance, which was previously referred to as spousal support or alimony, is a payment from one spouse directly to the other. It is entirely different than child support. By state statute, a Court can grant an order requiring maintenance payments to either party for a limited or indefinite length of time, after considering the following … Read more
On April 9, 2014, Wisconsin enacted the Wisconsin Social Media Protection Act. The Act protects employees by restricting employer’s access to individual’s social media information: There are, however, exceptions to the above restrictions. An employer is not prohibited from the following: The Social Media Protection Act makes it illegal to require an employee, job applicant or … Read more
Yesterday the Wisconsin Supreme Court declined to hear a petition brought by a same-sex couple seeking to strike down the State’s constitutional ban on gay marriage. A separate Federal lawsuit filed by eight same-sex couples remains pending in the Western District of Wisconsin in Madison. Nineteen states now allow same-sex marriage. These states include: Every … Read more
When an obligation was incurred before entry on active duty, the interest rate goes down to 6%, unless the creditor (bank, finance company, credit card issuer, etc.) can prove in court that the member’s ability to pay was not materially affected by military service. The term “interest” includes service charges. The new Act clarifies the … Read more
Parents who are going through a divorce, or are already divorced, know that one of the most contentious issues to contend with is custody and child support. Determining an appropriate amount for child support payments is never easy and often requires negotiations. One factor that can be easily forgotten in these negotiations, however, is how … Read more
It is natural to feel worried and anxious about what comes next when you are let go of your job. If you are lucky, your employer will offer you a severance package. This can be a great relief, but it is important to know what is included in a severance package before accepting it. Employment … Read more
If you are a worker who has been injured on the job, you might be wondering if you need to report your workers’ compensation income when filing your taxes. The good news is that most of the time, workers’ compensation is not considered taxable income. However, there are a few exceptions, so it is important … Read more
Have you been injured in an accident? If so, there’s a good chance you will be unable to return to work right away. When you can’t work, you can’t earn money. You will likely have extensive medical costs, too, including time in the hospital, surgeries, going to doctor’s appointments, medications, recovery, and more. If your … Read more