Madison estate planning firms that build wills, trusts, and powers of attorney - what Wisconsin's marital property rules mean for your plan, what it costs, and how to choose the right attorney.
Updated August 16, 202511 min readEditorially independent
Estate planning in Madison comes down to two goals for most families: making sure your wishes are honored, and sparing the people you love a slow, public probate. Wisconsin probate can take many months and run up court and attorney costs, which is why many Madison plans use a revocable living trust to pass the home and accounts outside of probate. But Wisconsin adds a wrinkle most states do not have - it is a marital property state, so what each spouse owns and how it passes is governed by special rules a good estate planner builds around.
A complete plan usually pairs a will or trust with a durable power of attorney for finances and a health care power of attorney, so someone you trust can act if you become incapacitated, not only after you die. Wisconsin also has its own well-regarded statutory health care and financial power-of-attorney forms, and a marital property agreement can be a powerful planning tool for couples. If you own a home in Dane County, have minor children, or have a blended family, getting this right is real money and real peace of mind.
We built this shortlist from peer-reviewed directories - Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Justia, Avvo, and Expertise.com - and confirmed each firm has a working estate planning practice in the Madison area. Several attorneys below are recognized by Best Lawyers in Trusts and Estates. Call two or three, and notice who explains how Wisconsin's marital property rules and probate process affect your specific plan - that is where local expertise earns its fee.
How we picked these 8: We cross-referenced peer rankings and directories (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw) and each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm below appeared in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable Madison-area estate planning practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
Horn & Johnsen S.C.
Since 1991Estate planning centerMadison
Practice focus: Wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, and probate and trust administration
A leading Madison estate planning firm serving the area since 1991, Horn & Johnsen concentrates on wills, trusts, and the documents that make a plan complete. A focused estate planning practice rather than a general firm that dabbles.
Why they made the list: A strong first call for a dedicated, long-established Madison estate planning shop with a single-minded focus on planning.
Practice focus: Estate planning, wills and trusts, probate and trust administration, and elder planning
A Madison firm whose practice spans estate planning, wills and trusts, retirement plan trusts, probate and trust administration, elder planning for nursing home costs, and veterans pension planning. Useful when long-term care is part of the picture.
Why they made the list: A good fit when your plan needs to account for nursing home costs or elder care alongside the basics.
Practice focus: Estate planning, estate administration, and elder law for Wisconsin families
Dan Krause, a board-certified Estate Planning Law Specialist and retired Army JAG officer, has helped thousands of families with estate planning and administration since 1999. The board certification is a meaningful credential to ask about.
Why they made the list: A top pick if you value a board-certified specialist, especially where elder law and estate planning overlap.
Practice focus: Estate planning, probate, trust administration, and tax planning
One of the oldest law firms in continuous practice in Madison, founded in 1931, Murphy Desmond pairs estate planning and probate with strong tax capability and offices in Madison, Janesville, and Appleton. Good for plans with a tax dimension.
Why they made the list: Consider it when your estate is larger or tax-sensitive and you want planning and tax advice under one roof.
Fee structure
Flat fee for standard plans; complex estates billed hourly
Estate & business planningCharitable givingMadison
Practice focus: Estate planning, business succession, charitable giving, and probate and trust administration
A well-known Madison firm advising clients on estate planning, business planning, charitable giving, and probate and trust administration. The breadth is helpful when your plan ties into a business or significant charitable goals.
Why they made the list: A good fit when estate planning overlaps with business succession or charitable giving you want done right.
Fee structure
Flat fee for standard plans; complex matters billed hourly
Practice focus: Estate planning, trust administration, and probate
A large regional firm with an estate planning, trust administration, and probate practice working from a downtown Madison office on West Main Street. Bench depth and resources for the years of administration after a plan is signed.
Why they made the list: Worth considering if you want a larger firm with an in-house trust and probate team behind your plan.
Fee structure
Flat fee for standard plans; complex matters billed hourly
Practice focus: Estate planning and administration, marital property law, and business succession planning
Partner Johanna J. Allex leads estate planning and administration work at Stafford Rosenbaum's Madison office, covering marital property law, business succession, and tax-exempt organization planning. Strong on Wisconsin's marital property rules specifically.
Why they made the list: A smart pick when Wisconsin marital property planning or a business succession is central to your estate.
Fee structure
Flat fee for standard plans; complex matters billed hourly
Estate planningSpecial needs planningMadison east side
Practice focus: Estate planning, planning for individuals with special needs, and estate and trust administration
Partner Chantelle M. Ringe practices estate planning, special needs planning, and estate and trust administration at Hill Glowacki on Madison's east side. A focused option when a beneficiary has special needs that require a careful trust.
Why they made the list: The right fit if you need a special needs trust or planning for a beneficiary with a disability.
Tell us about your family and your assets and we will connect you with a Madison estate planning attorney who can build a will or trust around Wisconsin's rules and keep your estate out of avoidable probate. Free and no obligation.
How to choose between them in Madison
Decide whether you need a will or a trust. Wisconsin probate is slower and more public than a trust-based transfer. If you own a home or want privacy and speed, ask about a funded revocable living trust; for a simpler estate, a solid will plus powers of attorney may be enough.
Ask how they handle Wisconsin marital property. Wisconsin is a marital property state, which changes how assets are owned and pass between spouses. A good Madison planner builds the plan around those rules - and may suggest a marital property agreement. Ask how they address it.
Get the whole package, not just one document. A complete plan pairs the will or trust with a durable financial power of attorney and a health care power of attorney. A 'will only' quote that ignores incapacity planning is incomplete.
Ask about credentials. Some Wisconsin attorneys are board-certified estate planning specialists or recognized by Best Lawyers in Trusts and Estates. It is not required, but it signals focus. Several firms above qualify - ask directly.
Pin down the flat fee and updates. Most Madison estate plans are flat-fee. Confirm the price, what is included, whether trust funding is covered, and what a future amendment costs after a marriage, birth, or move.
What estate planning help typically costs in Madison
Estate planning in Madison is usually flat-fee, which makes it one of the more predictable legal services to buy. Typical ranges:
Simple will-based plan: A basic will with financial and health care powers of attorney commonly runs $400 to $1,200 for an individual, more for a couple.
Individual living trust package: Often $1,500 to $3,000 for a single person - trust, pour-over will, and powers of attorney - depending on complexity.
Couple's / family trust package: Commonly $2,000 to $4,000 for a married couple's joint plan, which in Wisconsin may also address marital property.
Trust funding and marital property agreement: Retitling assets into a trust, or preparing a marital property agreement, may be included or billed separately - ask the firm to spell it out.
Probate (if there is no plan): Wisconsin probate adds court costs and attorney fees and can take many months, which is what a trust-based plan is designed to reduce or avoid.
The flat fee for a will or trust is small next to the cost and delay of an avoidable probate. The real value is in a plan that is complete, funded, and built around Wisconsin's marital property rules - so ask what is included before you compare prices.
How long it takes
Putting an estate plan in place in Madison is faster than most people expect - the work is front-loaded into a couple of meetings:
Initial consultation (1 meeting): You walk through your assets, your family, and your wishes. A good lawyer flags issues - marital property questions, a blended family, a special needs beneficiary, or a business.
Drafting (1-3 weeks): The firm prepares your will or trust, powers of attorney, and any marital property agreement, then sends drafts for your review.
Signing (1 meeting): You sign and notarize the documents with the required witnesses, usually at the firm. The plan is legally effective once properly executed.
Funding (weeks, if a trust): If your plan uses a trust, your home and accounts are retitled into it. This step makes the trust work - confirm who handles it and that it actually gets done.
Red flags to watch for when hiring a estate planning lawyer in Madison
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a win, a number, or a court ruling, walk away.
The disappearing senior partner. You meet a named partner at intake, then never hear from them again while an unsupervised junior runs the file. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a volume-mill signal.
No verifiable track record. Look for named results, peer rankings, board certifications, or bar recognition — not "we have helped thousands of clients."
Vague fees. Every legitimate firm will put the fee structure, what is covered, and what triggers extra charges in a written engagement letter.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most of the firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial call. Use it. Bring a written list and write down the answers, then compare across two or three firms before you sign anything.
Who, specifically, will handle my matter day to day? Get a name and a direct email, not just the firm.
How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the structure in writing before you sign.
What out-of-pocket costs am I responsible for, and when? Filing fees, records, and experts add up - ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes? A good lawyer gives a range; a weak one promises the high end.
How long will this take? An honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
What is my deadline, and is it at risk? Many estate planning matters carry hard filing deadlines.
How often will I hear from you? Set the communication cadence now.
What can I do to help my own case? The best lawyers will give you homework.
What is the worst-case outcome? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
What to bring to your Madison consultation
You will get more out of the first call if you arrive organized. For most estate planning matters, gather:
A short written timeline. Dates, names, and what happened, in order.
The key documents. Any contracts, letters, agreements, court orders, or filings you have received.
Your correspondence. Relevant emails, texts, or messages - and do not delete anything.
Any deadlines you know about. A court date, a signing deadline, or an agency notice.
Your questions. The 10 above are a good place to start.
If you are not sure whether something is relevant, bring it anyway. It is easier for a lawyer to set aside what does not matter than to chase down what you left at home.
Talk to a vetted Estate Planning attorney in Madison
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions about estate planning lawyers in Madison
Do I need a will or a trust in Wisconsin?
It depends. A will is simpler and may be enough for a modest estate, but it goes through Wisconsin probate. A funded revocable living trust passes your home and accounts outside probate, saving time and keeping things private. A Madison attorney can tell you which fits your assets and goals.
What does an estate plan cost in Madison?
Most plans are flat-fee. A simple will-based plan with powers of attorney runs about $400 to $1,200 for an individual; an individual living trust package is roughly $1,500 to $3,000, and a couple's plan is often $2,000 to $4,000, depending on complexity.
How does Wisconsin marital property affect my estate plan?
Wisconsin is a marital property state, so most property acquired during marriage is owned equally by both spouses, which affects how assets pass at death. A good estate planner builds your plan around these rules and may recommend a marital property agreement. It is a key reason to use a Wisconsin attorney.
What documents are in a complete estate plan?
Typically a will or a revocable living trust, a durable power of attorney for finances, and a health care power of attorney. Together they cover both death and incapacity, so someone can act for you if you are unable to. Wisconsin has its own statutory power-of-attorney forms.
Does a living trust avoid probate in Wisconsin?
A properly funded revocable living trust passes the assets titled in it outside of probate, which avoids the delay and public record of the Wisconsin probate process. The key word is funded - assets must actually be retitled into the trust for it to work.
Should I use an online form instead of a lawyer?
Online forms are cheap but commonly miss Wisconsin-specific rules - especially marital property - and fail at funding a trust, which is where plans break down. For a home-owning family, a flat-fee plan from a Madison attorney is usually money well spent.
When should I update my estate plan?
Review it after any major life change - marriage, divorce, a new child or grandchild, a death, a large change in assets, or a move to or from Wisconsin - and otherwise every few years. Ask the firm what an update or amendment costs.
What is a special needs trust and do I need one?
A special needs trust lets you provide for a beneficiary with a disability without disrupting their eligibility for needs-based benefits. If you have a child or relative who relies on those benefits, ask an estate planner - several Madison firms handle special needs planning specifically.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team
LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee.
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