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Jacqueline L. Messler

Amundsen Davis LLC (merged with Davis & Kuelthau)

12 years of experience
Estate Planning, Probate
Wisconsin

Client Reviews

Keri Joy W. March 5, 2022

Outstanding Competence, Patience and Expertise I rarely take time to write reviews so I am especially delighted to have the opportunity to write this one about an attorney who helped us immensely and whom I highly recommend. I’m extremely satisfied that I chose Atty. Jackie Messler (“Jackie”) to advise and work with us on our Family’s complex living trust estate. I came across Atty. Jackie while searching for a really good – yet affordable – estate attorney to help untangle errors a previous attorney had made; someone who could work with both co-trustees to help meet our legal obligations with the least amount of stress. I initially called Jackie when I came across her excellent client reviews and recognized her extensive legal education and experience in Estates and Trusts. During our initial free consultation, I asked a pageful of questions to help determine whether Jackie was the right attorney for our situation. Our five trust beneficiaries all had major complications: Dual-state residency; Delayed distribution; a Possible divorce; Title 19 implications; and more. Jackie answered my questions **quickly** / **precisely ** / **knowledgeably** / **honestly**. From her answers it was evident she was as exceptional and knowledgeable as her reviews described her: Efficient (which lowers the legal cost); Pleasant without excess chit-chat; Excellent Verbal Skills; Exceedingly Patient. Recently when asked to share some blessings we experienced in 2021, the first one that came to mind was Attorney Jackie Messler. With all our trust complications and two trustees - along with a mentally and physically ailing sibling living in the house - I credit Jackie’s **Competence** **Patience** **Expertise** **Excellent Communication** **Quick reply time** to making our jobs as doable as possible for us. Although it may sound like no attorney could be as good as all of that, this is an honest, unexaggerated statement of my experience for the past year with this outstanding attorney.

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Biography

I assist clients with estate planning, probate, trust administration, pre-marital agreements, guardianship, and small business succession planning. Regardless of net worth, everybody should have an estate plan. I am happy to assist a range of clients: from the young couple who wants to do estate planning to appoint a guardian for their minor children to the multi-millionaire who needs estate tax planning.

Practice Areas

Estate Planning: Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills

Probate: Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Will Contests

Fees

Free Consultation
Credit Cards Accepted

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

Wisconsin
Since 2012

Languages

English

Professional Experience

Attorney: Amundsen Davis LLC (merged with Davis & Kuelthau); 2022 - Current; Davis and Kuelthau, s.c., merged with Smith Amundsen, to form Amundsen Davis in November 2022.

Attorney: Davis and Kuelthau, s.c.; 2016 - 2022

Attorney: Weiss Berzowski LLP; 2013 - 2016

Law Clerk to Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler: Wisconsin Supreme Court; 2012 - 2013; Assisted in drafting majority, concurring, and dissenting opinions. Completed research as necessary, including case law, statutes, regulations, secondary sources, and legislative history. Managed 2-3 interns each semester. Edited memoranda written by interns. Drafted memoranda to prepare the Justice for upcoming cases.

Law Clerk: Schober Schober Mitchell; 2010 - 2012; Researched and wrote memoranda and briefs on various areas of the law including estate planning, municipality law, 5th Amendment Takings, taxation, landlord-tenant, and farm ownership.

Education

Marquette University Law School: J.D. (2012) | Law; 2009 - 2012; Honors: CALI Award (highest grade): Taxation of Partnerships and S-Corporations; Taxation of Gifts, Trusts & Estates; Property. Pro Bono Society (Over 90 hours of volunteering).; Activities: Marquette Law Review: Articles Editor 2011-2012, Member 2010-11. Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel Quarterly: Student Editor 2011-12. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic. Estate Planning Society

Carroll College: B.A. (2009) | History; Political Science; 2005 - 2009; Honors: Honor Societies: Phi Alpha Theta, Pi Sigma Alpha. Eugene Haugse Award for Excellence as a Pre-Law Student.; Activities: Softball Team, Captain 2008-09. First & Second Team Midwest Conference Softball. Academic All Conference. Mock Trial Team, Captain 2008-09. Student Senate, Secretary & Finance Committee. Staff writer at The New Perspective. Phi Alpha Theta Midwest Conference Presenter: Urban II and the First Crusade.

Awards

Best Lawyer in Trusts and Estates: Best Lawyers in America; 2021

Wisconsin Super Lawyer, Rising Star: Super Lawyers Magazine; 2020

Best Lawyer in Trusts and Estates: Best Lawyers in America; 2020

Wisconsin Super Lawyer, Rising Star: Super Lawyers Magazine; 2019

Up and Coming Lawyer: Wisconsin Law Journal; 2016

Professional Associations

State Bar of Wisconsin: Member; Current

Milwaukee Bar Association: Member; 2013 - Current

Publications

Articles & Publications

Using Trusts to Protect a Beneficiary’s Inheritance From Creditors: LinkedIn; February 15, 2018

Fixing Irrevocable Trusts: LinkedIn; January 17, 2018

Estate Planning for Your Digital Property: Davis & Kuelthau; June 2, 2017

Powers of Attorney and Planning for Incapacity: LinkedIn; October 4, 2016

Simple Gifting Techniques: LinkedIn; September 27, 2016

Estate Planning is Particularly Important for Blended Families: LinkedIn; September 21, 2016

You've signed your estate plan, now what?: LinkedIn; September 14, 2016

Why Minor Children Should Not Be Contingent Beneficiaries on Insurance and Retirement Accounts: LinkedIn; September 7, 2016

I don't have any money, why do I need an estate plan?: LinkedIn; August 23, 2016

What is probate anyway and what are options for avoiding it?: LinkedIn; August 16, 2016

The Inconsistent Inheritance Rights of Adult Adoptees and a Proposal for Uniformity: Marquette Law Review; March, 2012

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Speaking Engagements

Estate Planning for Peace of Mind, Virtual Presentation: March 4, 2021; Alexian Village Coffee and Conversations

Preserving the Family Legacy Through Estate Planning, Family & Closely Held Business Summit, Italian Community Center: June 14, 2018; BizTimes Media

Trusts Used for Tax Reduction, Trust 101, Holiday Inn Milwaukee West: December 19, 2017; NBI

Planning for Transition in Your Family Business, Family & Closely Held Business Summit, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino: July 12, 2017; Milwaukee Biz Times

Estate Planning for Your Animal-Loving Clients, Wisconsin Humane Society, Milwaukee: June 9, 2016; Wisconsin Humane Society

Estate Planning for Your Animal-Loving Clients, Association for Women Lawyers, Estate Planning Study Group: May 18, 2016; AWL

Collecting and Valuing Probate Assets, NBI Probate Boot Camp, Country Springs Hotel: December 14, 2015; NBI

Educating the Personal Representative, NBI Probate Boot Camp, Country Springs Hotel: December 14, 2015; NBI

Collecting and Valuing Probate Assets, Milwaukee Bar Association Annual Probate seminar, Milwaukee Bar Association: October 23, 2015; Milwaukee Bar Association

So What Really Happens When You Die?, Weiss Berzowski Tax and Business Seminar, Wisconsin Club: September 16, 2015

Estate Planning for the Younger Generation, Weiss Berzowski Estate Planning Conference, Wisconsin Club: June 30, 2015

Estate Planning for Tangible Personal Property, Weiss Berzowski Estate Planning Conference, Wisconsin Club: June 30, 2015

The New Wisconsin Trust Code: Wisconsin's Uniform Principal and Income Act, Weiss Berzowski Tax and Business Seminar, Wisconsin Club: September 17, 2014