Jacqueline L. Messler

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.

• Free Consultation
• Credit Cards Accepted

Wisconsin

Since 2012

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.

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.

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

State Bar of Wisconsin

Member

Current

Milwaukee Bar Association

Member

2013 - Current

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

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

Unintended Beneficiaries, Weiss Berzowski Estate Planning Conference, Wisconsin Club

June 24, 2014

Probate vs. Revocable Living Trust: The Pros and Cons of Each, Weiss Berzowski Estate Planning Conference, Wisconsin Club

June 24, 2014

Recent Wisconsin Supreme Court Business Decisions, Weiss Berzowski Tax and Business Seminar, Wisconsin Club

September 18, 2013