Angela M. Gonzalez, SBWCP, is a lifelong learner with a passion for adventure. After teaching English in Central Europe and earning her master’s degree, she earned her LLB from the University of London. Her experience as a paralegal in Budapest ignited her love for legal research and document drafting, which she continued to cultivate upon her return to the U.S. in 2009. Ms. Gonzalez’s diverse background enables her to easily connect with people and to excel in client communication.
As a State Bar of Wisconsin Certified Paralegal at Ruder Ware, Ms. Gonzalez specializes in trust and estate administration while drawing upon her knowledge of other areas of law to benefit clients. She is a member of the Paralegal Association of Wisconsin and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, and she gives presentations on probate and other matters to various educational organizations.
Beyond her legal career, Ms. Gonzalez is an avid reader, and alongside her husband, she is deeply committed to animal welfare, having rescued and rehabilitated numerous four-legged companions.
Ruth M. Ross is an attorney with Ruder Ware. While working at a local bank in Edgar, she saw firsthand how clients who’d just lost their spouse struggled with settling an estate when no pre-planning had been done. Their struggle and her desire to be part of their solution inspired her to attend law school and ultimately focus her practice on estate planning.
Attorney Ross’s well-rounded educational background and experience as an entrepreneur provide the context to help clients navigate real estate and small-business issues. At Ruder Ware, she assists clients in creating a plan that honors their legacy by identifying their goals and outlining how to distribute their assets and care for their families.
Attorney Ross grew up outside of Marathon and enjoys country life and the outdoors, including hiking, gardening, sailing, and canoeing with her husband and their young daughters. In the winter, you might find her reading or cross-stitching.
9:00 AM Legislative & Case Law Update
- Federal estate & gift tax exemption changes for 2025
- Wisconsin updates: marital property agreements, digital assets, electronic wills, December 2025 statutory changes
- Trust Code update for 701.0508
- Staying current: where paralegals can find reliable updates
10:00 AM Advanced Probate and Trust Administration
- Handling complex & insolvent estates; blended families
- Transfer on death deeds & beneficiary designations
- Coordinating retirement accounts & digital assets (passwords, device access, etc.)
- Marital property interests & marital elections
- Qualified Beneficiaries: definitions, info to provide, practical tips
- Trust Accounting: equalization, insolvency, practical methods
- Trust Funding
11:10 AM BREAK
11:25 AM Dispute Resolution & Hot Topics
- Avoiding unauthorized practice of law
- Common disputes: undue influence, fiduciary breaches, ambiguous terms
- Litigation considerations in probate & trust matters
- Service of documents
- Using NJSAs & mediation to prevent litigation
- Using authorizations to reduce family conflict
- Declaratory judgments
- Trends & future developments: electronic wills, digital estate planning, evolving fiduciary duties
12:35 PM Conclusion / Questions
12:50 PM Program Concludes
- Anticipate issues in estate and trust files before they become delays, disputes, or cleanup projects
- Support attorneys more effectively on higher-value, higher-risk matters involving taxes, trusts, and contested estates
- Improve accuracy and efficiency when managing complex documentation, timelines, and beneficiary communications
- Reduce uncertainty around evolving rules for digital assets, electronic wills, and fiduciary obligations
- Strengthen your role as a reliable problem-spotter on the estate planning and administration team
- Contribute to smoother administration outcomes that reflect well on both you and your firm
- Paralegals with estate planning experience