Before joining the legal profession, Ashley Lillesand-Leonhard served as the Guardianship Director for Easter Seals Kindcare, where she managed more than 200 active guardianship appointments across Wisconsin, an experience that gives the attorney overseeing this Waukesha practice a level of direct, pre-bar guardianship knowledge that most estate planning attorneys do not carry.

Overview

Lillesand Law LLC (now operating under the name Lillesand Leonhard Law LLC) is a Wisconsin law firm based in Waukesha that concentrates on estate planning, elder law, guardianship, and probate administration. The firm serves families in Waukesha County and Milwaukee County and is operated as a solo practice by its founding attorney.

The practice’s origins are rooted in a background that extends beyond legal training. Prior to becoming an attorney, the principal handled the day-to-day realities of guardianship management in a non-profit corporate guardian context, working with elderly and disabled adults and confronting the practical questions of placement decisions, Medicaid eligibility, and end-of-life planning from the inside. That background now informs the legal services offered, particularly in elder law and guardianship matters where the legal process and the personal dimensions of family decision-making intersect closely.

Attorney Ashley Lillesand-Leonhard earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University and her Juris Doctorate from Marquette University Law School. She was admitted to the State Bar of Wisconsin in 2007, has practiced for over 17 years, and was selected to the Wisconsin Rising Stars list in 2024.

The firm’s website is www.llestatelaw.com

Phone: 414-488-6511

Address: 2212 E. Moreland Blvd, Suite 200, Waukesha, WI 53186

Practice Areas

Estate Planning

The firm drafts and advises on the core documents that constitute a comprehensive estate plan, including wills, revocable living trusts, irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, and advance healthcare directives (living wills). The objective is to establish a legal structure that reflects the client’s wishes for asset distribution, healthcare decisions, and the care of dependents.

Elder Law

Elder law at this firm encompasses Medicaid planning, which involves structuring assets and income to achieve eligibility for Medicaid long-term care benefits while preserving as much of a family’s financial resources as legally possible. The practice addresses the legal needs of aging adults and their families, including planning for future incapacity, transitions to assisted living or nursing care, and coordination of benefit programs.

Guardianship and Conservatorship

Guardianship cases involve courts appointing a responsible party to make personal and sometimes financial decisions for an adult who can no longer do so independently. The firm assists families through the Wisconsin guardianship petition process, represents petitioners in court, and supports appointed guardians in understanding their legal obligations. Conservatorship matters, which involve court oversight of financial management for incapacitated individuals, are also handled. The attorney additionally receives appointments as a Guardian ad Litem in Milwaukee County for guardianship and probate proceedings.

Probate and Estate Administration

When an individual passes away, the probate process determines how assets are transferred to heirs or beneficiaries. The firm guides personal representatives and families through Wisconsin’s probate system, including formal and informal administration, and handles the associated court filings, creditor notifications, and asset transfers.

Will Contests and Estate Litigation

When disputes arise over the validity of a will, the administration of a trust, or the conduct of a personal representative, the firm handles estate and trust litigation in Wisconsin courts.

Attorney Profile

Ashley E. Lillesand-Leonhard is the principal attorney and founder of the firm. Prior to entering private practice, she worked as Guardianship Director for Easter Seals Kindcare, where she managed more than 200 guardianship cases. During that period, she served on the board of the Wisconsin Guardianship Association as Secretary and later as President, and presented at several WGA conferences.

She earned her B.A. from Marquette University and her J.D. from Marquette University Law School. She was admitted to the Wisconsin State Bar in 2007. Her professional memberships include the Milwaukee Bar Association’s Probate Bench Bar Committee and the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section.

She is appointed by Milwaukee County courts as a Guardian ad Litem in guardianship and probate cases, a role that involves independent representation of the interests of incapacitated individuals in judicial proceedings.

Location and Service Area

The firm is located at 2212 E. Moreland Blvd, Suite 200, Waukesha, Wisconsin 53186. It primarily serves clients in Waukesha County and Milwaukee County, which together represent a substantial portion of southeastern Wisconsin’s population.

Client Focus

Lillesand Law serves individuals and families dealing with estate planning, aging-related legal needs, and guardianship situations. A significant portion of the client base involves families navigating guardianship for an elderly or disabled family member, often for the first time, in circumstances that are emotionally demanding and procedurally complex. The firm also serves younger adults who need foundational estate planning documents, and individuals whose life circumstances have changed enough to warrant updating existing plans.

Consultations are available; prospective clients are invited to call 414-488-6511 to discuss their situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a will and a trust?
A will directs how your assets are distributed after your death and goes through probate court before assets are transferred. A trust can hold assets during your lifetime and transfer them to beneficiaries outside of the probate process. Whether one or both documents belong in your estate plan depends on your assets, your family situation, and your goals. An attorney can help you evaluate which structure serves your needs.

What does the Wisconsin guardianship process involve?
To establish a guardianship in Wisconsin, a petition must be filed in circuit court, the proposed ward must be evaluated by a physician or psychologist, and a hearing is held where a judge determines whether guardianship is appropriate. A Guardian ad Litem is typically appointed to represent the proposed ward’s interests. The firm assists petitioners through each stage of this process.

Does the firm handle Medicaid planning?
Yes. Medicaid planning involves structuring a client’s finances to meet eligibility requirements for Medicaid-funded long-term care, such as nursing home coverage, while legally protecting a portion of family assets. This planning is time-sensitive and should typically be done well in advance of the point at which care is needed.

Can an estate plan be updated after it is created?
Yes. Most estate planning documents, including wills and revocable trusts, can be amended or revoked. Changes in family circumstances, asset situations, or applicable law are common reasons to update an existing plan. The firm advises clients to review their documents periodically.

What areas does the firm serve?
The firm serves clients primarily in Waukesha County and Milwaukee County in southeastern Wisconsin.

Closing

The career path that led Ashley Lillesand-Leonhard to this practice runs through the administrative core of Wisconsin’s guardianship system, a background that is not common among estate planning attorneys. For families in Waukesha and Milwaukee counties facing guardianship, elder law questions, or estate planning for the first time, that institutional perspective is part of what the firm brings to the representation.