Estate Planning

Estate planning is an important task for the typical American adult. You have family members who depend on you, like your spouse and your children. You have financial responsibilities that will legally remain even after you die. Your estate plan gives you an...

When your first marriage ends in divorce, it may take some time before you are ready to pursue a relationship again. If you are lucky enough to find the right person, you may start planting a blended family together. Before you get married, you may want to sit down to...

If you die without a will in Illinois, then you should understand that your beneficiaries will receive an intestate share of your property. What that means is that your property will be passed on in accordance with Illinois state law. Dying without a will only affects...

Creating an estate plan isn't just about distributing your property to the people you love. It's also about protecting yourself if you experience some kind of medical emergency. A stroke, a heart attack or even a car crash could put you in a coma and leave you unable...

An estate plan may make it easier to manage your affairs while you're alive and after passing on. In addition to providing a mechanism to transfer assets to beneficiaries, an estate plan may also allow you to designate a guardian for your children. Take a look at some...

Many Americans don't think they need a will because they aren't wealthy. That is demonstrably false. Anybody who wants to secure their future or their family's future can benefit from crafting an estate plan. Before beginning the process of writing up a will, it's...

Aging Illinois residents can help protect their futures by taking essential steps to plan ahead. When you have a power of attorney, you can rest assured that any critical medical or financial decisions will follow your wishes as carefully as possible. A power of...

Most parents are willing and able to care for their children to the best of their ability. However, as your family may know first-hand, this does not always happen. There are times when a parent is physically absent or mentally incapable of caring for his or her...

While it is always beneficial when a child can remain with one or both of his or her biological parents, it is not always possible. There are a variety of circumstances that may necessitate another adult stepping in and acting as guardian on behalf of a child, but the...

Businesses can be considered marital property, even if they are owned wholly by only one spouse. Many people in Illinois learn this the hard way when getting divorced. They see their hard work eroded away when they must relinquish part of their businesses or pay large...