Estate Planning

Those putting together an estate plan in Illinois often choose to use a will as their primary testamentary document. A will can give someone an opportunity to name a person they trust to serve as the representative of their estate after they die. A smaller number of...

Having a will means having some say over what happens to one's dependent family members and valuable property after passing away. A will helps a testator control the distribution of their property and allows them to better provide for their closest loved ones after...

You may want the property that you leave behind when you die to be a gift and a blessing to the people you love, but the impact may actually be more negative than positive. There have been innumerable families torn apart or permanently damaged by estate disputes when...

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...