Estate Planning

Probate can feel overwhelming, especially while you are still grieving. Fortunately, Illinois' higher small estate affidavit limit may let some families avoid a full probate case. This limit now simplifies the process and reduces delay during an already difficult...

Safeguarding the legacy you have built over the years is essential. You want the transition of your assets to be as smooth as possible while ensuring your family remains protected. In Illinois, the court-supervised probate process can often feel like a burden to...

When a loved one passes, the last thing anyone wants is the heavy burden of legal confusion. If you take on the role of executor, that means shouldering the responsibility of settling a lifetime of assets and debts. The good news is that the path through probate is...

As people accumulate wealth and resources throughout their lives, they may become more aware of the need to establish an estate plan. The property that an individual owns becomes part of their estate when they die. Their resources may need to pass through probate...

Most people wouldn't dream of handling complex legal matters on their own. People facing lawsuits or criminal charges know that they need legal representation. For some reason, even though a will is arguably one of the most important documents an adult may ever sign,...

Many people want to avoid complicated, confusing estate plans. They try to create the simplest, most straightforward documents possible. The goal is to keep costs low and to prevent confusion among their beneficiaries after their passing. However, more thorough,...

A will is the simplest estate planning tool available. Someone who drafts a will can take control of their legacy. People frequently share inaccurate information about wills. Most people don't have much knowledge about estate planning and wills in particular. What...

The term estate planning makes many people think of wills or possibly trusts. The main consideration for many testators putting together an estate plan is what might happen with their property and what protection their dependent family members require. However, estate...

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...