Illinois Lawyer Referrals and Legal Guidance
Illinois Estate Planning, Probate and Wills
Estate planning is something that can benefit most people - you don't have to be wealthy or wait until you're older. A major goal of estate planning is to decide what will happen to your property and assets after your death, but an equally important goal is to make things easier for your family during that difficult time. Even if you have a modest estate, a carefully laid out plan can make life a lot easier for family members who will be in charge of paying your debts, gathering all your assets and distributing everything after you're gone. It's a tough task that inevitably leads to conflict, even in the most close-knit families.
Discussions of death can be difficult, but avoiding those discussions only postpones the issue. The better your plan, the less your family will be left to deal with. Estate planning includes writing a will, setting up powers of attorney (which are in effect during your life only), establishing a trust or trusts (even if you're not wealthy), and other related documents. Wills and trusts should be custom documents that are drafted with your exact circumstances in mind. They should not be drafted by filling in blanks on a form you find online.
A good estate planning attorney will have many years of experience setting up a variety of estates. They will work with you to find creative solutions and meet your goals. They will listen to your concerns, protect your assets and craft a solid plan so that you and your family do not have to worry. We only recommend Illinois estate planning attorneys who meet this criteria.
If a will, trust or any other estate planning document is done incorrectly, it can have devastating effects. We understand that which is why when we recommend an attorney they will have had to demonstrate incredible knowledge and experience with these important documents. Getting this type of law firm in your corner doesn't cost you any more. It just provides peace of mind that things have been done correctly.
Read more about estate planning in the links below, and let us know if you have any questions or need an attorney referral.
- Chicago Probate Lawyers
- Filing a Will in Illinois Probate Courts
- Free Power of Attorney for Health Care Form
- Frequently asked questions about estate planning in Illinois
- Grounds For Contesting a Will or Trust in Illinois
- How are attorneys fees paid in probate cases?
- How to Execute a Valid Will in Illinois
- Illinois estate planning for gay couples, same sex couples
- Illinois Guardianship Attorneys
- Illinois Probate Overview
- Illinois Wills
- Invalid wills in Illinois and intestate law
- Planning a Living Trust
- Probate in Illinois
- Rules for Witnessing a Will
- Special needs trusts and support trusts in Illinois
- Ten mistakes people make in estate planning
- Ten Things You Should Know About Estate Planning in Illinois
- The Role of an Executor in Illinois Probate Matters
- What Happens When Someone Dies Without a Will in Illinois?
- What Makes a Great Estate Planning or Probate Lawyer?
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- If something is left to you in a will you can reject it.
- For a will to be valid the person signing it must be of sound mind at the time they sign their will.
- In many cases probate attorneys will accept payment once the will has been approved by the judge and assets have been distributed.
- In many cases probate attorneys will accept payment out of the estate.
- The only Cook County Probate Court is in downtown Chicago at the Daley Center. It takes a minimum of 6 months once a will is officially filed in Probate Court until it can be approved in usually at least 1 year.
- You can usually avoid Probate Court altogether by putting your assets into a trust.
- By writing a new valid will you automatically terminate any previously written wills.
- Under Illinois law, a will is supposed to be filed in Probate Court within 30 days after a decedent's death. In reality it often takes longer for the will to be filed.
- Lawyers should not charge on a contingency basis to process a will. However, many lawyers will charge on a contingency basis (they don't get paid unless you win) if an estate is contested.
- Wills do not have to be notarized in Illinois, but they must be witnessed by two people.
- Power of attorneys expires upon the death of the person who has granted it.
Findgreatlawyers.com is a free service, run by Illinois lawyers, to find an attorney or obtain guidance for any Illinois legal matter, including Illinois estate planning cases. Please call us at (312) 346-5320 or (800) 517-1614 or fill out our contact us form and we will contact you. All inquiries are kept in strict confidence.