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DO I REALLY NEED AN ESTATE PLAN? It is reassuring when you can plan for the future and ensure the security of your loved ones, especially in the event something happens to you. This is what we call estate planning, and it isn't something that a select few do, but something we should all do becau...

ILLINOIS LAWYER EXPLAINS DNR ORDERS A DNR order, or a do-not-resuscitate order, is a pre-written healthcare directive made by a patient concerning life-saving medical interventions. As the name implies, DNRs in Illinois tell doctors not to resuscitate the patient in certain circumstances – usual...

WHAT BLENDED FAMILIES SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ESTATE PLANNING What are blended families?  Blended families can take several forms: 1   Married couples in which one or both spouses have children from a previous relationship; 2.     Married couples who have children from their relationship and also h...

Your estate plan in Illinois can include several documents, many of which may require beneficiaries, like any trusts you may have set up or intend to set up and non-probate assets like 401(k), IRA accounts, life insurance policies, and pensions. Assets from these accounts will go to the beneficia...

Living Wills An accident or sudden illness can leave you incapacitated. What happens when there's a question about the medical treatment needed to keep you alive? People have strong feelings about these things, like life support, pain management, and organ donation. You may want one thing while ...

DEATH NOTIFICATION CHECKLIST When a family member or friend dies, it is important to notify various government agencies, banks, creditors and credit reporting agencies of the death. Notifications should be made as soon after the death as possible.             You should initially make telephone...

CHANGING A WILL A last will and testament in Chicago and the entire state of Illinois is a legal document instructing what should happen to your assets and property (known as your estate) at the time of your death. But it does not stop there. You can assign a guardian for children and appoint an...

OVERVIEW OF WILLS A last will and testament is a document you create to instruct how you want your property distributed upon your death. Who gets the house? Who gets which antiques? Who gets a bank account? Who takes care of the pets? These are just some of the questions upon which a will answer...

There are many practical issues to deal with when planning your estate. You can save your loved ones some headaches by making your wishes known on the following issues: Who should be notified upon your death? Funeral arrangements. The location of any will and/or trust you created, as well as...

A trust is a legal arrangement whereby one person, called a trustee(s), holds legal title to property for another person(s), called a beneficiary. You can be the trustee of your own living trust, thus keeping full control over all the property in the trust.  There are many types of trusts, includ...

No matter your net worth, it's important to have at least a basic estate plan in place. Such a plan ensures that your family is taken care of after your death. Dying without a will (intestate) can be costly to your heirs and can leave you without a say in who gets your assets. By putting your int...