Blog Articles
Info About Wills, Trusts, and More…
Hello and welcome! I am Eileen Kerlin Walsh, and I will bring you valuable and topical information on Estate Planning. Estate Planning is the legal process of protecting your assets and your loved ones in the event of disability or death.
Why do you need an estate plan? If you don’t have a valid Will or Trust, Illinois law determines how your assets pass, to whom and when. Having no estate plan can lead to unnecessary taxes, creditors, probate court and other undesirable results. This is the most costly way to pass assets to your loved ones. You can do much better and my column will show you how!
Are You Prepared For The Unknown – Even Dementia?
Many people (maybe even you?) think that estate planning is simply planning for death. While that’s important, it’s not enough. The average life span has increased, and long-term care facilities such as assisted living centers and nursing homes are being built at...
The Property Sisters: Share Your Story – A Priceless Gift, Just in Time for the Holidays
Your life story is priceless. So why not tell it through a Legacy Letter, a collection of stories that made you who you are and taught you what you believe. ShareMyLegacy.com is a program created by Eileen to help you easily write your Legacy Letter. It captures your...
The Property Sisters: Keeping Peace Among Your Loved Ones with a Right of Occupancy Trust
Estate planning is about protecting you and your loved ones. Sometimes this can be a difficult endeavor when there is a loved one who may require additional support at your death. While you may want to give as much as possible to this individual, you may not want to...
The Lesson Plan for Your Estate
Estate Planning Awareness: The Lesson Plan for Your Estate In honor of Estate Planning Awareness Week, we are taking this opportunity to make sure you have the foundational estate planning documents to ensure your own successful future. Below are some basic questions...
The Importance to You and Your Loved Ones of Having an Estate Plan
Estate Planning Awareness: The Importance to You and Your Loved Ones of Having an Estate Plan In 2008, Congress recognized the need for the public to understand the importance and benefits of estate planning by passing House Resolution 1499, which designated the third...
Important Questions Your Estate Planning Attorney Will Ask You
Estate Planning Awareness: Important Questions Your Estate Planning Attorney Will Ask You For many people, the thought of meeting with an estate planning attorney strikes fear into their hearts. It can be uncomfortable to even consider the possibility of no longer...
Think Your Estate Plan is Complete?
Estate Planning Awareness: Think Your Estate Plan is Complete? Make Sure You’re Not Missing These Important Points Roughly two-thirds of Americans do not have an estate plan, according to a recent survey from Caring.com.[1] If you are among the minority of US adults...
How to Prepare for Whatever May Come Your Way
DID YOU KNOW? September is Disaster Preparedness Month: How to Prepare for Whatever May Come Your Way The unpredictable can occur at any time: fires, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, pandemics—you name it. Because September is National Disaster Preparedness Month, we...
Estate Planning: Answering Common Questions of Senior Citizens
According to a study conducted by Caring.com, the percentage of people aged fifty-five and older who have created a Will has fallen from 60 percent to 44 percent since 2019.[1] Although creating or updating your Estate Planning may seem like a daunting task, a proper...
Better to Play it Safe: Proactive Estate Planning and Cognitive Impairment
Most financially savvy individuals begin planning their estate when they’re in peak mental shape. The idea that this might change at some point in the distant future is an unpleasant one, and they would rather go about their Estate Planning as if they’ll be as sharp...