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!
Planning for World Travelers
Planning For World Travelers Although all travel requires planning and can involve risk and complications, international travel requires taking extra steps and addressing additional considerations. You will want to take steps to secure your home while you are away, it...
Important Milestones You Can Incorporate in Your Estate Plan
Life is full of contingencies. While some outcomes are relatively certain, other events are more difficult to predict. This uncertainty can create estate planning challenges. Because life changes quickly and sometimes unexpectedly, your estate plan needs to be...
Things You Can Do to Help Prove You Are Mentally Competent When Executing Your Estate Plan
Although we would all like to believe that our family and loved ones will honor our wishes as expressed in our estate plan, contests are more common than you might think. Sometimes, a family member does not receive what they thought they would after a loved one passes...
Terminal Illness: What Compassion Looks Like in Estate Planning
We love it when we have relationships with our clients that last for decades. There are times, however, when life changes spark an understanding of the importance of certain things including Estate Planning. Either way, it frequently happens that we arrive at a time...
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...