What Is a Pour-Over Will, and Why Do You Need One With Your Trust?

What Is a Pour-Over Will, and Why Do You Need One With Your Trust?

Most people with a Living Trust assume the Trust does all the work. Set it up, fund it, and everything flows the way you intended. Then life happens. A new bank account opened last year, or a settlement check landed after everything else was in place. Maybe you...

Estate Planning After Divorce in Illinois: What You Need to Update Immediately

Most people with a Living Trust assume the Trust does all the work. Set it up, fund it, and everything flows the way you intended. Then life happens. A new bank account opened last year, or a settlement check landed after everything else was in place. Maybe you...

The Mid-Year Estate Planning Checklist for Illinois Families

Your Estate Plan was accurate the day you signed it. The question is whether it still reflects your life six months, two years, or one major financial decision later. Most families don’t find out their plan has missing pieces until they need it to work. Why...

Trust Administration in Illinois: What Happens After Death

When families ask about Trusts, they almost always start with the same question: What is the difference between a Revocable and an Irrevocable Trust, and which do we need? The answer depends on your goals, and choosing incorrectly has consequences that most...

Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts in Illinois: Which Is Right?

Most families who set up a Trust focus on creating and funding it, but fewer consider what happens when it must be administered. When a loved one passes, someone must follow the law and carry out the instructions in the Trust. This process can seem daunting, but...
To Spring or Not to Spring?

To Spring or Not to Spring?

Springing Financial Powers of Attorney Estate planning is about more than preparing for the inevitable. A good estate plan should also consider the unexpected. Your plan may have detailed instructions for what happens when you are no longer around, but what if...