by Eileen Kerlin Walsh | Oct 8, 2026 | Blog, Common Questions, Estate Planning, Inheritance Planning, Kerlin Walsh Law, Living Trusts, News, Probate, Wills & Trusts
The Illinois probate process is the court-supervised path an estate takes after someone dies, from proving the Will to distributing what remains. For a typical Illinois estate, it runs about 12 to 18 months from the first filing to the final distribution. This guide...
by Eileen Kerlin Walsh | Oct 1, 2026 | Blog, Common Questions, Education, Estate Planning, Healthcare Decisions, Kerlin Walsh Law, Living Trusts, News, Power of Attorney, Wills & Trusts
KEY TAKEAWAYS Where you call home can have consequences beyond your address. Your estate plan may not work exactly the same everywhere you live. Some important details are easy to overlook before heading south. Not every power of attorney works the same way. Living in...
by Eileen Kerlin Walsh | Oct 1, 2026 | Blog, Common Questions, Education, Estate Planning, Healthcare Decisions, Kerlin Walsh Law, News, Power of Attorney, Wills & Trusts
KEY TAKEAWAYS Who would step in if you couldn’t make decisions? The right decision-makers may not be the obvious ones. Your beneficiary choices deserve a closer look. Being single can change the tax planning equation. A plan puts you—not the law—in control. As a...
by Eileen Kerlin Walsh | Oct 1, 2026 | Blog, Common Questions, Education, Estate Planning, Healthcare Decisions, Kerlin Walsh Law, News, Power of Attorney, Wills & Trusts
KEY TAKEAWAYS The right person for one role may not be right for another. Trust matters, but so do availability and follow-through. A conversation now can prevent confusion later. A little organization can make a difficult job easier. Your choices may deserve another...
by Eileen Kerlin Walsh | Oct 1, 2026 | Blog, Common Questions, Estate Planning, Inheritance Planning, Kerlin Walsh Law, Living Trusts, News, Wills & Trusts
The federal estate tax exemption jumped to $15 million per person in 2026. Illinois did not follow. The state still taxes estates over $4 million, and that number has not moved in more than a decade. That single fact catches more southwest suburban families every...
by Eileen Kerlin Walsh | Sep 24, 2026 | Blog, Common Questions, Education, Estate Planning, Inheritance Planning, Kerlin Walsh Law, Living Trusts, News, Wills & Trusts
A complete Illinois estate plan in 2026 is built from four working parts: a Revocable Living Trust, a Pour-Over Will, a Durable Power of Attorney for Property, and a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. Together they decide who controls your money and your care...
