What Happens to Your Estate If You Die Without a Will in Illinois?

by | Aug 4, 2026 | Blog, Client Relationships, Estate Planning, Healthcare Decisions, Kerlin Walsh Law, Living Trusts, Power of Attorney, Probate, Real Estate, Wills & Trusts, Women and Estate Planning

In Illinois, everyone already has an estate plan, whether they wrote one or not. If you die without a Will, the state of Illinois has one waiting for you, and it was not written with your family in mind. That plan is called intestate succession, and it follows a fixed...

Estate Planning for High Net Worth Families in Illinois: Beyond the Basics

by | Jul 23, 2026 | Blog, Client Relationships, Estate Planning, Healthcare Decisions, Kerlin Walsh Law, Living Trusts, Power of Attorney, Probate, Real Estate, Wills & Trusts, Women and Estate Planning

A standard Estate Plan does its job well up to a point. Will, Trust, Powers of Attorney, beneficiary designations in order. For many families, that structure holds. For families whose wealth has grown significantly, that structure is often the floor, not the ceiling....

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

by | Jul 16, 2026 | Blog, Client Relationships, Estate Planning, Healthcare Decisions, Kerlin Walsh Law, Living Trusts, Power of Attorney, Probate, Real Estate, Wills & Trusts, Women and Estate Planning

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

by | Jul 9, 2026 | Blog, Client Relationships, Estate Planning, Healthcare Decisions, Kerlin Walsh Law, Living Trusts, Power of Attorney, Probate, Real Estate, Wills & Trusts, Women and Estate Planning

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

by | Jul 2, 2026 | Blog, Estate Planning, Kerlin Walsh Law, Living Trusts, Power of Attorney, Probate, Real Estate, Wills & Trusts, Women and Estate Planning

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...