Recent Blog Posts

What kind of life insurance do you have?
Lately an issue that has come up with clients is their uncertainty about the terms of their life insurance. Since we are living in such uncertain times and spending more time at home, this is an ideal time to review your insurance policies. I find most people can’t remember if they have whole or… Read More »

Advance Directives
Most people think estate planning only addresses the distribution of your property upon your death. A very important aspect of estate planning are your advance directives. These documents address your decisions regarding your health care should you be incapacitated and or terminally ill. If you cannot make health care decisions for yourself and you… Read More »

College in the Time of COVID-19: What you can do!
Many events we took for granted six months ago are out of our control. This undoubtedly is a source of stress. Whether or not your son or daughter will return to their college campus or start their freshman year remotely, for many, is still undecided. Even if a decision has been made it’s reasonable… Read More »

Naming Guardians for Minor Children in Your Will
A guardian is a person who has legal responsibility for a minor child in lieu of the parents. One of the most important tools you can use to care for your children is a well-drafted Illinois estate plan that includes carefully-selected guardians for your minor children. Guardians are appointed by the court when parents… Read More »

Planning for the Illinois Estate Tax Protect Your Heirs’ Inheritance by Creating a Credit Shelter Trust
If you’re an Illinois resident in the midst of planning your estate, you may have heard that the federal estate tax only affects the wealthy, and so you assumed it wouldn’t apply to you. While the federal estate tax might not apply to you, Illinois is one of 18 states that imposes an estate… Read More »
Come Prepared with an Inventory of Assets for Your Initial Meeting with Your Estate Planning Attorney
I am starting a series of short articles on topics that are consistently discussed during the initial consultations with clients. Most clients do not have a solid understanding of what they own and underestimate the financial or sentimental value of their assets. This lack of understanding is one of the main reasons people diminish… Read More »