“Pull Yourself By Your Bootstraps is a Sham. 60% of American Wealth is Inherited.” – Robert Reich, Former Secretary of Commerce.
Don’t delay getting started on protecting your family and leaving a lasting legacy for your loved ones. Schedule a consultation today!
If you’ve found your way to this page, then you’ve probably been thinking about putting an estate plan in place but haven’t gotten around to it. We are passionate about providing thoughtful and compassionate services to families because we know personally and professionally that families experience a great amount of grief and confusion when a loved one becomes seriously ill or passes away without a plan. Below are the Top 3 reasons people give for not having a plan and my response to each. Do any of these apply to you?
My response: We have great tools and resources to help you get organized and make some important decisions. We will also walk you through the process step by step.
Our services are provided on a flat fee basis that you will know upfront. We will work with you to structure a payment plan that fits into your budget. There won’t be any surprises or an unaffordable bill at the end.
The probate laws of Illinois govern 3 ypes of proceedings and are very technical.
Probate is a court proceeding where the estate of a deceased loved one is settled in accordance with state law. Probate laws govern how the property of the deceased is handled if they die with a will (Testate) or without a will (Intestate).
The loss of a loved one can be devastating. Not only are you mourning the death of your family member, but you are also faced with managing their affairs, which can include gathering their assets, paying debts, renting or selling their real estate, and distributing their property to family members.
The level of difficulty in settling their affairs usually depends on how much property your loved one owned, whether the deceased had a will or living trust (Testate) or died without an estate plan (Intestate).
In some instances, your loved one may have a Small Estate, which means the deceased didn’t own real estate and/or the property is valued at less than $100,000. Illinois law allows you to settle a Small Estate using the Small Estate Affidavit. If the estate includes real estate and/or property valued at more than $100,000, you will likely have to go through the Probate Court process to pay their outstanding debts and distribute the property to loved ones.
Property includes more than real estate. It also includes: