The Illinois Estate Tax and Your Land: What Kane and DeKalb County Families Get Wrong
The phone call usually comes a few months after the funeral, not before it. A father has died and left everything to his wife. There was a will, the family…
What Is Fair in a Second Marriage Estate Plan? How Illinois Blended Families Divide Assets Between a Spouse and Children
A couple came to see me in Maple Park last spring. They were both in their late fifties, married for about six years, and each of them had two adult…
Estate Planning for Blended Families in Illinois: Protecting Kids from a Prior Marriage
There is a moment in my conversations with remarried clients when the room usually goes quiet. We have been talking comfortably about the house, the retirement accounts, and who should…
Do I Need a Trust or Just a Will in Illinois? How to Decide
This is the question that brings more people into my office than any other, and it almost never arrives on its own. Someone will call because a parent died and…
What Is a QTIP Trust and When Does an Illinois Family Actually Need One?
There is a planning problem that comes up in my office more than almost any other. A parent has remarried. They want to provide for their new spouse if something…
Estate Planning Attorney in Kane County, Illinois: What to Look for and What to Ask Before You Hire
Finding the right estate planning attorney in Kane County is not just about finding someone with a law degree. It's about finding someone who understands what you have built, who…
5 Unfortunate Estate Planning Myths You Probably Believe
These all-too-common misconceptions can steer your estate plans in the wrong direction right from the start. Here’s how to overcome them and tips to build the right plan for your…
7 Tips on Choosing the Right Executor for Your Will
It’s an important question: Who can be trusted to take care of your estate when you’re gone? When you pass away and your will is accepted for probate, your executor…
12 Different Times When You Should Update Your Will
Some situations where you may need to change your will should be obvious to most people. But others just may surprise you. By: Jedediah McClure, JD Key Points Life Changes:…
A Step-by-Step Guide to Being an Estate Executor
Whether you’re planning ahead for your own heirs or have been asked to serve as an executor for someone else, it pays to understand what the role requires. The executor…
Designing Trusts for Beneficiaries with Substance Abuse Problems
You can't just take the usual wording from a trust for a minor or a beneficiary with a disability and use it as a model. This type of trust needs…
Estate Planning Is More Important Than You Think
By: Jedediah McClure, JD Key Points Financial Security: Estate planning protects your assets like home, investments, retirement accounts, and life insurance. Avoid Probate: Proper planning helps beneficiaries avoid the lengthy…
Estate Planning: 3 Tips to Get Your Family Talking More Effectively
By: Jedediah McClure, JD Communication is key in estate planning, but it requires careful preparation. Here are three tips to help your family engage in more effective discussions about estate…
Will or Trust: Which is Right for You?
Having a well-organized and reliable plan that establishes who is in charge and clearly dictates how your assets are to be distributed provides both comfort and peace of mind. It…
You Could Accidentally Disinherit Your Children Unless You Follow This Obscure Rule
A true story: A mother with two kids put them down as the beneficiaries of her nearly $200,000 401(k) account – but when she died, they got nothing. It’s all…
Don’t Let These Common Estate Planning Excuses Stand in Your Way
The top reasons people don’t have an estate plan may sound familiar to you. Here’s what they are and what’s at stake. By: Jedediah McClure, JD We all lead busy…
How to Keep Your Heirs from Blowing Their Inheritance
Spendthrift trusts may sound like you're trying to keep your kids from frittering away your legacy, but they are not just for those with spending problems. They're useful in cases…
Joint Ownership: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Putting a child on your bank account can make life easier as you get older, and it can help your heirs avoid probate after you're gone. But it comes with…
Protecting Your Adult Children from Themselves
Once an irrevocable trust is set up with the best of intentions for your children, it's set in stone, and you're out of luck if circumstances change ... or are…
Should I Include a Letter in My Estate Plan?
Passing down to your heirs your intentions for your money is just as important as passing down the money itself. Writing one letter can make all the difference. Here's how.…
So, You Have an Estate Plan … Now What?
These legal documents can't just be put in a drawer and forgotten for years and years. They need to be tended to periodically, or else they may cause problems when…
Why Your Will May Be Invalid
Will contests in the US are not uncommon. Generally, when you create a Will and designate who gets your assets, there is someone out there who might benefit from invalidating…
Checklist: Steps to Take After Your Spouse Dies
Feeling overwhelmed? A checklist can help you figure out where to start and tasks you may be able to put off. By: Jedediah McClure, JD The death of your spouse…
How to Perform the Duties of Executor of an Estate
Taking on the role of an executor is a significant responsibility that demands careful attention to detail and dedication. If you have been named executor in a will, you have…
How to Plan Ahead for a Disabled Child’s Inheritance
If your child relies on Medicaid services, how can you ensure that when you die the money you leave them doesn't cause them to lose that vital support system? A…
How Wills and Trusts Work, and Where to Start
Dealing with the death of a loved one is hard enough; estate planning can make things easier on a grieving family. By: Jedediah McClure, JD Key Points Estate Planning Importance:…