Estate planning is the process of arranging for the transfer of your personal wealth. The primary goals are to ensure that the property will pass to designated recipients in the appropriate form and to minimize taxes and other costs. Additionally, estate planning can protect assets that pass to beneficiaries from creditors or a spouse in the event of divorce.

Estate planning is important because it ensures that your assets are distributed according to your wishes, minimizes taxes and other costs, and can protect your beneficiaries' inheritance from creditors or divorce. Without proper estate planning, your assets may not be distributed as you intended, and your estate may incur unnecessary taxes and expenses.

A typical estate plan includes a will, sometimes a living trust, sometimes a guardianship nomination for minor children, a healthcare power of attorney, and a financial/property power of attorney.

A living trust is a legal arrangement created during a person's lifetime that allows them to transfer assets into the trust for their benefit during their lifetime and then transfer those assets to designated beneficiaries upon their death, bypassing probate.

A will is a document that directs how your assets are distributed after your death and typically requires probate. A trust also directs how your assets are distributed after your death, but typically can avoid probate, which provides more privacy.

No specific amount of assets is required to create a living trust. A living trust can be beneficial for managing and distributing any level of assets efficiently.

You should update your estate plan whenever there are significant changes in your life, such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or significant changes in your financial situation. Additionally, it is advisable to review your estate plan periodically, such as every five years, to ensure it remains current with any changes in laws or personal circumstances.

In a word, no. Estate planning involves several legal subjects that all come together, and most people do not have the knowledge to address all the necessary subjects. Additionally, online DIY tools often produce only simple documents that lack the customization and nuance that you may need. Consulting an estate planning attorney ensures your unique needs are addressed, and in a way that works for you and your family.

You can, but it is not a good idea. Writing your own will or trust without legal guidance can lead to errors and omissions that may invalidate the document or cause disputes. Creating a trust or a valid will requires specific elements that are best handled by a professional.

We meet with clients and prospective clients either over video and in person. We do not meet over the phone.

If your spouse wants us to prepare an estate plan for them, then yes, your spouse must come to the meeting. If you want us to prepare an estate plan just for you, and you want my duty of confidentiality to exclude your spouse, then come by yourself.

If you die without a will in Illinois, your money and property will be distributed according to state intestacy laws, which may not be according to your wishes. If you are married and have children, half of what you own will go to your spouse and the other half will go to your children. If your children are minors, their inheritance will be placed in a court guardianship and given to them all at once when they are 18, whether or not they can manage the money. Your estate will also have to go through probate court.