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Estate planning insights and legal resources.
Will vs. Trust: Which Is Right for Your Estate Plan?
Creating a comprehensive estate plan is the best way to preserve your legacy and ensure that you’re leaving your loved ones with a clear plan to follow when you pass away. There are many ways to accomplish this, but two of the most common methods people use to leave clear instructions and provide for their
February 16, 2024
What Is the Order of Inheritance in Illinois?
Leaving a lasting legacy is a priority for many people, and creating a good plan with the help of an Illinois estate planning attorney can help you do just that. But before you start drafting a will, it’s helpful to make sure you understand the order of inheritance in Illinois. This determines who inherits what
February 16, 2024
Tell-Tale Signs It’s Time to Review Your Estate Plan
Estate plans are far from static things. They can and should grow with you throughout your life. But many people end up creating an estate plan and letting it sit for years on end. Reviewing your plan regularly is the best way to make sure it adequately represents your wishes and protects your full estate
February 6, 2024
5 Things to Know About Estate Planning in Illinois
There are a lot of misconceptions circulating about estate planning, and those misconceptions can encourage people to put it off for far longer than they should. Your Illinois estate planning lawyers at Legacy Life Law Firm want you to be able to prepare for your future with confidence. Here are a few key things
February 6, 2024
You Can Benefit from Giving Gifts
A benefit of working hard is sharing the fruits of your labor with your loved ones. However, gift or estate tax consequences may impact high net worth clients when they share their wealth. By crafting a comprehensive estate plan, we can address these concerns and protect high net worth clients and their loved ones. The
December 18, 2023
Why You Want to Avoid Intestacy
About two out of three Americans will die without a will. This is known as dying intestate. While the reasons for not having a will vary, the end result is the same for everyone: they do not get to choose who receives their property when they die. Instead, their money and property are distributed according
December 18, 2023
Why You May Still Have to Open a Legal Probate Proceeding
Probate is the legal process for recognizing the validity of a person’s will after their death and appointing the nominated decision maker. This person, also known as an executor or personal representative, administers the deceased person’s estate and ensures that their money and property are transferred to the beneficiaries specified in their will. If someone
December 18, 2023
Why the Knives May Come Out at Death
The box office success of the 2019 murder mystery Knives Out led to franchise status, with Glass Onion, the first sequel, released in late 2022. The original Knives Out featured whodunit intrigue surrounding the murder of a wealthy author and surprise changes to his will. While Knives Out endeared itself to fans because of its
December 18, 2023
Why Deathbed Planning Might Give You Additional Grief
None of us likes to think about our own death or enjoys planning for that occasion. However, if you do not create an estate plan or fail to update it regularly, you are likely setting your loved ones up for even more stress and grief after you pass away. It may add to your own
December 18, 2023
Why Can’t We Have a Joint Trust If We Are Not Married?
Joint trusts are beneficial for many married couples, especially if they have a stable relationship, do not have many creditors, and do not live in a state where their estate may be subject to a state death tax. Compared to separate trusts, they are easier to fund, allow the surviving spouse to have complete control
December 18, 2023
What You Need to Know About Beneficiary-Controlled Trust
Would you like to provide your children or loved ones with an inheritance but protect them from the risks that may accompany a large windfall? If so, you can create a beneficiary-controlled trust in which the person you name as the trust’s primary beneficiary has rights, benefits, and control over the property held by the
December 18, 2023
What to Do with a Loved One s Used Medical Equipment
After a loved one has passed away and the funeral has been held, the task of sorting through their personal belongings begins. While items with sentimental value or family historical importance may have been distributed to beneficiaries in the estate plan, many more might still be lying around the house. The question of what to
December 18, 2023