Estate Planning
What Are the Best Ways to Use Philanthropy in Your Estate Plan?
Posted on January 30, 2025
Much of what goes into creating your estate plan involves making difficult decisions about the future, such as planning for incapacity or setting up the estate plan to boost family assets and provide for generations. However, there is another aspect of estate planning that can be deeply rewarding. Crafting your estate plan presents an opportunity to give back to the causes you care about and to plan for how to use your assets to make an impact in the world. An experienced Naperville, IL estate planning attorney can help you […]
How Can I Reduce the Overall Amount of Estate Taxes I Pay?
Posted on January 13, 2025
Also known as “death taxes,” estate taxes are the taxes that must be paid on the transfer of assets upon death. They are separate from income taxes. Both the federal government and Illinois currently levy estate taxes. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) imposes taxes on assets worth over $13.99 million per person in 2025. This is called the federal estate tax exemption. An individual can make gifts during life using the exemption; any portion of the exemption left over at death will offset estate taxes. Meanwhile, Illinois is one of […]
What Happens if a Parent Dies Without an Estate Plan?
Posted on December 31, 2024
Dealing with the loss of a parent is never easy. In addition to the emotions involved, you may need to sort out the status of your parent’s estate. Perhaps your parent’s death is your first experience with wills and estate laws, adding to the challenge. If your parent died without an estate plan, you may have questions about what will now happen to their assets and debts and how to handle all the financial loose ends. An experienced Naperville, IL estates and trusts attorney can advise you on the process […]
When is it Time to Consider Guardianship for an Aging Parent?
Posted on November 25, 2024
It can be painful and emotionally taxing to face a parent’s physical and mental decline. If you find yourself in this situation, you may be wondering if it is time to consider guardianship for an aging parent. Illinois guardianship laws seek to ensure “maximum self-reliance and independence” within the guardianship process while protecting the ward, as the disabled person in need of guardianship is called. If your parent needs special assistance with daily or financial needs, an experienced Illinois estate planning attorney can help you decide whether this step is […]
What Does an Estate Executor Do?
Posted on November 10, 2024
Following a person’s death, all their assets and property become part of an estate. An estate executor is the person who administers the estate. The executor’s specific role will vary depending on the estate and on whether or not the person who died, called the decedent, left a will. Generally, the role includes the distribution of assets, payment of debts and taxes, and other important tasks related to settling an estate. There are certain requirements for who may be an executor, but most executors are usually family members. An attorney […]
How Can Young Professionals Benefit from an Estate Plan?
Posted on October 29, 2024
If you are a young professional, you may understandably hesitate to create an estate plan. However, whether you have family wealth or are building your own, by creating an estate plan now you can safeguard your and your family’s interests, and have more peace of mind knowing you are planning for possible future eventualities as well as putting in place a strategy to safeguard your assets today with the help of a knowledgeable Illinois estate planning attorney. Reasons Young Adults Should Have an Estate Plan Preliminary Young Professional Estate Planning […]
How Do Powers of Attorney Complement an Estate Plan?
Posted on October 21, 2024
Often when individuals consider estate plans, they think about planning for a person’s death. While the purpose of an estate plan is, to a large extent, to make a plan for disposing of assets following death, powers of attorney are an important element of an estate plan for the living. An experienced Illinois estate planning attorney can advise on how the power of attorney can work alongside the rest of your estate plan. What is a Durable Power of Attorney? A durable power of attorney is an estate planning document […]
Why Make a Family Limited Partnership Part of an Estate Plan?
Posted on October 11, 2024
Illinois high net-worth families have unique interests to consider when setting up their estate plans to protect their assets for the future of their families. This is particularly important because Illinois is one of the few states that have passed a state estate tax. Estates in Illinois are also subject to the federal estate tax. An attorney who understands the complexities of structuring high-net worth Illinois estate plans may suggest the formation of a Family Limited Partnership (FLP) as part of an estate plan. What is a Family Limited Partnership […]
What Are Benefits of Establishing a Charitable Trust?
Posted on October 4, 2024
When creating an estate plan, one attractive option to consider is the creation of a charitable trust. A charitable trust is not only a way to leave a legacy and contribute through one’s estate to meaningful causes but also an important tax management and money-saving vehicle for your family. An Illinois trusted advisor can help you consider whether this estate planning tool is right for your family’s future. What Is an Illinois Charitable Trust? A charitable trust is an element of an estate plan that gives the grantor an opportunity […]
What Is the Amendment to the Probate Act of 1975? | IL
Posted on September 30, 2024
HB 1268 amends the Probate Act of 1975, providing that a person who has been convicted of a felony is qualified to act as an executor of an estate if: The bill’s sponsor stated during Senate debates that individuals who have committed a felony and served their time should be allowed to help their families. A person chosen to serve as an executor following incarceration for a felony must be at least 18 years of age and must not be unsound in mind or body. Another Senator argued against the […]
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