by Lauren Jackson | May 5, 2026 | Estate Planning, intentionally defective grantor trust, Trusts
An Intentionally Defective Grantor Trust (IDGT) is a sophisticated estate planning strategy designed to shift future appreciation out of a client’s taxable estate while intentionally preserving certain income tax obligations. When properly structured, it allows the...
by Lauren Jackson | Apr 30, 2026 | Attorney, executor, Lawyer, Probate
Losing someone you love is hard. And somewhere in the middle of that grief, you may find yourself named executor of an estate, holding a will you’ve never seen before, and wondering where to begin. You don’t have to figure it out alone — and you...
by Lauren Jackson | Mar 6, 2026 | Attorney, buying a home, Lawyer, Real Estate, real estate appraisal, selling a home
What Happens When a Home Doesn’t Appraise? If you are in the process of buying a home, you probably have a lot of unanswered questions. One common concern buyers and sellers share is whether the home will appraise at the contract price. Everyone involved in the...
by Lauren Jackson | Jan 23, 2026 | Beneficiaries, Divorce, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Trusts, Wills
In the aftermath of a divorce, updating your estate plan is rarely a top priority. Many people are emotionally drained, overwhelmed, and focused on simply getting through the next day. Unfortunately, failing to update your estate plan after a divorce can lead to...
by Lauren Jackson | Nov 5, 2025 | executor, Kane County, open probate case, Probate
One of the first questions I’m asked when someone calls my office about a loved one’s estate is: “How long will probate take?” It’s an understandable question — most families want closure as soon as possible. Unfortunately, probate in Illinois isn’t a quick process....
