by Lauren Jackson | May 2, 2022 | executor, Probate
If the original will has, in fact, been filed and all the paperwork is in order, the judge will sign an order opening the estate and authorizing the executor to act on behalf of the estate. At this point, the executor can legally speak for the estate, communicate...
by Lauren Jackson | May 2, 2022 | foreclosure, Real Estate, Short Sale
A real estate short sale is where you owe more money on your loan than what you can sell the home for. This is not an easy transaction in this current market, but it still is possible to get your lender to accept a lesser amount than what they are owed on the...
by Lauren Jackson | May 1, 2022 | executor, intestate estate, Probate
The probate process in Illinois is an unknown and confusing process for most individuals having to navigate it. Whether the deceased has a will or trust and the assets in the estate will determine the path we take on how to handle their probate case. If, after...
by Lauren Jackson | Apr 10, 2022 | Estate Planning, Revocable living trust, Wills
As society becomes more digital, all our personal information and even some possessions are stored on the internet. Everyone seems to have email accounts, photos, social media accounts, and cloud storage just to name a few, but the list can be endless. To...
by Lauren Jackson | Jan 22, 2022 | Estate Planning, Revocable living trust, Trusts
If you have had your estate plan drafted recently and that plan included a revocable trust, your job is not quite over yet. One of the most important things must then do is fund your trust. If you do not fund your trust, the trust document and all your estate...
by Lauren Jackson | Oct 20, 2021 | Estate Planning, Joint Trust, Revocable living trust, Trusts, Wills
In 2008, Congress recognized the need for the public to understand the importance and benefits of estate planning by passing House Resolution 1499, which designated the third week of October as National Estate Planning Awareness Week. Nevertheless, according to a 2021...
by Lauren Jackson | Sep 22, 2021 | buying a home, Real Estate, real estate closing
Who could have predicted that at one moment our country and state would shut down due to a pandemic and shortly thereafter emerge into one of the hottest real estate markets in recent memory? If you are a first-time homebuyer, a competitive housing market can...
by Lauren Jackson | Jul 28, 2021 | Estate Planning
The following write-up was provided by Wealthcounsel. Among confusing legal concepts, the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax is at the top of the list. Because of its complexity, many attorneys lump it in with concepts such as the rule against perpetuities—topics...
by Lauren Jackson | Jun 3, 2021 | buying a home, Real Estate, real estate appraisal, selling a home
Zillow, Zillow, Zillow The name Zillow may be a play on the word “zillions,” relating to the zillions of data points used to develop the Zestimate. Zillow also rhymes with pillow and triggers the emotions attached to homeownership. Did you know that the term Zillow...
by Lauren Jackson | Mar 4, 2021 | Estate Planning
Estate planning can be a very difficult process. While it’s not brain surgery, making the decision to move forward with the planning requires us to face the fact that we will not live forever. This thought can stop many people right in their tracks. Others talk...
