by Lauren Jackson | Oct 6, 2020 | Estate Planning
Estate planning—it is an incredibly important tool, not just for the uber-wealthy or those thinking about retirement. On the contrary, estate planning is something every adult should do. Estate planning can help you accomplish any number of goals, including appointing...
by Lauren Jackson | Sep 8, 2020 | Estate Planning, Medicaid
A popular question that I answer a lot for my estate planning clients is what is the Medicaid look-back period for assets? When clients realize they might be eligible for Medicaid, they start their estate planning with that in mind. However, the timing of everything...
by Lauren Jackson | Jun 28, 2020 | Estate Planning, Life Insurnace
One question that I continually hear from clients, friends, and family is what type of life insurance should I get? First off, let’s acknowledge that I am not an insurance salesperson and I do not and have never sold insurance. The following information is...
by Lauren Jackson | Jun 17, 2020 | Uncategorized
When I’m talking with my clients about how often to review their estate planning documents, I always recommend they review all financial accounts; how they are titled and who are the listed beneficiaries. A good habit to get into is to do an annual review. I...
by Lauren Jackson | Apr 25, 2020 | Estate Planning, Joint Trust
News about the coronavirus is everywhere, and we have all been affected by it in some way, even if we are currently completely healthy. Although it may seem as though circumstances are spinning beyond our control, we are not powerless. There are steps we can take to...
by Lauren Jackson | Apr 14, 2020 | buying a home, Real Estate, selling a home
Life is good and you believe you have found your forever home. However, what happens if you signed a contract to purchase that home and you changed your mind? Is there a way to cancel a real estate contract without being penalized? When purchasing a...
by Lauren Jackson | Mar 20, 2020 | Estate Planning, Joint Trust, Revocable living trust
Revocable living trusts are the most popular estate planning tool for married couples in my law practice. They can be extremely useful for incapacity planning, probate avoidance, asset protection, and privacy. Depending on the married couple’s goals and...
by Lauren Jackson | Mar 15, 2020 | Estate Planning, Gun Trust
If you are a legal gun owner, there are certain steps you must take in order to legally transfer your gun ownership to the person of your choosing. One common way to accomplish this is by setting up a gun trust. A properly organized Gun Trust is an entity...
by Lauren Jackson | Feb 23, 2020 | Estate Planning
Marriage is among the life-changing events that should cause one to review, or establish, one’s estate plan. Unfortunately, newlyweds do not make their way into my office very often. I understand how happy of time it is, but this is also a major life change where...
by Lauren Jackson | Dec 27, 2019 | Estate Planning, Irrevocable trust, Revocable living trust
When completing your estate plan, transferring the ownership of your real estate to a trust gives you a lot of benefits when it comes to ease of transfer for your family. However, there are a few disadvantages you should consider. Illinois has the second-highest...
