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...
by Lauren Jackson | Oct 13, 2019 | Contract for deed, Quit claim deed, Real Estate, warranty deed
A deed for real estate is a legal document that transfers ownership of real estate from one owner to another. When buying and selling real estate, in the state of Illinois, there are several different types of deeds that are used. If you are selling or buying real...
by Lauren Jackson | Sep 2, 2019 | Real Estate, real estate closing, selling a home
For most people, the most expensive transaction you will ever make is the sale of your home. However, before you are able to sell your home, there is a process that must be followed. If using one, you will be working heavily with your real estate...
by Lauren Jackson | Aug 3, 2019 | Estate Planning, executor, Probate
If you have been named the executor of an estate, you probably have a lot of questions regarding what you will have to eventually do. By law, there are many tasks the executor must complete and they are all equally important. The information that follows can help...
by Lauren Jackson | Jul 20, 2019 | buying a home, Real Estate, Real Estate Inspection
If you are thinking of buying a home it is not required, but highly recommended, that you get a home inspection by a qualified home inspector. What is a home inspection and how should you use the report? A home inspection is exactly what it sounds like, a thorough...
by Lauren Jackson | Jul 4, 2019 | Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Supplemental Needs Trust
If you are parents or grandparents to children who have special needs, you may have a lot of questions regarding what can and should be done to prepare for their continued care after your passing. The biggest question I answer for people is what needs to be done...
by Lauren Jackson | Jun 10, 2019 | Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Real Estate
The power of attorney for property in Illinois is a versatile and powerful document. There are two main functions it serves for our clients at Lauren Jackson Law. Not only is it used in all of our Estate Planning packages, but we also use it for our real estate...
by Lauren Jackson | May 9, 2019 | executor, open probate case, Probate
If you are trying to find out if a probate case has been opened for a deceased individual, there are a few steps you can take to find out that information. If a probate estate has been opened, it will be with the county court for the county where the deceased party...
by Lauren Jackson | Mar 30, 2019 | Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Probate, Real Estate
Occasionally, I have a case brought to my practice where a homeowner has died and had no known family members to whom the house should transfer. In this case, there are a few different options for how to handle the future ownership of the house. If the homeowner...
by Lauren Jackson | Mar 3, 2019 | Beneficiaries, Estate Planning, Revocable living trust
Yes, if you are named in a trust as a beneficiary then you are entitled to a copy of the trust and an accounting annually of the entire estate. A lot of people keep their estate plan private for a multitude of reasons. However, when someone dies and you have...
