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...
by Lauren Jackson | Nov 10, 2018 | Real Estate, real estate closing, selling a home, Transfer Stamp
Many cities and villages in Chicagoland and throughout Illinois require you to obtain a real estate transfer stamp before you can complete the sale of your property. If one is required, title companies will not complete the transaction unless a transfer stamp is...
by Lauren Jackson | Oct 10, 2018 | Beneficiary, Estate Planning, executor, Probate
An Executor for an estate is the person or entity chosen to carry out final wishes as stipulated in a will. Some of an executor’s responsibilities include: filing the will with the county clerk after the death of the testator, ensuring all debts/claims have been paid,...
by Lauren Jackson | Aug 29, 2018 | buying a home, Real Estate, real estate closing, selling a home
If you are selling a house, what exactly happens the day of the closing? First, the buyer will need to accomplish a final walk-through of the property. Before this can happen, all of your possessions must be out of the house. The buyer and their realtor will then...
by Lauren Jackson | Jul 12, 2018 | Estate Planning, Probate, Wills
In the estate-planning world, there are many different requirements (depending on the state) for a last will and testament to be valid. One of the main reasons to make a Will is for it to set forth the final distribution of your assets. There is no point in having a...
by Lauren Jackson | Jun 24, 2018 | buying a home, Real Estate, real estate closing, selling a home, Uncategorized
When you are selling your home (or any type of property for that matter) sellers are always curious what their closing costs are going to run. Sometimes the costs can make the difference as to whether you get money back or have to bring money to the closing. A lot of...
by Lauren Jackson | Jun 6, 2018 | buying a home, Real Estate, selling a home, Survey
In the state of Illinois, if you own a single family home or a townhouse with its own lot number, and you are selling your property, your real estate contract will require you to provide a survey to your buyer dated within the last six months. If you have bought the...
by Lauren Jackson | Apr 17, 2018 | buying a home, Real Estate, real estate closing, Real Estate Inspection
If you are in the process of buying a home or piece of property, one thing I advise my clients to do as soon as the ink on the contract is dry is to set up an inspection of the property performed by a certified home inspector. A lot of individuals think they can have...
