by Lauren Jackson | Oct 14, 2026 | Attorney, Estate Planning, Lawyer, Probate
Here’s the challenge: if something happened to you tomorrow, could your family find your important documents, know which accounts you have, and get access to what they need without a months-long scavenger hunt? Most people I meet assume the answer is yes, until...
by Lauren Jackson | Sep 13, 2026 | Attorney, executor, Lawyer, Probate
If you’re trying to find out whether a probate case has been opened for someone who has passed away, here’s how to check. Which county handles the probate case? Probate cases are filed with the circuit court in the county where the deceased person was...
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 | Nov 5, 2025 | executor, 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....
by Lauren Jackson | Jul 18, 2024 | Attorney, Estate Planning, executor, Lawyer, Wills
As an estate-planning law firm, we are asked by clients, how much money do I need to create a will? In simple terms, there is no minimum net worth requirement for creating a will. Frankly, net worth is far down on the list when it comes to reasons for drafting a will....
by Lauren Jackson | Jul 8, 2024 | Attorney, Estate Planning, executor, Joint Trust, Lawyer, Probate, Trusts, Wills
A question during the probate process evolves around what happens to debt after your parents die. Are the children responsible for their parents’ debt? In most cases, children are not personally responsible for parents’ debt when they die. However,...
