Estate Planning

Estate Planning is the process of anticipating and arranging for the disposal of an estate after a person’s death. We understand the ultimate goal of an estate plan is determined by the specific goals of the client and can be a simple or complex situation.  One of the greatest legacies you can leave your loved ones is to ensure they have the information they need if you are unable to speak for yourself due to illness, injury or death.

We believe with our blending of legal expertise, authentic client connections, and proven wealth protection strategies, we truly help people prepare for tomorrow with customized estate, business, and asset protection plans.  We believe in the connection between creating meaningful trusts and integrating clients’ values into their estate plans.

Our goal is to help you make sense of your current financial situation in relation to transferring your assets to your loved ones in the most cost-effective manner possible.  We explain your options in a manner that is easy to understand with an eye toward giving you the best plan for your specific situation.

Over the years, we have garnished a very respectable reputation around the Chicago metro area.  We do not take that lightly and we treat every client with the utmost respect.  We value time and we will respect and value yours.  We understand the number one complaint with a lawyer is their lack of communication.  We have worked hard for our positive reviews from past clients and we will continue to work hard for our future clients.

Whether you are planning for the future of your children, grandchildren, extended family members or prefer to contribute to a charity or similar organization, we give you all your options and can help you select the best one for your estate.

To draft our documents, we use one of the most sophisticated estate planning software on the market today.  With that being said, not every attorney will offer the same documents that we draft.  Click here to learn about all of the documents that are included in our Standard Revocable Living Trust Estate Plan.

Wealth Counsel

We understand that when you are completing your estate plan you want reliability, guidance, and flexibility.  To better serve our estate planning clients, our law office is proud to be a member of Wealth Counsel. Wealth Counsel is the top tier “network” for estate planning attorneys across the country. It provides our law office with top-notch legal drafting software and up-to-date legal guidelines in the ever changing fast paced legal world. With Wealth Counsel we know our documents are compliant with all state and federal laws affecting your estate.

Whether you think your estate is “small and simple” or you have a multi-million dollar net worth, we have a solution that meets your needs.

Billing

Unlike most law firms, we have listened to past clients and have incorporated a no surprises, complete transparency flat fee billing for our estate planning clients. We know our clients do not like to be charged by the hour for an unknown amount of time. So we have developed a flat rate for the most common estate planning documents you will need.  If your estate plan requires additional work, you still will know the price before the work is completed.  No billing surprises, period.

Common Estate Plan packages:

Individual Will Package
Couple Will Package
Individual Trust Package
Couple Trust Package

The great thing about our packages is that it covers everything to get your documents completed: meetings, telephone calls, email communications, any research, all drafting, all original signed copies of documents, emailed PDF documents, a notary, and a witness. No more “sticker shock” when your attorney bill arrives.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the top qualities of a good executor?
2. How should you list beneficiaries on your financial accounts?
3. Why you should have a small business succession plan?
4. Common estate planning myths
5. Should I have a revocable living trust in my estate plan?
6. When and how should you update your estate plan?
7. Senior! What is the biggest disadvantage of moving your house to a trust?
8. How to fund your revocable trust?
9. If you are divorced, update your estate plan today!
10. Who should I choose to be the guardian of my child?