Services
Our Trusts and Estates professionals help clients avoid probate, protect assets from creditors, manage wealth for beneficiaries to ensure that the clients' last wishes are met, and minimize the tax liability when transferring wealth to successive generations. We provide comprehensive representation in many estate related fields including personal tax-driven estate planning, business succession and charitable planning, probate, complex estate and trust administration, estate and trust litigation, and charitable organization representation.

Types of Estate Documents Available

• Wills: A Will is an instrument that directs how your last wishes will be carried out. The Will operates only after death. Other legal instruments are required if the individual is alive but incapacitated. Specifically, in the Will you may designate guardians for minor children, dispose of your assets, and also direct your executor on funeral arrangements. You must have a Will drafted in accordance with Illinois Law. If your Will fails to adhere to Illinois statutory guidelines it may not be enforceable in Court and your wishes may not be met.
• Trusts: A Trust is a good way to avoid probate court and is another form of estate planning that offers more flexibility on how you dispose of your assets than a Will. Individuals may also be able to avoid certain tax liabilities through the use of a Trust.
• Power of Attorney: A power of attorney is a document that designates someone who can act for you. This document is especially important when you lack the capacity to manage your own affairs and want someone you trust to manage it for you.
• Living Will/Health Care Power of Attorney: These documents direct your health care wishes when you are not able to.

• Trust and Estate Administration: If you are named a trustee or an executor or administrator of an estate, Trust or Will, we can assist you in preparing distributions, opening accounts, preparing accounting and settling estate affairs.