Every August, National Make-A-Will Month serves as an important reminder of something too many people postpone: creating a Will. While conversations about Estate Planning can be uncomfortable, the reality is that having a legally sound Will is one of the most meaningful ways to protect your family, safeguard your assets, and ensure that your wishes…
Your financial life rarely stands still. From buying a home or starting a business to selling investments or inheriting property, your financial picture can shift significantly from one year to the next. While these changes can be exciting, they can also make it challenging to keep your estate plan up to date A Living Trust…
It’s hard to go a day without touching something digital, from sending an email to managing bank accounts online. Most people don’t think twice about how much of their life lives behind screens and passwords. But when it comes to estate planning, digital assets are often left out. That can be a big mistake. If…
Making your own medical decisions seems like a given, but what happens if you’re unable to speak for yourself? That’s where a medical directive comes in. This legal document gives clear instructions about the kind of care you want or don’t want when you can’t make those calls on your own. Whether it’s due to…
As more people turn to digital investments, things like cryptocurrency and NFTs are showing up in everyday financial decisions, including estate planning. These assets don’t sit in a bank or safe deposit box, so including them in your estate plan takes a fresh approach. If you’re holding Bitcoin, Ethereum, or a collection of NFTs, it’s…
Creating a trust is one of the most effective ways to make sure your property, savings, and other assets are managed the way you want both while you’re living and after you’re gone. When done right, a trust can help you skip probate, reduce conflicts, and protect your legacy for the people who matter most….
Creating a trust can be a smart move to help manage and protect your assets, both while you’re alive and after you’re gone. It allows you to pass down property, control how money is distributed, and reduce court involvement. But for a trust to actually do what it’s supposed to do, it needs to be…
Planning for your medical care might not be something you think about every day, but it matters. If something happens and you’re unable to speak for yourself, others will need to make choices on your behalf. That’s why it helps to lay out those decisions ahead of time. Having a plan means your healthcare choices…
When people hear the term estate plan, they often think it’s something only the wealthy need. But that idea couldn’t be further from the truth. Estate planning is about making sure your belongings, money, and property go where you want them to after you’re gone. In Illinois, having a plan in place matters more than…
Deciding how much to share about your estate plan can feel like walking a tightrope. One of the biggest questions people face when setting up their will is whether they should tell their beneficiaries that they’re included. It might be tempting to keep the whole plan private, but there are real benefits to being open…
