Ancillary Probate: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Avoid It Understanding Ancillary Probate If you own real estate in more than one state—whether it’s a vacation home, rental property, or land you kept after moving—you may unintentionally create extra steps for your loved ones after you pass away. When someone dies while owning property in multiple states, …
Why DIY Deeds Seem Appealing—but Often Backfire Many people want their home to pass smoothly to their children or loved ones without going through probate—the court process for distributing a person’s assets after they die. One common strategy is adding someone else to your property deed so the house transfers to them automatically at death. But while this may sound …
Estate Planning Tips for Someone Facing Major Surgery Hearing that you need major surgery can be overwhelming. Between preparing for time away from work, coordinating childcare, and understanding what recovery will look like, your to‑do list may feel endless. But when surgery is approaching quickly, one of the most important steps you can take is to make sure your estate …
The process of protecting your family and setting up your estate in the event of your death can be a daunting and expensive process. It can involve some very deep thinking about painful issues. Nonetheless, it is an important process – one that every family should engage in. First, it is important to understand why estate planning is so important. …
If you live in or near Champaign, Illinois, and are looking to plan an estate and ensure the financial future of your family, you’re in luck. Estate planning isn’t tremendously difficult, but it does require some time to gather the appropriate materials and make plans with your family. At the end of the day, you’ll want to call an experienced …
Have you thought about planning your estate? Life is more uncertain than ever, so it’s wise to be prepared. Consider consulting a Champaign estate planning attorney to get guidance on planning an estate. No one likes to think about the worst happening to themselves or the people they love, but estate planning is a profound act of love. You’ll be …
You have spent years building your small business, but have you taken time to consider what will happen to it when you retire, become disabled, or pass away? Although it is often hard to fathom an event that may not occur for many years, it is important to put plans in place in advance. The failure to do so could …
I’m talking about Advanced Directives with Deborah Kaminetzky on the most recent Ag Law Today podcast. So many people focus on Last Will and Testaments instead of Powers of Attorneys and Health Care Proxies, which are arguably MORE important. Deborah is amazing.. she hand held me through my first divorce and was a great mentor to me. Don’t miss this …
Revocable Living Trusts have become the basic building block of estate plans for people of all ages, personal backgrounds, and financial situations. But for some, a Revocable Living Trust may not be necessary to achieve their estate planning goals or may even be detrimental to achieving those goals. What Are the Advantages of a Revocable Living Trust Over a Will? …
As a new mother, you naturally want to ensure your new baby’s future in every way. For many new mothers, infancy is a time for celebrating new life, and making a will is the last thing on their minds. For others, the process of bringing new life into the world sparks intense feelings of wanting control and needing organization. Regardless …
Most Americans do not have a simple will as part of their estate plan. You might believe that a will is only for the rich and famous, and not the average person who has a far smaller net worth. On the other hand, you may think that a will is entirely unnecessary since you have a trust, jointly owned property, …