You see the pattern — through an agreement with the company holding the asset, you have provided for disposition of the asset ...

One of the most effective tools in the estate planning process is a trust, which can offer significant advantages-including the ability to bypass the often lengthy and costly probate process. Trusts, ...

Estate Planning and Probate are crucial aspects of managing and transferring wealth. Estate Planning involves preparing for the distribution of an individual's assets upon their death or ...

When a loved one passes away and you know you need to get the probate court involved, oftentimes people find themselves asking where they begin. Further, people often wonder if they must get an ...

Probate can be a lengthy and complex process, leaving executors eager to find ways to expedite it. Familiarizing yourself with the legal procedures and documentation required to settle an estate ...

Probate can feel like stepping into a maze of legal paperwork, court deadlines and emotional decisions, often at one of life’s more difficult moments. Families suddenly find themselves juggling ...

Chicago wills attorney Mary Liberty of Illinois Estate Law ( is encouraging families to take proactive steps toward ...

Q: A fairly wealthy friend of mine recently passed away. Supposedly, in his will he left most everything to his spouse. The problem is that she has been told by her lawyer it will take up to six ...

In past weeks this weekly column has written about why you want to own your real estate until you pass away and the potential downfalls if you give your real estate to your kids before your death.

You may feel overwhelmed and even resentful. You can even refuse to take on the role, but if your relative named you because they trusted you above everyone else, you may feel obliged (1). If you find ...

Before you invest time and money into probate avoidance strategies, it's worth taking a step back to understand whether this ...