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Recent blog posts
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When deciding between a will and a trust, it’s best to have a clear understanding and know the differences between the two. A trust is a legal document where a third party or trustee is authorized to manage the assets that are held in the trust. The trustee makes sure the correct heirs gain the…
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Does My Estate Qualify for a Small Estate Affidavit in Illinois?
: Does My Estate Qualify for a Small Estate Affidavit in Illinois?Are you wondering what a Small Estate Affidavit is? It’s a legal document that speeds up the asset distribution process when someone dies with a small estate. In Illinois, the term “small estate” usually refers to estates with assets totaling up to $100,000 or less, and there is no real estate involved. This mechanism allows…
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The Differences Between Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts in Illinois
: The Differences Between Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts in IllinoisWhen it comes time to plan your estate, it is more than just drafting a will or deciding who gets your personal belongings. You need a strategy that helps manage your assets, avoids unnecessary legal complications, and protects your wealth. One of the most effective ways to do this is through a trust. But not…
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Prior to law school I worked in consulting. My job was leveraging automation and digital tools to replicate time-consuming redundant tasks for privilege and discovery teams on a nationwide litigation effort. I used VBA, SQL and Acrobat to save $180,000 across a single team. My skills in this area have allowed me to operate a…
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Three things in life are inevitable: death, taxes, and practice management software. Well, the third is only inevitable if you practice law… the moment you get sick of spreadsheets to keep track of your client matters is the moment you realize it’s time for practice management software. If you’ve been to a law seminar or…
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What is the Role of a Guardian ad Litem in a Guardianship?
: What is the Role of a Guardian ad Litem in a Guardianship?In most counties in Illinois, the judge will appoint a Guardian ad Litem (frequently referred to by its abbreviation “G-A-L”) before appointing a guardian of a Ward. This is a confusing term because both “Guardian” and “Guardian ad Litem” have the word Guardian in them – but they could not be more different in their…
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If you are a new homeowner, congratulations! Maybe someone recommended to you recently that now that you own a home, it is beneficial to put your real estate in a revocable living trust and you’re wondering why. Read on! By putting real estate in trust, clients ensure that their home will be transferred to their…
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One issue that we come across frequently is a deed that has been sitting in a deceased parent’s name for years, and finally a child is ready to sell the property, but doesn’t have the authority to sell because their name is not on the deed. One way to go about selling the property is…
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The first time I heard the word “probate” was after I had finished law school and passed the bar exam. If you are lucky, the probate process is a foreign concept to you. But most people come across it at some point in their lifetime, and we are here to demystify what exactly probate is. …
