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Recent blog posts
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What Happens If the Executor Fails to Act in Illinois Probate?
: What Happens If the Executor Fails to Act in Illinois Probate?The executor has a lot of responsibility to manage an estate through Illinois probate. If they fail to do their duties, it can have consequences. Beneficiaries can suffer and the executor may be liable for their failure to do the job correctly. The skilled estate planning lawyers at Bielski Chapman, Ltd. help you manage the…
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Gifting Strategies to Reduce Estate Taxes in Illinois
: Gifting Strategies to Reduce Estate Taxes in IllinoisKnowing the right way to gift can help with estate taxes later on. This helps preserve your wealth for the next generation. Federal exemptions are high for estate taxes, but Illinois’ is significantly lower. This means that, without proper planning, you could face a steep estate tax burden in the future. The skilled estate planning…
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How to Handle Out-of-State Assets in an Illinois Probate Case
: How to Handle Out-of-State Assets in an Illinois Probate CaseIf someone you loved passes away, they may own property in more than one state. This makes probate a bit more complex. For those who own vacation homes, accounts, or other assets outside of Illinois, you may have to deal with the probate and estate laws of another state. The right planning now could help…
All blog posts
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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. …
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There are two types of estate planning: will-based planning and trust-based planning. Our office only does trust-based planning. While a Last Will and Testament will direct your executor how to distribute your property, your executor will be required to go to probate court to collect and distribute your property, opening up your estate to the…
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Folks often believe that only the wealthy need a will or a trust. As a matter of fact, having an estate plan is not only about passing wealth on to future generations or avoiding taxes. People Who Need an Estate Plan Estate planning has numerous benefits for all of the following groups. If you fall…
