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Recent blog posts
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A will is supposed to bring clarity and peace of mind after a person passes away. But sometimes, the process doesn’t go as smoothly as intended. In Illinois, a will can be contested if certain concerns arise about its validity or fairness. These disputes can lead to drawn-out court proceedings and strain family relationships. Understanding…
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Estate planning often brings up tough questions. How do you protect your loved ones? What happens to your assets after you pass? In Illinois, one tool that many families consider is the revocable living trust. While this type of trust offers some clear advantages, it’s not the right fit for everyone. If you’re considering a…
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The Illinois Probate Process: What Families Should Know
: The Illinois Probate Process: What Families Should KnowThe passing of a loved one is always an emotional time. On top of the grief, families are often faced with a series of legal steps that must be taken to handle the person’s estate. In Illinois, that process is known as probate. While the word itself might sound complicated, understanding what probate means, and…
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Receiving a windfall, such as a cash settlement or inheritance, can be a life-changing event. However, for individuals who rely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid benefits, it can also be a cause for concern. Fortunately, a few options can help individuals keep their SSI and Medicaid benefits while benefiting from the extra resources….
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You may think that an irrevocable trust is set in stone and its terms can never be changed. This is not the case. Say Auntie Anne dies leaving the proceeds from her successful pretzel chain business in her trust to her two brothers, Barclay and Clemson, naming her nephew Dusty as her trustee. The trust…
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Probate assets refer to any property (“asset”) owned by a decedent that must go through probatecourt to be transferred to the people who will ultimately inherit them. Probate is an expensivepublic proceeding, so if you want to maximize your estate and/or keep ownership of assetsprivate, note the common types of assets that typically go through…
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Options for Protecting Medicaid and SSI Benefits After a Windfall
: Options for Protecting Medicaid and SSI Benefits After a WindfallIf you are receiving a lump sum windfall, such as a lawsuit settlement, and you receive eitherSSI or Medicaid (or both), you will be temporarily cut off from your benefits until you re-qualify. You can avoid this cut off by contacting an attorney to take certain legal steps that willprotect your windfall and allow you…
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When I was 15, I was in a car accident that hospitalized me for 6 weeks. Because I was a minor, the doctors treating me could legally communicate freely with my parents. Had I been 18, the doctors could not have spoken with my parents without a power of attorney in place. Our firm’s strong…
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My dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s when I was in law school, and as it became clearer that he was a fall risk – and too stubborn to stop going up and down stairs – we decided that it was best to sell the house where me and my two brothers grew up. The house…
