A Wills & Trusts Attorney in Chicago, IL is an attorney who handles estate planning. Estate planning involves creating legal documents that settle how a person will be cared for after their death and how their assets and property will be passed on to loved ones. Working with a trusted and experienced estate planning attorney will ensure that your wishes are carried out exactly the way you want them to be.
A lawyer that specializes in wills and trusts can help you create an estate plan that is customized to your specific needs. The attorney can also provide valuable advice on how best to structure your affairs and minimize tax burdens. An expert wills and trusts lawyer can also assist with a wide range of other issues, such as planning for incapacitation and establishing special needs trusts for family members who require public assistance.
In addition to a will, our Chicago trust lawyers can prepare other legal instruments like power of attorneys and healthcare proxies. These are documents that allow you to appoint someone to manage your money and make health decisions for you should you become incapacitated. Without these documents, your family would be required to petition a court for permission to handle your personal affairs and make medical decisions for you, known as a guardianship.
Our lawyers can also assist with establishing revocable and irrevocable trusts. These trusts allow you to keep your private finances from public record and to protect assets from creditors. Trusts can be established for a variety of reasons, including providing benefits to disabled beneficiaries or children and preserving them from financial predators. Trusts can also provide protection for heirs and beneficiaries from the pitfalls of divorce settlements.
An experienced Chicago trust and estate litigation attorney can provide legal representation in disputes related to the settlement of a person’s estate, including claims of mismanagement or fraud. Our attorneys will work with the executor, trustee, or administrator of an estate to resolve disputes involving their actions or failure to take action.
A well-drafted will, trust, and other estate planning documents can eliminate confusion and conflict after your death, and ensure that your loved ones are taken care of according to your wishes. Our attorneys can help you create and update these documents, as your life circumstances change. In the event you have concerns about the behavior of an executor, trustee, or another fiduciary, our experienced attorneys can investigate and file a claim against them to enforce your rights as a beneficiary, heir, or other party.