Estate Planning

Planning with Wills and Trusts

Would You Like to Make Sure Your Family Knows What To Do?

What is Estate Planning?

Estate Planning simply means giving what you have, to who you want, when you want, the way you want, and doing so in a manner which you control. Good planning, whether you situation is simple, or more complex, preserves family harmony, protects assets, eases administrative hassles and can reduce taxes, fees and costs. Every family deserves a quality estate plan.

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Who Benefits from Estate Planning?

Virtually all individuals and families need an estate plan, but some people have a heightened need for planning such as those:

• With a higher net worth
• In a high risk profession
• Who own a business
• Who live in a blended family
• Who own investment real estate
• Who have love ones with special needs
• Who have minor children
• Who have significant charitable intent

A comprehensive and thoughtful estate plan can address the issues individuals and families have whose lives include these complications.

What Should You Expect During the Planning Process?

The first step in the planning process is to talk with Gloria Albus, our Client Services Coordinator. You can call her at 630-871-8778 or request a call here. Gloria will ask you a few questions about your planning needs and let you know how our firm works and what to expect. If you would like to schedule an initial meeting with an attorney, Gloria will send you a new client information packet, which includes information about what to expect.

The packet also includes a Personal Information Worksheet, which will help you start the information gathering process. Please go ahead and fill out the worksheet as best as you can and return it to our office prior to your initial meeting. The initial meeting is a working meeting, and we want you to get as much out of it as possible. Gloria can help you if you have any questions.

At your initial meeting with either attorney Bill Deitch or Kirsten Izatt, we will gather information about your family, goals, and objectives so we know what is most important to you. In addition, we will make sure you understand exactly what would happen under your current plan (whether or not you already have wills and trusts) and whether your current plan meets your objectives. We will also discuss public benefits and community resources available for the person with a disability. Finally, we discuss fee ranges and present planning options with you so you can make a good decision for your family. You will know exactly what your planning fee will be before you decide to retain us as your attorneys.

Once you have decided what steps to take next, we will work with you to design your plan. There may be one or more meetings involved in the design phase of your planning. Once your plan is designed and drafted, we schedule time to review everything to make sure it is exactly how you want it to be. At the signing meeting, we will go over everything with you—including your trust funding plan. Unlike some planners, we have a comprehensive process for making sure all of your accounts are titled properly in your trusts. You will receive straightforward instructions about what to do next, and we will be available to answer questions. We provide you with a CD containing scanned copies of all your documents.

Schedule an appointment or telephone call to discuss your needs.