A Commitment
to Each Client.
In Illinois and all other states, executors and trustees have fiduciary duties toward certain others. When someone has a fiduciary obligation, he or she must act on behalf of the estate owner in question in an honorable and transparent manner. This would, of course,...
A court in another state was the location where Hollywood superstar Burt Reynolds' final will was filed recently. The actor passed away suddenly after a 911 call reported that the 82-year-old male was having breathing trouble and was suffering chest pains. Rescue...
Food fans in Illinois and the world over were recently shocked and saddened by the news of Culinary TV star Anthony Bourdain's sudden and unexpected death. Sadness was intensified when reports surfaced that he committed suicide. Now, Bourdain's family is back in...
When an Illinois resident executes an estate plan, a number of topics are usually addressed. Wills and trusts are basic components of many estate plans. There are various types of both kinds of documents, and determining which options will best help an estate...
You have four children, and three of them have been everything you ever hoped for as a parent. They never got in trouble with the law, they all graduated from college, they got married and started families and careers. They still come home for Christmas and send you...
Choosing an executor of your will is easier said than done, as you realize that the decision you make today could have an impact on your estate and loved ones in the future.For this reason, you need to think long and hard about who you choose as the executor. While...
Often, establishing a trust is not the end of your estate planning concerns, especially if your wishes for your estate change after the fact. While it is not always possible to achieve exactly what you hope, depending on the nature of your existing trust and the terms...
When creating a trust, one of the most important decisions you make is appointing a trustee to oversee the assets within it and uphold the trust's terms. This is a great responsibility for any person, and often leads to unanticipated conflicts between the trustee and...
Executing certain documents while one is of sound mind may help ensure that certain actions are carried out (or avoided) if an urgent situation arises where one becomes incapacitated. Living wills are an example of this. When terminal conditions are diagnosed by...
It's important to pay attention to the beneficiary designations on all of your financial accounts. Failure to fill out such a designation properly -- or to update it after a change in circumstances -- could create a serious problem for your entire estate plan.One...
