Were you notified that a recently deceased loved one named you as the Executor of his or her estate? If so, you may be struggling to focus on the duties and responsibilities an Executor has during the probate of an estate giving the fact that you are undoubtedly also still grieving the loss of your loved one. If you have never served as an Executor before, you may not even know where to begin. To help you organize your responsibilities, the Lincolnshire estate planning lawyers at Hedeker Law, Ltd. have put together an Executor’s checklist that you may find beneficial. [Read more…]
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Estate Planning Attorneys Explain Why You Don’t Want to Die Intestate
Surveys tell us that the vast majority of Americans understand the need for estate planning. Despite this, over half of all Americans do not have an estate plan in place. People offer a variety of explanations for their apparent procrastination, including the belief that they don’t need an estate plan yet and not have the time and/or money to devote to creating a plan. Sometimes, the best way to convince someone that they need to do something is to explain what happens if they don’t do it. With that in mind, the estate planning attorneys at Hedeker Law Ltd. explain [Read more…]
Vernon Hills Estate Planning Lawyers Explain 10 Steps to Creating an Estate Plan
Have you put off creating your estate plan because you don’t know where to start? Or maybe because you aren’t sure what components you should include in your plan? If either, or both, of those apply to you, you are not alone. Surveys tell us that over half of all Americans have yet to create an estate plan, despite understanding the importance of having one in place. Like you, most of those people admit that not knowing where to start and/or what to include in the plan is the reason for their procrastination. Working one on one with an experienced [Read more…]
Illinois in #1 Spot for Unreported Elder Abuse Says Government Report
As the number of older Americans (age 65 and older) continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, the issue of elder abuse and neglect also continues to make headline news across the country. Experts have long claimed that it is difficult to accurately gauge the prevalence of elder abuse because a significant percentage of the abuse is not reported by victims. A recently released government report, however, is also pointing the finger at hospitals and nursing homes for failing to report possible incidences of physical and sexual abuse. Moreover, the State of Illinois took the number one spot for unreported [Read more…]
Asset Protection Attorneys Explain How to Protect Your Children’s Inheritance
For the average person, becoming a parent is a life-changing event. Everything is viewed in a different light once you are a parent. Your estate planning goals and objectives are no exception to that general rule. In fact, estate planning takes on a heightened importance when you are the parent of a minor child. Although the urgency that you feel regarding the need to have an estate plan in place may give way to a less urgent desire to keep your estate planning current once your children reach the age of majority, the common thread for all parents is the [Read more…]
Lincolnshire Estate Planning Attorneys — Is LGBTQ Planning Still Necessary?
Every adult should have at least a basic estate plan in place. For some adults, however, estate planning takes on a heightened importance. This has traditionally been the case for members of the LGBTQ community; however, in light of the fact that same-sex marriage is now legal across the United States, is LGBTQ planning still necessary? The Lincolnshire estate planning attorneys at Hedeker Law Ltd. explain why it remains important for members of the LGBTQ community to have a comprehensive estate plan in place. We’ve Come a Long Way… As members of the LBGT community and their supports know, it [Read more…]
Probate Lawyer Offers Tips on Recognizing a Fraudulent Will
The loss of a loved one brings with it a wide range of emotions, often including anger, depression, and denial among them. When the terms and provisions of the decedent’s Last Will and Testament are revealed, it can cause another emotional response altogether, especially if those terms and provisions are not what you were expecting or anticipating. If you find yourself questioning the validity of a loved one’s Will, you may have the right to legally challenge the Will during the probate of the estate. Given the complexity of a Will contest, and the importance of the outcome, you should [Read more…]
Waukegan Estate Planning Attorneys Discuss After-Born Children
For many people, one of the primary reasons for creating an estate plan is to provide for loved ones, specifically children, in the event of their death. If you are one of those people, you have probably gone to great lengths to create a Last Will and Testament or trust agreement that is very clear with regard to who your children are and what you wish them to receive from your estate. What happens, however, if you have another child after you execute your Will? What happens if a child of yours is born after your death? Or the biggest [Read more…]
Trust Lawyers Share Common Myths about Trusts
A comprehensive estate plan will typically include a wide range of estate planning tools and strategies in order to fulfill all of the various estate planning goals. Although a Last Will and Testament often serves as the foundation of an estate plan, another common tool found in the average estate plan is a trust agreement. Unfortunately, there are a number of myths and misconceptions people share about trusts that often cause them to shy away from considering a trust for their estate plan. In an effort to try and dispel some of those myths, the trust lawyers at Hedeker Law, [Read more…]
Lincolnshire Probate Attorneys Explain the Different Types of Probate
If you recently lost a family member or close loved one, you are undoubtedly trying to manage the emotional aftermath of your loved one’s death. At a time like this, the last thing most people want to focus on is legalities; however, someone must handle the legal and practical ramifications of your loved one’s death. Specifically, the decedent’s estate must be probated. If you are charged with handling the probate of the estate, the first thing you y need to do is decide which type of probate is required. To help you make that decision the Lincolnshire probate attorneys at [Read more…]
