Hedeker Law

When done correctly, estate planning involves more than simply deciding who will receive your estate assets when you are gone. In fact, a well thought out estate plan can do as much to protect you while you are alive as is does to provide for loved ones when you are gone. Although there is no such thing as a “standard” estate plan, there are some components that are frequently found in a comprehensive estate plan. One of those is an Advanced Directive component. The State of Illinois recognizes four different Advance Directive options, including a Health Care Power of Attorney, [Read more…]

A prominent Illinois businessman and nursing home operator, Philip Esformes, was recently arrested in what may turn out to be the largest Medicaid/Medicare fraud scheme ever to be uncovered in the United States. Esformes was arrested at one of his $2 million estates on the Miami Beach waterfront and placed in immediate detention. He has since been denied bond despite repeated requests and pleas from various supporters. Esformes is accused of orchestrating an unprecedented $1 billion Medicaid and Medicare bribery and kickback scheme that has allegedly been going on for many years at his various nursing home facilities throughout the [Read more…]

If you have finally made the decision to get started on your estate plan, your first step will likely be to create and execute a Last Will and Testament. As such, you are probably spending a considerable amount of time thinking about who you wish to name as beneficiaries in your Will and what assets you plan to gift to which beneficiary. Of course, these decisions are important as they are at the heart of a Last Will and Testament; however, do not make the mistake so many other people make of glossing over the choice of Executor. All too [Read more…]

Whether you are aware of it or not, there is a fairly good chance that you will find yourself in an Illinois probate court, if you are an Illinois resident, at some point in your life. If you are unfamiliar with the concept of probate and/or with the types of legal matters typically handled in a probate court it would be a good idea to educate yourself now before you find yourself in the middle of a probate matter. With that in mind, the following provides a basic guide for what you might expect in an Illinois probate court. The [Read more…]

Although most people realize the need to have an estate plan in place, a surprising number of them do not have one. When asked why they have yet to create a comprehensive estate plan, several answers predominate. One of the simplest is the fact that people are unsure where to begin and/or what they need. The best way to determine what estate planning legal services you need is to consult with an experienced Illinois estate planning attorney. In the meantime, however, it may be beneficial for you to learn more about what estate planning services are available. What Is Estate [Read more…]

A comprehensive estate plan should accomplish much more than simply providing a roadmap to be used to distribute your estate when you are gone. Exactly what additional goals you include in your comprehensive estate plan will depend on a variety of factors; however, one popular addition to any well-rounded estate plan is an incapacity planning component. If you do decide to include incapacity planning in your estate plan, you may wish to consider creating a revocable trust as part of that plan because a revocable trust creates an excellent foundation for an incapacity plan. Why Do I Need an Incapacity [Read more…]

Like many people, you may have yet to sit down and create your estate plan, despite understanding the importance of having a plan in place. Also like many people, you may be tempted to take what appears to be the easy route by using “Do-It-Yourself” legal forms you find on the internet or at a local office supply store. In the short run, using DIY Wills and other legal forms may seem like a smart idea; however, in the long run, DIY estate planning forms typically end up costing your loved ones considerably more in terms of both time and [Read more…]

When most people think about the decisions they must make when creating their Last Will and Testament, they focus on decision relating to the divisions and distributions of their estate assets. One of the most important decisions you must make when creating your Will, however, has nothing directly to do with dividing your estate. Deciding who to appoint as the Executor of a Will, however, is a decision that will have a direct impact on the efficiency with which the estate is probated when the time comes. That, in turn, will directly impact the beneficiaries of the estate. Therefore, if [Read more…]

For most people, a Last Will and Testament serves as the cornerstone of their comprehensive estate plan.  A Will, however, is not usually sufficient, by itself, to achieve all of your diverse estate planning needs and objectives. As a result, most estate plans also include additional estate planning tools and strategies, such as a trust. In fact, a trust is one of the most common additions to a well-rounded estate plan. Only your Illinois estate planning attorney can help you decide if a trust is right for your specific estate plan. It may be beneficial to you, however, to learn [Read more…]

Veterans Day is just around the corner in the United States. Every November 11th – chosen because that was the day World War I officially ended – we celebrate Veterans Day in the U.S. as a way to honor the men and women who have served their country by serving in the United States military and/or being killed in war while serving in the military. If you are a veteran, or you are the surviving spouse of a veteran, you may be entitled to a number of benefits for your service to your country. You probably already know about many [Read more…]