Hedeker Law

Although your initial estate plan may be fairly simplistic, it will likely grow as both your estate and your family grow. As such, you will need to decide what additional estate planning goals and objectives you wish to add to your plan. A common estate planning goal you may wish to consider is probate avoidance. To help you decide if probate avoidance should be part of your estate plan, the probate attorneys at Hedeker Law, Ltd. explain why probate avoidance is a common estate planning goal. What Is Probate? Most people leave behind an estate when they die. That estate [Read more…]

At some point in your life, you will likely be directly involved in the probate of an estate. That may be because you were named as the Executor of the estate of a family member or loved one who recently passed away, or you might be the beneficiary of an estate. Even if you manage to avoid being involved in the probate process as an Executor or beneficiary, you still need at least a basic understanding of the probate process so that you can properly plan your own estate. Toward that end, the Waukegan probate attorneys at Hedeker Law Ltd. [Read more…]

If you have a valid Last Will and Testament in place, the odds are good that your appointed someone very close to you  (spouse, adult child, best friend) to be the Executor of your estate. While that choice isn’t always a poor one, it often is. The problem is that most people do not really know what probate entails. As such, they give very little thought to the appointment of their Executor when, in fact, your Executor will directly and usually significantly impact how your estate is handled after you are gone. To ensure that your estate is handled as [Read more…]

The death of a loved one is typically followed by a period of grieving and an outpouring of emotions on the part of the family and close friends. By necessity, it is also followed by the legal process referred to as “probate” during which time the decedent’s estate is administered and estate assets are ultimately transferred to the new owners. Although probate can be full of bumps and minor obstacles along the way, it is normally a relatively uneventful process. Occasionally, however, the probate process can turn into a contentious legal battle as a result of a challenge to the [Read more…]

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…]

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…]

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…]