Blogs From the Plan Forward Legal Team
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What Rights Do Creditors Have Against an Estate?
If you’re looking to avoid paying debt by dying, we’ve got some more bad news for you. Almost all debt incurred during life must be repaid upon death from the estate of the decedent. Creditors have the legal right to make claims against an estate for unpaid debts. An estate has an obligation to pay…
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What Happens If A Person Does Not Leave A Will?
What happens if you die without a will? Although strongly recommended, a person does not have to create a will before they die. A will is one method for transferring assets upon someone’s death, but there are others. And if all else fails, the state of Illinois will step in and keep property from sitting…
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Heated Rivalry: When Family Dynamics Mean War
Most families assume estate disputes only happen in movies, wealthy families fighting over mansions, or to people who already didn’t get along. But estate attorneys see a different reality. Conflict often appears in families that once seemed perfectly stable, and all it takes is a few ingredients: Mix those together, and even small disagreements can…
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Estate Planning For Non-Citizens In The US
If non-citizens own property in the US or have US-born children, an appropriate estate plan is the most efficient way to preserve assets and protect non-citizen families living in the US. Legal or illegal residency status does not affect the ability to create legally enforceable estate planning documents. However, the federal gift and estate tax…
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What Happens To Your Student Loans If You Die?
Student loans and death. Words that don’t often go together, yet families are often left dealing with them. If you’re here because you’ve recently lost a loved one and are wondering what happens to their remaining student loans, let us offer our condolences. You may be here because you have student loans and you want…
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Transfer of Property Without a Will After Death
After a loss, having to sort out a loved one’s home, bank accounts, and personal belongings while also grieving can feel overwhelming. One of the most common questions families ask is simple and urgent: What happens to property if there is no will? This guide walks through what “transfer of property without a will” means…
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Pros and Cons of a Beneficiary Trust
There are many different kinds of trusts, the separate legal entities set up to hold assets. A specific kind, a beneficiary trust, is explicitly established to hold and manage assets for the direct financial benefit of one or more named heirs. Trusts are essential estate planning tools used to protect wealth, preserve privacy, and minimize…
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3 Big Estate Planning Challenges for the LGBTQ+ Community
Estate planning is often framed as paperwork about money. In reality, it is about something much more personal. It is about who gets to speak for you, who is protected, and whether the people you love are recognized when it matters most. For many LGBTQ+ individuals and families, the legal system does not automatically reflect…
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Can You Keep A Parent’s Low Interest Mortgage After They Die?
For many families, the biggest fear after inheriting a home is not what happens to the mortgage. It is the interest rate. Parents who refinanced or purchased before the COVID-era rate increases often have mortgage rates that are dramatically lower than what is available today. When heirs hear the word refinance, they immediately worry that…