Blogs From the Plan Forward Legal Team
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How To Handle Power Of Attorney Abuse
Powers of attorney (POA) are created so that a trusted individual is available to make legal decisions for a person who is no longer able to act for themselves. The agent appointed under a power of attorney is legally required to carry out their responsibilities with the utmost good faith. However, not all agents abide…
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Limited Power Of Attorney Meaning
A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document that allows an individual to appoint another person to act on their behalf if they are unable or unwilling to act for themselves. Having a valid power of attorney means authorized actions may be taken on your behalf without the need for court intervention. Powers of…
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What Is A Living Will?
A living will in Illinois is a type of advance directive. It allows you to advise an attending health care provider of your wishes about receiving life-sustaining treatment if you have a terminal medical condition and you lack the capacity to decide. If you execute a valid living will, your health care provider must abide…
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Do You Need a Lawyer to Settle an Estate?
While it’s not legally required to have a lawyer’s assistance when settling an estate, hiring one can provide many benefits to the grieving family. Going through the probate process requires a lot of paperwork and special requirements, especially if there are any disagreements among the heirs. In complex estates, serving as your loved one’s personal…
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What Is a Widow’s Allowance? What You Need To Know For Surviving Spouses
When your spouse passes away, you face the burden of trying to live without their love, support, and financial assistance. The state of Illinois provides assistance, commonly known as a widow’s allowance. Yet what is a widow’s allowance, and what do you need to know as a surviving spouse? Our Chicago probate attorney at Plan…
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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…