Blogs From the Plan Forward Legal Team
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How Long After Death Do You Have to Transfer Property?
Making timely, complex legal decisions when you lose a loved one can be overwhelming. Still, state law requires you to swiftly act to initiate probate and address the estate. Let Plan Forward Legal assist you through the property transfer process with efficiency and care after losing someone you care for. A Chicago estate planning attorney…
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How Much Does An Estate Planning Lawyer Cost In Illinois?
Many of us have an aversion to doing things we know we should, but that we anticipate will cause us financial discomfort. Estate planning is one of those should-do tasks that is easy to put off because we tell ourselves (among other excuses) it’s going to be expensive. Preparing an estate plan tailored to your…
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Investing in Gold? Learn How That Affects Your Estate Plan
Gold is having a moment. Prices have soared as global and economic instability shape current events. But investing in gold isn’t new. Gold is one of the oldest assets we humans have ever used, and people have been passing it down to loved ones ever since we decided it was valuable. But if you already…
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Should My Power of Attorney for Property, My Healthcare Power of Attorney, and My Executor All Be the Same Person?
Choosing whether or not to have the same person as your power of attorney for property, healthcare, and as the executor of your will is a weighty decision. Estate planning involves careful selection to ensure your affairs are in order should you become incapacitated or when you pass. While it is common to choose one…
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Assisted Reproductive Technology and Estate Planning: What ART Babies Mean for Your Long Term
What if you have a baby six months after you die? How about two years? 20 even? It’s not science fiction. This is modern science, and it’s only advancing. The storage and eventual use of genetic material for reproduction, even after someone dies, is a very real topic that has serious implications in the legal…
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How Long Will It Take To Set Up A Trust?
Trusts are not one-size-fits-all. The time required to create a trust depends on the type of trust and the parties creating and benefiting from it. If a situation is very straightforward, setting up a trust might take only a few days. However, trusts created for particular purposes may take weeks or even months to complete.…
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What’s the Difference Between a Will and a Trust?
A will and a trust are necessary tools in Chicago estate planning. They allow you to protect your assets for the benefit of your loved ones. There are significant differences between a will and a trust. Creating the most beneficial framework to protect your assets requires examining the difference between the two estate planning options…
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Do You Need a Lawyer for Probate in Chicago, Illinois?
Losing your loved one is one of life’s most painful experiences. Handling the estate and the legal steps that follow can feel overwhelming. It is common to ask yourself, “Do I need a lawyer for probate in Chicago?” In most cases, families are glad they didn’t try to handle the probate process on their own.…
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Will My Power of Attorney Expire?
Understanding how long your POA lasts in Chicago and throughout Illinois If you landed on this page, there is a good chance you already signed a power of attorney at some point, and now you are wondering if it is still any good. Maybe it was part of a will package you signed ten years…