One estate plan add-on that many Chicago residents find useful is a Totten trust. While that name may sound unfamiliar, these so-called “trusts” are actually just payable-on-death checking accounts. So, what’s the use for a Totten trust in your estate plan? Read on to...
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Estate Planning
How can people reduce the risk of estate taxes?
Estate taxes can significantly alter the legacy that an individual leaves when they die. They may have intended for their loved ones to receive all of their property, but estate taxes could force the liquidation of certain assets to fulfill tax responsibilities. The...
The importance of fully funding a special needs trust
Parents and other family members establishing special needs trusts typically have one of two priorities. They want to ensure that a child with special needs has financial support after their parents or current caregivers become incapable of supporting them. Other...
What are the benefits of a generation-skipping trust?
Many people choose to leave their assets to their children when they die. However, some families looking to protect generational wealth may decide to create a generation-skipping trust (GST). Your children can still benefit from the trust during their lifetimes, but...
What types of advance directives does Illinois have?
When most people think about estate planning, they tend to think first about their assets and other financial matters that can be addressed via wills, trusts and beneficiary negotiations – but it’s important to think about your health care wishes and advance...
When can an incentive trust be useful?
What would you do if you suddenly inherited a large amount of money? Would you buy everything you ever wanted? Would you invest it in the stock market? Would you give it all away to charity? You may need to consider these kinds of questions before leaving your estate...
Why estate tax planning is so important in Illinois
People establishing estate plans need to take many different matters into consideration. They may need to think about the relationships among their beneficiaries and the value of different assets. They may also need to consider issues that could reduce what their...
Choosing the right trustee for a special needs trust
People who fund special needs trusts typically want to provide a beneficiary who cannot live independently with long-term support. Parents, for example, might fund trusts to ensure that their children with special needs have supplemental resources or access to the...
Protecting your family from tough medical choices
No one likes to think about a time when they might be seriously ill or injured. It’s a rather uncomfortable subject. However, life happens, and a serious health crisis can leave your loved ones struggling to make critical decisions on your behalf. Imagine your spouse...
What are the benefits of having a living will?
When friends and family have casual discussions about wills, they often think about a last will and testament. Although this estate planning tool helps honor your asset distribution’s directives and your final wishes, there is another type of will that you can use...
