Northern Illinois Estate Planning and Probate Lawyers
We provide complete estate planning services to help you plan for the future well-being of your family and ensure your wishes will be followed upon death or serious illness. We also help families deal as efficiently and affordably as possible with the Illinois probate process, including handling any probate litigation that may arise.
Our Marengo, Illinois, firm is led in this area by Terrence J. McKenna, an accomplished attorney with nearly 20 years' experience in estate law and a thriving, compatible practice in business transactional law. For a free consultation to discuss your needs and the best legal options, please contact us today.
Wills — Powers of Attorney — Trusts
It is important for nearly everyone to have a will and power of attorney, in order to keep important decisions — such as guardianship of minor children and designation of an administrator for your estate — out of the hands of the courts. Today, most people also choose to designate, in a health care power of attorney (sometimes called a medical directive or living will), how and by whom decisions must be made should illness or an accident render them unable to make their wishes known.
Individual Attention and Innovative Solutions for Asset Protection
Equally important is the periodic review of your estate plan to make certain it provides the best available asset protection. Estate law is a constantly evolving area, and changes in your situation or available tools may make adjustments highly beneficial. For example, we assist many people who have retired to our Northern Illinois communities by:
- Revising or enhancing a will to address life changes since it was drafted
- Developing trusts that help minimize substantial tax liabilities and better protect real estate and other complex assets
- Drafting a special needs trust or other key legal document to clearly address unique situations within your family
Our attorneys and staff focus on developing an estate plan ideally suited to your individual needs and goals. We are equally capable of assisting you as a young person in need of a basic will and powers of attorney, or as a person with complex assets you wish to protect with the most sophisticated legal tools. Please contact us today for help with your estate plan or any legal needs related to probate in Illinois.