Chicago Area Estate Planning and Administration Law Firm
Estate planning is very personal whether you are single or a partner in a marriage or civil union. When choosing an estate planning attorney, you want someone who is going to listen to your needs and who is willing to take the time to understand the intricacies of your family, finances, and future plans. Every situation is different and your estate planning attorney needs to get to know you. This is why we offer flat fee estate planning, so that you and one of our experienced estate planning attorneys can take as much time as is needed to draft the estate plan that is right for you. We don’t want to bill you for every single consultation, phone call, and clarification. We want to get it done right, however much of our time that takes.
Estate Planning and Business Succession Planning
Our highly experienced attorneys provide sensitive, customized services with respect to:
- Estate planning
- Business succession planning
- Estate administration
- Trust administration
- Resolution of issues that impact your family and business
Our detailed approach integrates estate, trust, family, real estate, corporate and tax law, leading to comprehensive and successful results which achieve our clients’ goals and objectives in connection with preserving, managing and transferring wealth, and providing for the security of spouses and children.
Estate and Trust Administration
KSN attorneys have significant experience providing services in connection with estate and trust administration and post-death planning. Our attorneys can correct problems caused by unanticipated changes in tax law, thereby eliminating or reducing estate and/or income taxes. We provide comprehensive, personalized services including representing the estate in probate court and providing counsel with respect to funding trusts, selecting assets to fund trusts, the timing and process of properly distributing assets to beneficiaries and the potential benefits of disclaiming assets. In addition, we understand the emotional and sensitive nature of the estate and trust administration process and provide compassionate and empathetic service.
LGBT Estate Planning for Civil Unions
The Illinois Civil Union Act became effective on June 1, 2011. The Act establishes legal relationships between two people (either same-sex or different-sex partners), providing all of the legal obligations, responsibilities, protections and benefits that the laws of the State of Illinois grant to legally married couples.
Although the Illinois Civil Union Act will provide certain benefits, it does not address issues that LGBT individuals and couples face regarding estate planning. Establishing durable powers of attorney for health care and for property are still important tools to assure that your wishes are followed in the event you are unable to make decisions for yourself. Because Civil Unioned couples will not enjoy the tax benefits provided under federal law, careful planning with regard to wills and trusts is necessary to ensure the best protection for your estate and beneficiaries. Therefore, estate planning continues to be an important way for same-sex couples to ensure that partners or union spouses have access to their property and records.
Helping You Achieve Peace of Mind
We realize the estate planning process can often be emotional – even overwhelming. Because our billing rate is so accessible, we can take the time needed to educate and inform you about the full range of issues surrounding your estate. And we can answer all your questions in a thorough manner. We want you to know what we know about estate planning & administration, so you can make the right choices for you and your family.
An effective estate plan can help provide the peace of mind and long-term security that enables you to focus on more immediate personal and professional goals. We would be pleased to assist you in this very important process. Please complete the contact form to the left for prompt estate planning assistance.
