In this article, our McHenry county trust lawyers explain how wills and trusts can be used to ensure that your assets are properly distributed according to your wishes when you pass. Ensuring the proper distribution of assets is a particular important consideration if:

• You are divorced with minor children;
• You are estranged from a family member;
• You want your church or favorite charity to receive some of your assets;
• You want some of your assets to pass to someone outside of your immediate family;
• You want your wishes to control over how your assets are distributed or used for your children's benefit for a period of time after you pass.

Read the full article by our McHenry County will and trust lawyers explaining distribution of assets using wills and trusts.

In this article, our McHenry County trust lawyers explain the benefits of using revocable living trusts to avoid probate. One of the primary benefits of a proper estate plan is the avoidance of a probate case when you pass away.  Probate is a court case that is required to distribute your assets if you pass away owning any real estate outside of a trust or more than $100,000.00 outside of a trust or payable on death account.  Probate can drain significant assets from your estate, and is likely to delay the distribution of your assets to your loved ones for at least a year.  Using a revocable living trust as the primary vehicle of your estate plan makes probate unnecessary and allows your trustee to pass your assets to your loved ones immediately and without the need to pay attorney fees and court costs.

Read the full article by our McHenry County probate lawyers explaining how revocable living trusts can be used to avoid probate when you pass.

In this article, our McHenry county trust attorneys explain the appointment of fiduciaries in your estate plan. Ensuring that people you trust to manage your estate are in charge of executing your wishes when you pass is a major benefit of having an estate plan. A trustee is the person that you name to administer your trust.  An executor is a person named in your will to manage your probate estate. A healthcare agent and a financial agent are people that you name in your healthcare and financial powers of attorney to manage major life decisions for you if you become mentally incompetent.

Read the full article by our McHenry County will and trust lawyers explaining the appointment of fiduciaries in estate plans.