Probate Law
Probate Court
Did you recently lose a loved one, and you’re now needing to understand your rights or involvement with settling or administrating their estate? Or do you simply want to know what interests you’re entitled to based on previous information your loved one shared? In Illinois, you might need to “open an estate” and “file for letters of office” in Probate Court, depending on if the deceased’s estate is valued over $100,000.
At Casper Legal, we understand the emotional toll and stress involved for individuals who are suddenly saddled with closing out their loved one’s estate, and our team will work diligently and efficiently to help settle your loved one’s matters.
Estate Planning
Benjamin Franklin said it best, “...in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.”
Despite this certainty, we still sometimes fail to prepare for the inevitable. Estate Planning is a proactive measure that will give you a peace of mind, knowing that your assets are protected, and will be distributed according to your sole desires.
The term Probate refers to the legal process of administering a deceased person’s will, or the estate of a person who has died without a will (i.e. intestate). Losing a family member is a tough burden for anyone to bear. Losing a family member that doesn’t have a will makes the burden even harder on their surviving heirs. By taking the time to create the appropriate documentation during your lifetime can save your surviving loved ones a world of trouble in the long run.
Trusts
Why are trusts important? Maybe you’re a private person that doesn’t like the idea of your assets being paraded through Probate Court, or you have a determinable estate with multiple beneficiaries in mind, some that aren’t even related to you. Trust construction serves the sole purpose of avoiding others having control or say-so over how your assets are to be distributed, and can also be freely modified during your lifetime as opposed to a will. Trusts additionally do not pass through probate, and are considered to be a more private form of distributing your assets. There are various ways to create a trust for your own benefit as well as your intended beneficiaries, and we are happy to help you navigate, explore, and create your options.
Legal Instruments
Do you have certain assets such as a house that doesn’t necessarily require a full-blown structure such as a will or trust? Perhaps you only need a document to help control the designation of successor beneficiaries. Sometimes it’s just as simple as creating an instrument that can still protect you and/or your loved one’s interests without the involvement of extensive Estate Planning. Our firm is experienced with creating “a la carte” documents ranging from various Powers of Attorney, to Payable on Death Instruments, to Transfers on Death Instruments. These less daunting documents are designed to provide protections to individuals and their interests, and are recognized by Courts if executed properly. We will help you understand the importance of all documents as applicable to your particular situation.