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Estate Planning

Illinois Estate Planning Attorney Helps Protect Your Assets

Preserving your family’s wealth for future generations

Whether you’re planning the parameters of your future medical care or establishing support for loved ones upon your death, Kurlander & Associates can help with all aspects of your estate plan, including:

  • Advance directives (living wills; property and health powers)
  • Estate tax issues
  • Choosing the appropriate executor and/or trustee
  • Trusts; Living Trusts, gifting trusts, insurance trusts
  • Will drafting

Estate planning documents are extremely flexible and can be designed to fit your unique needs. I work closely with you to determine your goals and create precise instruments to carry out your intentions.

Securing your legacy

You’ve worked hard for your family, so knowing that you have planned for their long-term well-being and financial security can bring you great comfort. We thoroughly analyze your estate and strategize the best means of transferring your assets, minimizing taxes, establishing guardianship for your children, caring for your pets, supporting personal philanthropic causes and protecting your loved ones.

Draft your advance directive and last will and testament and Living Trust

A will is essential at every stage of your life. Your advance directive (or living will) sets the parameters for medical intervention should you become incapacitated. This assures that when you are most vulnerable, your wishes will be honored.  Your durable powers for property and health care enable you to choose who can make important decisions if you are too ill to handle these matters. Your last will and/or living trust  provides the opportunity to distribute your property, establish care for your children and otherwise express your wishes upon your death. A will and/or living trust is necessary if you intend to leave property to a person or entity other than a blood relative, such as a domestic partner, a friend or a charity. If you die without a will, and have not transferred all property into a living trust or into joint tenancy or other forms of automatic transfer,  the court determines how your property is distributed; without a Will and/or living trust, the Court will decide  who cares for your children and even what happens to your pet – making decisions that might not reflect your desires. Drafting valid wills and/or living trusts  to ensure your intentions are honored.

Changing your will or Trust

As your life changes, so might your estate plan. You should update your will  and any living trust periodically throughout your life. I draft valid codicils or new replacement wills and amendments to trusts that address changes in your financial situation, marital status, number of children, philanthropic interests and general lifestyle decisions.

Appointment of guardians

If you have minor children, your will allows you to make decisions about their future care. Naming a guardian is especially important if you are a single parent, but even married couples must consider the remote possibility of perishing in a common incident. If you do not name a guardian, the court will appoint one whose decisions may be in conflict with your parenting goals. You can also make arrangements for your pets’ care in your will, even naming a guardian to assume ownership.

Contact an estate planning lawyer you can trust.

For comprehensive estate planning services in Chicago and throughout Chicago, call Kurlander & Associates at 312-925-9416 or contact my office online to schedule a consultation.

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Michele Kurlander
Our Office
  • Chicago Office
    155 North Michigan Avenue
    Suite 620
    Chicago, Illinois 60601
    Phone: 312-925-9416
    Fax: 312-278-0015
Call Michele Kurlander: 312-925-9416

Office Hours:
Monday-Friday  9am-5pm