Arlington Heights Estate Planning

Find the right Wills & Trusts attorney in Arlington Heights, IL

In Arlington Heights, estate planning refers to the procedure of deciding what should be done with one's assets after their death.

If you want to start the process of planning your estate, you've made a good choice, particularly if you care about what happens to your survivors after you're gone. You should be careful, however, and make sure you have the help of a legal and financial expert every step of the way. This will likely prove very helpful in the long run, preventing a lot of problems in the future.

In addition to deciding what to do with your assets after your death, your estate plan should also contain things that might become relevant during life. Power of attorney is a big one. Power of attorney is an arrangement in which you provide another person the ability to make decisions for you, if you become incapacitated. Also, effective estate planning can help reduce the effect of taxes and court fees on your final disposition to your chosen beneficiaries.

A competent estate planner in Arlington Heights can make the procedure of planning your estate go much more smoothly, and maximize the chances of your wishes actually being carried out with legal force.

Common Features of Arlington Heights Estates

Will: A will is often the central component of an estate plan. It is a legal document which says what is to be done with a person's assets after they die. It usually involves giving money and property to the testator's close family members, friends, and sometimes charitable organizations.

Living Will: A living will contains instructions about your medical care, generally for the purpose of informing your family and doctors of your preferences if you suddenly become incapacitated. A living will is very critical if you have any strong preferences in this area. It should be written with the advice of a doctor, so you know the particular medical consequences of your decisions, and a lawyer, so it is virtually guaranteed to be legally binding.

Power of Attorney: What if you become incapacitated, and can't make your own decisions? It would be nice if somebody knew what you would want in a given situation, and, on top of that, had the legal authority to make that decision for you. Power of attorney lets you do exactly that, granting a person of your choice the ability to make certain decisions for you, in case you, for whatever reason, can't (you can, of course, control the scope of power that you grant).

Funeral Arrangements: Some people, for religious and other reasons, have very particular wishes regarding the disposal of their remains after they die. Some want to be buried. Others, cremated. No matter what your preferences on this matter are, it's essential that you inform your family of them far in advance. These instructions should be included in a document that is likely to be read before your death (such as a living will), or very shortly thereafter. This excludes a will, because it's often weeks after a person dies until their will is read.

Do I Need a Arlington Heights Estates Lawyer?

A reputable lawyer in Arlington Heights can make the process of estate planning as easy as it possibly can be. He or she can help ensure that your wishes are given effect, and minimize the chances of disputes between your survivors.

Talk to a Wills, Trusts & Estates Law Attorney now!

Life in Arlington Heights

Arlington Heights, Illinois is a suburb of Chicago. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of more than 76,000 people.

Despite being so closely associated with the much larger city of Chicago, Arlington Heights, Illinois is most definitely a distinct community in its own right.

Arlington Heights, Illinois has undergone a major business boom in recent decades, leading to significant economic and population growth. As a result, Arlington Heights, Illinois is home to Arlington Park, a famous horse race track, which has been in nearly constant use since the 1920s.

Because of its diversity, and the extremely active business and racing community, there is a significant demand for skilled Arlington Heights, Illinois lawyers. Lawyers in Arlington Heights need to be skilled in as wide a variety of legal areas as possible, if they are to succeed in an incredibly competitive legal marketplace.

In addition to a large quantity of lawyers, the quality of Arlington Heights, Illinois lawyers is hard to beat.Being near Chicago means that Arlington Heights, Illinois is very close to Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago. These universities are considered by many to have some of the finest law schools in the nation. Both of these law schools consistently rank in the top 15 nationwide.

Given the quantity and quality of lawyers in Arlington Heights and the surrounding areas, chances are that hiring an Arlington Heights, Illinois lawyer will turn out to be a very good decision.

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