Downers Grove Estate Planning

Find the right Wills & Trusts attorney in Downers Grove, IL

In Downers Grove, estate planning refers to the process 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, especially 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 extremely helpful in the long run, avoiding 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 include things that might become relevant during life. Power of attorney is a big one. Power of attorney is an arrangement in which you give another person the ability to make decisions for you, if you become incapacitated. Furthermore, effective estate planning can help reduce the effect of taxes and court fees on your final disposition to your chosen beneficiaries.

If you want to maximize the odds that your wishes will be followed after your death, you should do everything you can to make them legally binding. While this is not always possible, a Downers Grove attorney will be able to make sure that, where it is allowed, it is done.

Common Features of Downers Grove Estates

Will: This is the centerpiece of most estate plans. A will is a document written by a person (the "testator"), normally with the help of a lawyer, which says what is to be done with their property after they die. Most provisions in a will are legally binding, to the extent that ownership of the property legally passes to the named beneficiary. However, a will cannot compel a person to do anything against their wishes (though it can certainly state your preferences on the matter, phrasing them as requests).

Living Will: Living wills are also very crucial for most people. Basically, a living will tells everyone concerned (your next of kin, and your doctor) what type of medical care you want if you become incapacitated. It usually includes the circumstances under which a person wishes to be kept on life support, when they want to be taken off of life support, and, sometimes, instructions on when medical staff should and should not attempt resuscitation.

Power of Attorney: This is an arrangement in which you give someone else, normally a trusted family member, the power to make financial and medical decisions on your behalf, in case you become unable to make or express your own decisions.

Funeral Arrangements: What do you want done with your body after you die? Do you want to be cremated? How about buried? Or maybe you want to be cremated, and have your remains shot into space? Whatever your preference, you won't exactly be able to tell anyone when the time comes. Thus, you should make your desires on this matter known well in advance. You also shouldn't make your will the only place where these instructions are contained, since it might not be read for weeks after your death, when it will probably be too late.

Do I Need a Downers Grove Estates Lawyer?

A flawed estate plan in Downers Grove can result in those affected by it being confused as to your intent, which can then lead to disputes between them. A brilliant attorney can commonly avoid this confusion by ensuring that there is as little ambiguity as possible in your will and other related documents.

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

Life in Downers Grove

Downers Grove is located in DuPage County, Illinois. Lisle Townships is near. Downers Grove has about over 50,000 people that call it home.

The city's top employers include Good Samaritan Hospital, GCA Services, Sara Lee, Acxium, RR Donnelley, Dover, Magnetrol, HAVI Global Solutions, and Hub Group. The legal industry also has its presence in Downers Grove, with many attorneys practicing law while living here. Therefore, Downers Grove residents will not have any issue receiving excellent legal services.

Some famous residents include Lanny Poffo, Denise Richards, Jim McDermott, Dan LeFevour, Lauren Fros, and Muriel Anderson.

Overall, Downers Grove offers its visitors and residents a wonderful quality of life.

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