Estate planning in Orland Hills, Illinois is simply the act of deciding what you want to happen to your assets after your death. It typically entails making plans about funeral arrangements, as well as plans for end of life care.

While the drafting of a will (the document that dictates what is to be done with the decedent's property after death) is typically the central component of any estate plan, there are various other elements which you may want to include, depending on your goals, and your financial situation.

Besides a will, a quality estate plan will contain a living will, which gives your doctors and relatives directions regarding your healthcare in the event that you become incapacitated, funeral arrangements, and instructions on organ donations.

Most especially, an estate plan should give instructions on the care of your minor children. It should lay out who is to take custody of them, and, if possible, leave them a large sum of money to assist with this care. Of course, you should discuss this matter with the people who you want to take custody of your children, to make sure they can truly take on such responsibility.

What Type of Estate Plan Do I Need in Orland Hills, Illinois?

Obviously, this depends on your needs, which you will have to figure out for yourself. Some usual considerations in making this decision, however, are your health, age, and the amount of assets involved.

If you are young and unmarried, estate planning likely doesn't need to be on your radar, unless you are very ill, independently wealthy, or perhaps if you work in a very hazardous job, such as the military.

There is one group of unmarried people for whom estate planning in Orland Hills, Illinois is absolutely necessary: adults who are not married, but have a life partner who they'd like to provide for in the event of death. There are many rights that automatically attach with marriage, such as the right to inherit if a spouse dies without a will, the right to make medical decisions for the other spouse if they become incapacitated, etc. If you and your partner are, for whatever reason, unable or unwilling to get married, you will have to take various steps to secure these rights, such as authorizing power of attorney, and writing them into your will.

Other groups for whom estate planning is very essential in Orland Hills, Illinois are people who are elderly and/or have a lot of assets. This may be the time in one's life where estate planning is most essential. While it's true that the process of making an estate plan requires a person to deal directly with the reality of their own mortality, it is very important if you value the security that comes with the knowledge that your family will be provided for.

Do I Need a Orland Hills, Illinois Estate Planning Attorney?

Because estate planning can be a confusing process, the expertise of a good lawyer in Orland Hills, Illinois who specializes in wills, trusts, and estates can make the process a great deal easier.