Posted on December 01, 2025 in Estate Planning

Most people believe having a last will and testament means their estate will pass smoothly to their heirs. They think a will protects their inheritance and avoids complications like fights over inheritance or making sure certain items get passed to specific people. 

Unfortunately, the reality is more complex. Wills do not avoid probate; in fact, wills practically guarantee your estate goes through probate, which can significantly reduce what your beneficiaries actually receive.

Understanding the difference between wills and trusts, and how probate affects your estate, helps you make better decisions about protecting your legacy. For help with setting up a trust and other estate-planning priorities, call our Aurora, IL wills and trusts attorney today. 

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 Posted on November 30, 2025 in Estate Planning

Blended families form when one or both partners bring children from a prior relationship into a new marriage or long-term partnership. These families include stepchildren, stepparents, half-siblings, and many relationships that the law does not balance on its own. Without clear and careful estate planning, it is easy for one set of children to be left out or even disinherited.

Most spouses in second marriages own their home as joint tenants or tenants by the entirety. In Illinois, both forms include a right of survivorship under 765 ILCS 1005/1c, which means the surviving spouse becomes the full owner at the first spouse’s death. But both forms still create the same blended-family problem – they can erase a child’s inheritance instantly.

Our experienced Morris, IL estate planning attorney at Gateville Law Firm can help you structure your estate plan so that everyone you want to care for is protected and difficult disputes over property and inheritance are not part of the picture once you pass away. 

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 Posted on November 24, 2025 in Estate Planning

Educators spend their careers teaching and helping others. But many teachers and professors focus so much on their students that they neglect planning for their own futures, including estate planning. This oversight can leave their families facing confusion, conflict, and unnecessary costs after death or incapacitation.

Educators face unique financial circumstances that make estate planning especially important. Pension benefits, retirement accounts, and life insurance through your school or university require careful planning, but there is more to estate planning than your benefits. You should still have a will and, in many cases, a trust as well. Our Oswego estate planning attorney helps teachers, professors, paraeducators, and other educational professionals create estate plans that work. 

What Happens to an Illinois Teacher’s Pension Benefits if You Die?

Most Illinois public pension systems allow you to choose a survivor benefit option when you retire. If you elect a survivor benefit, your monthly pension is reduced during your lifetime, but your spouse continues receiving payments after you die. If you elect no survivor benefit, you receive higher monthly payments, but benefits stop at your death.

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 Posted on November 20, 2025 in Asset Protection & Wealth Preservation

If you remarried after divorce or the death of your first spouse and you and your current spouse have children from your previous marriages, figuring out how to take care of everyone fairly is complicated. Blended families face unique estate planning challenges that can tear families apart if not handled correctly.

For example, your children from your first marriage could be accidentally disinherited. Without careful planning, your assets might not go where you intend, or your current spouse might be left without support. Our Montgomery, IL estate planning attorney can help you update your estate plan so it reflects your present circumstances and priorities.

What Happens If You Just Leave Everything to Your Spouse?

Many people assume they should simply leave everything to their current spouse, trusting that spouse to eventually pass assets to their children. This is one of the biggest mistakes blended families make.

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 Posted on November 14, 2025 in Asset Protection & Wealth Preservation

Economic instability doesn’t just affect Wall Street. It affects families right here in Plano, Illinois. Rising costs, unpredictable markets, and increasing healthcare and housing expenses can quickly threaten the financial security you’ve spent decades building. For many families, estate planning is no longer optional. It’s one of the most important tools to protect wealth, prevent unnecessary court involvement, and guard against the unexpected.

Below are the major risks homeowners, retirees, and business owners face and how a well-designed estate and asset protection plan helps preserve what you’ve worked so hard to achieve. Contact our Plano, IL asset protection attorney for help protecting your wealth.

Rising Costs and Fixed Incomes

Many Plano retirees live on fixed Social Security or pension income while facing growing property taxes, insurance premiums, and medical costs. These rising expenses can place financial strain on surviving spouses or adult children, especially when accounts or property are tied up in probate court.

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 Posted on November 10, 2025 in Strategy and Asset Protection

If you are the first person in your family to earn a considerable income, you might be wondering how to protect what you are building. For many young professionals in Illinois, wealth protection and estate planning feel like something only the ultra-rich worry about. But that is actually not true. Young adults in 2025 who are forward-thinking can benefit hugely from careful estate planning.

Two of the best tools to protect your assets and make sure they pass smoothly to the right people are a Living Trust and a Limited Liability Company (LLC). When used together, they can keep your wealth safe, reduce taxes, and make life easier for your loved ones down the road. Our Plainfield, IL asset protection attorney can explain how.

What Is a Living Trust?

A Living Trust is a legal document that lets you control how your assets, like your home, bank accounts, or investments, are managed during your lifetime and distributed after your death. You (the grantor) transfer ownership of your assets to the trust, but you still control them while you are alive. After you pass away, the person you name as trustee will manage or distribute those assets according to your wishes.

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 Posted on November 03, 2025 in Estate Planning

A good estate plan is about more than passing on assets. It is about protecting your family’s future, no matter what happens with the economy. With rising inflation, fluctuating markets, and shifting tax laws, an estate plan made even five years ago may no longer provide the protection your family needs.

If your will or trust has not been reviewed recently, now is the time. Updating your estate plan can help ensure that your loved ones remain financially secure even during uncertain economic times. Our Aurora, IL estate planning and asset protection attorney can offer you the guidance you need.

Why Outdated Estate Plans Can Fail During Economic Instability

An outdated estate plan can create significant problems when the economy changes. Some of the most common issues include:

Asset Values Shift

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 Posted on October 30, 2025 in Asset Protection & Wealth Preservation

High-income families face unique financial and estate planning challenges, especially when one or both spouses work in high-liability professions such as medicine. If you are married to a healthcare worker, it is natural to want to protect your family’s assets and ensure that wealth remains in your bloodline.

Doctors often have significant earning potential, but they also face high financial and legal risks. Between malpractice claims, business debts, and the possibility of divorce, an unprotected inheritance can quickly become vulnerable. Fortunately, there are proven legal strategies to keep your family’s wealth safe and secure.

With more than 20 years of experience, the Kendall County estate planning attorney at Gateville Law Firm can help you protect your hard-earned wealth. Call us today at 630-780-1034.

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 Posted on October 22, 2025 in Estate Planning

Every family wants to leave a lasting legacy, one that protects loved ones, passes assets forward, and honors final wishes. In Illinois, the two most common estate planning tools for accomplishing these goals are wills and trusts. While both help distribute property after death, they work in different ways. Understanding those differences is the first step to building a plan that truly fits your family.

At Gateville Law Firm, our Sugar Grove estate planning attorney explains the difference between wills and trusts in clear, simple terms. We design customized estate plans designed to prevent family arguments, lower your estate taxes, and give your family peace of mind.

What Is a Will?

A will, formally called a Last Will and Testament, is a written document that says how your property should be distributed after your death. It allows you to name beneficiaries, appoint an executor to handle your estate, and even designate guardians for your minor children.

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 Posted on October 10, 2025 in Estate Planning

As a nurse, you dedicate your life to caring for others. When it comes to protecting your own future, however, it is easy to put planning on the back burner. Between demanding shifts, patient care, and administrative work, estate planning may not feel like a top priority. But your career comes with financial and professional risks that make planning ahead essential.

At Gateville Law Firm, our Plainfield, IL estate planning attorney can help you start thinking about your long-term financial goals and how to protect your values in an estate plan. Whether you work in a hospital, clinic, or private practice, these estate planning and asset protection tips can help you secure your financial future.

Five Estate Planning Tips for Nurses in Illinois

Write a Comprehensive Will and Trust

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