Posted on September 15, 2025 in Estate Planning

As retirement approaches, many people in Illinois begin to think more seriously about what will happen to their property, finances, and medical care in the future. Estate planning gives seniors and retirees a way to protect their wishes and provide for their loved ones. Unfortunately, some common mistakes can put those plans at risk. Avoiding these mistakes can make the difference between an easy property transfer and confusion or conflict.

At Gateville Law Firm, our Sugar Grove, IL estate planning lawyer has free consultations for those who want to create or update their estate plans. With careful guidance, you can get the peace of mind you need without these common errors. 

Estate Planning Mistake 1: Not Updating an Old Will or Trust

One of the biggest estate planning mistakes is leaving documents unchanged for years. A will or trust that was written when your children were young or before you retired may no longer reflect your current situation. Major life events such as the death of a spouse or a second marriage can all affect your estate plan. Seniors often find that old estate plans accidentally leave out loved ones or divide property in ways that no longer make sense.

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 Posted on September 08, 2025 in Asset Protection & Wealth Preservation

When someone dies, their property often becomes tied up in the probate process. Probate is the legal procedure for transferring assets to beneficiaries. It can be time-consuming and costly. Families in Illinois sometimes look for alternatives to make the process faster, and one such option is a bond in lieu of probate.

With over 20 years of experience, the Kane County estate planning attorney at Gateville Law Firm understands how important it is for families to avoid probate. We can help you explore your options for avoiding probate, including bonds in lieu of probate, to reduce costs and delays after a loved one passes away. 

What Is Probate? Can You Avoid It?

Probate in Illinois is the process of proving a will, appointing an executor, and distributing property. While it provides important protections, probate can last months or even years, depending on how complex an estate is. During that time, heirs may be unable to sell or refinance property, and legal fees reduce the value of the inheritance.

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 Posted on September 04, 2025 in Estate Planning

Many people create a living trust because they want to avoid probate and make things easier for their loved ones. A basic revocable living trust can accomplish that goal. But if you own significant real estate, have multiple investments, or want to focus on long-term wealth preservation, a more comprehensive wealth-building living trust may be the better choice.

As of September 2025, Illinois estate planning law is structured to allow families to use either a simple revocable trust or a more detailed, layered trust designed to protect and grow assets over time. Choosing the right option depends on your personal goals and the complexity of your financial picture. Regardless of the type of trust you need, our Yorkville, IL estate planning attorney has the experience to guide your decision-making. 

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 Posted on August 31, 2025 in Estate Planning

Healthcare professionals like nurses, physicians, and advanced practitioners are often so focused on caring for others that they overlook their own retirement and estate planning. Many work long hours, earn stable incomes, and accumulate valuable assets like retirement accounts, real estate, and pensions. However, without proper planning, those assets can be lost to taxes, probate court, or poor decision-making in retirement.

If you live or work in Illinois, here are the top five mistakes healthcare professionals make when preparing for retirement and what you should do instead. Work with our Montgomery, IL wills and trusts attorney for healthcare professionals and avoid making these mistakes when you plan for your future.

Mistake 1: Delaying Estate Planning or Only Having a Simple Will

Many professionals assume that a will is enough, or they delay estate planning altogether. But a will alone does not avoid probate court. If you become incapacitated or pass away without a trust-based plan, your family may face costly court delays, legal fees, and unnecessary stress.

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 Posted on August 26, 2025 in Business Law

If you are a licensed professional in Illinois, you may be wondering whether you should form a Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) rather than a standard Limited Liability Company (LLC). Illinois has specific rules for certain regulated professions, and choosing the wrong entity type can cause costly delays or even prevent you from registering your business properly.

Understanding the right business structure of your practice is an important part of protecting yourself and helping your professional practice thrive. Call our Kendall County business law attorney today to learn more about PLLCs and whether you could benefit from one. 

What Is a Professional LLC (PLLC)?

A PLLC is a type of LLC designed for professionals who provide services that require a state license. In Illinois, if you hold a professional license, such as in medicine, law, or accounting, you may be required to form a PLLC instead of a traditional LLC.

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 Posted on August 25, 2025 in Estate Planning

Law enforcement professionals put themselves at risk every day to serve and protect their communities. While much of the focus is on safety in the field, one often overlooked area is legal and financial protection off-duty, especially when it comes to privacy, liability, and long-term planning.

At Gateville Law Firm, our Oswego estate planning attorney works with officers throughout Kendall County and surrounding areas to develop customized estate plans and asset protection strategies. For those in high-risk professions like law enforcement, proactive planning is not a luxury; it is a necessity.

Why Estate Planning Is Critical for Law Enforcement

Many officers delay estate planning because it feels too complicated or not urgent. But in reality, your job increases the likelihood of unexpected events. A proper estate plan ensures that:

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 Posted on August 17, 2025 in Strategy and Asset Protection

For many families, passing down real estate, investments, and other valuable assets is more than a financial decision about legacy. Whether it is a lake house, farmland, a rental property, or a well-managed investment portfolio, these assets often come with a personal story and a desire to keep them within the family for generations.

However, without proper estate planning, inherited property and investments can be easily lost to divorce, lawsuits, creditors, or unintended beneficiaries. At Gateville Law Firm, our Kendall County, IL asset protection lawyer has over 20 years of experience helping families create thoughtful, protective plans to preserve family wealth and ensure it stays with the right people.

The Emotional and Financial Value of Inherited Assets

Many parents or grandparents gift real estate or investments to their children with the hope that those assets will provide long-term financial stability and remain in the family. These assets commonly include primary residences, vacation homes, rental properties, investment accounts, farmland, and family businesses.

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 Posted on August 11, 2025 in Real Estate

If you own farmland, vacant property, or land without a clear address in areas like Sandwich, Somonauk, or Leland, it is important to understand the risks that come with owning rural real estate. Many of these properties have been passed down through generations without formal planning. That often means missing deeds, outdated surveys, or ownership records that are unclear.

Without proper legal planning, you could run into the following common issues: 

• Missing or unclear deeds due to informal transfers

• Property line disputes from old or missing surveys

• Surprise liens like unpaid taxes or contractor bills

• Claims from long-lost heirs if someone died without a will

These problems can delay or prevent your family from selling, refinancing, or keeping the property in the future. At Gateville Law Firm, we stand out because we have both estate planning experience and a strong background in real estate title law. Our business manager worked for 15 years as a title manager at a respected title company, and our Sandwich, IL real estate attorney was trained in real estate law by a title company, giving us the tools to solve these issues before they become a legal mess.

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 Posted on August 05, 2025 in Strategy and Asset Protection

Asset protection is not just for the wealthy; it is a smart strategy for anyone who owns real estate, investment properties, or wants to protect family wealth from lawsuits, creditors, probate, or unnecessary taxes.

In Illinois, three powerful tools can work together to create a layered and effective plan: an Illinois Land Trust, a Series LLC, and a Revocable Living Trust. Each serves a distinct role, and when combined, they provide privacy, control, liability protection, and long-term estate planning. At Gateville Law Firm, our Yorkville, IL estate planning attorney can help you decide whether one or more of these trusts serves your long-term interests.

What Is an Illinois Land Trust?

An Illinois Land Trust is a simple but powerful tool for holding title to real estate. While the trustee, which is typically a professional trust company, holds title to the property, you retain full control as the beneficiary. This means you decide when to sell, refinance, or lease the property.

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 Posted on July 31, 2025 in Strategy and Asset Protection

For many families, the largest financial asset is not their home — it is their retirement account. Whether held in a 401(k), IRA, or similar plan, these tax-deferred assets are vulnerable to taxes, lawsuits, nursing home spend-down, divorce, and probate court if not properly protected.

Enter the Standalone Retirement Plan Trust (SRPT), a powerful, flexible tool that protects your retirement savings from unintended consequences and helps preserve your legacy for generations. This article walks you through the benefits of this trust and how it protects your family from hidden risks like probate, divorce, Medicaid spend-down, and tax surprises under the SECURE Act.

As of July 2025, Illinois families can create these irrevocable trusts to name as beneficiaries for retirement accounts. An Aurora, IL estate planning attorney can help you determine whether this planning strategy is right for your family.

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