Bensenville Wills and Trusts Attorneys

DuPage County Lawyers for All Types of Estate Planning Documents

During the estate planning process, families can make use of multiple different types of legal documents and agreements. The decisions made during this process can ensure that a person's wishes will be followed after their death, and a person can also make sure they will have the resources to meet their needs during their lifetime while also providing assistance for other loved ones. When creating an estate plan, family members can work with an experienced lawyer to understand their options and determine the best ways to make use of the available tools to provide for their needs.

At Hunt & Subach, Ltd., we work closely with our clients throughout the estate planning process, making sure they understand how they can address their needs both now and in the future. We provide experienced advice on the options that are available, including wills and trusts, along with other tools such as powers of attorney that can make sure a person will receive the proper medical care or assistance managing their financial affairs, no matter what happens in their life.

Creating a Last Will and Testament

A last will and testament, which is commonly called a will, is one of the most foundational parts of an estate plan. This document will set down a person's decisions about how certain matters will be handled after their death. Some of the most important terms of a person's will can address how they wish to pass their property and assets to their heirs. However, a will can address other issues as well, including a person's desires regarding guardianship of their minor children and how a person's funeral and burial arrangements should be handled. A last will and testament will also name an executor who will carry out the probate process and distribute a person's assets to their heirs after their death.

Using Trusts to Protect and Distribute Assets

To more easily distribute assets to beneficiaries while maintaining privacy, a family may choose to use trusts. These legal agreements will remove assets from a person's possession and place them under the control of a trustee, who will follow instructions for how the assets should be distributed to different beneficiaries. In some cases, trusts may be used to protect assets from being subject to taxes or seized by creditors, and assets in a trust will be distributed to beneficiaries outside of the probate process.

Trusts come in several different forms. Revocable living trusts can be used to ensure that a person will be able to use their assets to meet their needs throughout their lifetime, while distributing the remaining assets to their heirs after they die. Irrevocable trusts may be used to ensure that assets are protected and used for specific purposes. Special needs trusts can allow a person or family to provide for a loved one who has a disability without affecting their eligibility for public benefits. Charitable trusts can set aside certain assets to be donated to charity either before or after a person's death.

Contact Our Bensenville Estate Planning Lawyer

As you work to create a comprehensive estate plan that will address your family's needs in the years to come, our firm can advise you of the best tools to use, and we will make sure all legal documents are created and executed correctly. We can help you understand how you will be able to provide for your own needs while setting aside assets for your loved ones and addressing any ongoing issues that your family may encounter. To set up a free consultation and learn how we can help you create or update your estate plan, contact our firm at 630-860-7800. We help families address their estate planning needs in Bensenville, Wheaton, DuPage County, Naperville, Downers Grove, St. Charles, Kane County, and Geneva.