To many people, estate taxes and inheritance taxes have something to do with someone passing away, but beyond that, the terms seem to be used interchangeably. There is, however, a difference between these two terms, that can be an important part of your estate planning strategies. What is an Estate Tax? An estate tax, as […]

There are a lot of reasons why we may expect to be included in someone’s will. But being family or a close friend to the deceased is no guarantee. With the right estate planning tools, anybody can be “disinherited” to some degree. That can leave you left with nothing, even if you expected to be […]

Although you may have made a will and have a comprehensive estate plan, others can always challenge your estate. But the ability to challenge someone’s estate after it is settled does not last forever. There are deadlines to how long someone has to file a claim if they are seeking to invalidate a document in […]

You’ve probably heard of the estate tax, and are aware it is a federal tax. But what many people may not know is that Illinois is one of only a few states that also impose a state estate tax. While a legal or tax professional should help you understand your potential estate tax obligations, there […]