Category: Contested Estates Attorney

Five Ways to Prevent Contested Estates
contested estates
Posted October 03, 2022

The passing of a loved one is always a stressful time. Even in times of grief, there are people in some families who love to cause drama. They may be looking to start an argument, and this is especially true once it comes time to distribute assets. Who gets what? Did Grandma leave you the […]

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Will Contests Between Family Members
Contested Estates Attorney
Posted October 15, 2018

The death of a loved one doesn’t always bring surviving family members closer together. In fact, it is not uncommon for someone’s death to actually drive the survivors apart. This is especially true in cases where a significant inheritance is at stake and one or more of a decedent’s loved ones wasn’t provided for. To […]

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Demonstrating Undue Influence
Contested Estates Attorney
Posted September 19, 2018

When wills are properly drafted and witnessed, courts are usually reluctant to throw them out. It is possible, however, to successfully contest a will by proving that the testator, or the person who drafted the will, was the victim of undue influence. Unfortunately, the reality is that an alarming number of people don’t seem to […]

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The Important Differences Between Self-Settled and Third-Party Special Needs Trusts
Special Needs Trusts
Posted July 23, 2018

Many Illinois residents who have children or other relatives with disabilities choose to create third-party special needs trusts for those individuals, which ensures that they will have the means to cover certain expenses. However, creating this type of trust can disqualify disabled individuals from need-based government assistance. Fortunately, when trusts are set up correctly, disabled […]

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What is an Elective Share?
Contested Estates Attorney
Posted June 19, 2018

Most states, including Illinois, have what is referred to as an elective share law, which helps protect a surviving spouse from being disinherited. This is true even if a surviving spouse is actively cut out of a will, as he or she will be permitted to “elect” to take a portion of the estate. How […]

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