Wills and Estate Planning for Surviving Spouses: Avoiding the 50% Surprise

By Stotis & Baird August 23, 2022

Death Without a Will Rebecca and Jason married 25 years ago, eventually adding two children to their family. To help their kids achieve well-paying jobs, Rebecca and Jason were happy to invest in their kids’ graduate educations - but the couple didn’t save as much as they’d intended for their retirement. Despite this financial setback, [...]Continue reading

What does Probate Administration Cost in Illinois

By Stotis & Baird February 22, 2022

The information given by probate attorney practicing in Atlanta area, states that every estate planning lawyer tries to set up a plan that will avoid probate court. Unfortunately, over half of Americans never prepare a will or trust agreement. As a result, lots of people wind up in probate court. Probate court is not as terrible [...]Continue reading

QUÉ MEDIDAS LEGALES DEBO TOMAR CUANDO UN MIEMBRO DE LA FAMILIA MUERE

By Stotis & Baird February 22, 2022

¿Necesito un abogado? ¿ Cómo reformar una casa? ¿Cómo puedo pagar el funeral? ¿Puedo seguir usando su cuenta bancaria? ¿Y si no tenían un testamento? La muerte de un miembro de la familia es una de las cosas más difíciles de atravesar. Durante ese momento difícil, lo último que quieres hacer es preocuparte por problemas [...]Continue reading

5 Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid

By Stotis & Baird February 22, 2022

You have consulted a lawyer prepared a will and maybe even a trust agreement. Now you’re in good shape, right? Not necessarily. Here are five costly mistakes that people commonly make with their estate plan: Failing to Title Your Property in the Name of the Trust The main goal of a revocable trust is to avoid [...]Continue reading

Avoiding Hard Feelings in Your Estate Plan

By Stotis & Baird February 22, 2022

If you’ve ever read a will or trust agreement, you know that it’s a fairly cold, legal document. Yet, this document is the last bit of communication you will have with your family. And, it comes to your family at a highly charged emotional time in their lives. As a result, a slight or a [...]Continue reading

Estates in Jeopardy

By Stotis & Baird February 22, 2022

Each year thousands of nurses, hospice, social workers and doctors work with patients who are terminally ill. It is not their job to attend to the legal needs of these patients, but they can do a great service to the patient and their family by identifying the problem. Jim was 53 years old when the [...]Continue reading

Five Things You Should Know about Living Wills

By Stotis & Baird February 22, 2022

Most people have strong opinions about what treatment they want (or don’t want) at the end of their lives. An advance directive, sometimes referred to as a living will, allows you to state your intentions in advance. When properly completed, an advance directive can ensure that your care is managed in the way you would [...]Continue reading

Probate in Illinois – What to do When a Family Member Dies

By Stotis & Baird February 22, 2022

Do I need a lawyer? How do we retitle the house? How can I pay for the funeral? Can I continue to use their bank account? What if they did not have a will? What is probate? Do I Need a Lawyer? It is possible that you will need a lawyer to help you. At [...]Continue reading

Business Entity Selection – S Corp or LLC?

By Stotis & Baird February 22, 2022

Here’s an idea! Remember that estate plan that you said you should get together at some point, but never had time to complete? How about doing it now? It might sound unlikely, but this can actually be the perfect time. There are a few things that commonly stop people from preparing a will or trust [...]Continue reading

What to Do When a Family Member Dies Without a Will in Illinois

By Stotis & Baird February 21, 2022

According to several recent studies, more than half of Americans never prepare a will. So, you are not alone. The law in Illinois has a system for dealing with the estate of a person who dies without a will. It is called the law of intestate estates. It may not be perfect, but it is [...]Continue reading