Communities Served

Determining what will occur if you become sick or die can offer you peace of mind that your wishes will ultimately be fulfilled. Specifically, estate planning tools can allow you to set forth your wishes for how your property should be distributed after your death, what care you wish to receive if you become terminally ill, and who can control your medical care and property in the event you become incapacitated. If you are interested in learning more about estate planning, you should speak to an attorney as soon as possible. The dedicated LaGrange estate planning lawyers of Wilson & Wilson Estate Planning & Elder Law LLC are proficient at assisting people in protecting their assets through estate planning, and if you hire us, we will work diligently to help you meet your goals.

We regularly assist people with estate planning and other legal matters in Cook County, including Chicago, Skokie, Cicero, Arlington Heights, Palatine, Mount Prospect, Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Evanston, and Tinley Park, DuPage County, including Naperville, Aurora, and Wheaton, and Lake County including Highland Park, Buffalo Grove, Mundelein, and Waukegan. Our primary office is in LaGrange, and we have a second office in Northbrook. We also have satellite offices in Orland Park and Warrenville, where we can meet clients by appointment. The services we offer to people in these communities are listed below.

Regardless of their age or health, it is important for people to plan for what will happen to their assets and property after their death. If a person dies without a will, their property will be disbursed in accordance with the Illinois intestacy laws, which in many cases will not comport with their wishes. The easiest and most efficient way to dictate what happens to your property after you die is by drafting a will. In some instances, however, it may be more appropriate to place your property in a trust.

As people age, they often develop health issues that require constant care. In-home health services and nursing homes can be costly, and while many older individuals have Medicare, it does not cover the cost of such care long term. Fortunately, Medicaid can provide such coverage, and many aging parties can restructure their assets and take other measures to protect their assets should they need Medicaid in their later years.

Parents of special needs children often worry about who will provide for their children in the future. Fortunately, there are measures parents can take to ensure their children have access to the resources they need for the rest of their lives. For example, they can create special needs trusts, determine living arrangements, and establish guardianships. They can also help them seek any government benefits they may be eligible to receive.

After a person dies, their estate typically must go through probate. Probate is the process by which the courts determine the assets of an estate and distribute the assets to the deceased person’s beneficiaries. To complete the probate process, the estate’s personal representative must identify any probate assets, file the forms and tax returns required by law, and pay any outstanding debts and taxes owed by the estate. Any remaining probate assets will then be distributed in accordance with the terms of a valid will, or if the deceased person died without a will, in accordance with the Illinois intestacy laws.

Numerous issues can occur in the formation and operations of a business that may require the assistance of an attorney. When a company is in the early stages of inception, it is prudent to engage an attorney to assist with selecting the appropriate corporate form to protect the business and the individual owners from exposure to liability and undue taxation. In Illinois, business entities include partnerships, limited liability companies, sole proprietorships, and corporations. There are benefits to each business form, and which is most appropriate depends on the needs of the parties forming the business.

Generally, once people reach the age of eighteen, they are legally considered adults and have the right to live independently. Some people, though, have cognitive or mental disabilities that render them incapable of making decisions that are in their best interests. Fortunately, the law allows family members and other concerned parties to seek guardianship over incapacitated people to help protect their physical, mental, and financial health.

If you need assistance with estate planning, probate, or business formation, it is in your best interest to speak to an attorney as soon as possible. The seasoned LaGrange estate planning attorneys of Wilson & Wilson Estate Planning & Elder Law LLC can assess the facts of your case and help you develop a strategy to protect your interests. We frequently help people with estate planning and other matters in Cook County, including Chicago, Arlington Heights, Cicero, Hoffman Estates, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Schaumburg, Evanston, Skokie, Tinley Park, DuPage County, including Naperville, Aurora, and Wheaton, and Lake County including Buffalo Grove, Mundelein, Highland Park, and Waukegan. Our primary office is in LaGrange, and we have a second office in Northbrook. We have satellite offices in Orland Park and Warrenville, where we are available by appointment, as well. You can contact us through our form online or at our LaGrange office at (708) 482-7090 or our Northbrook Office at (847) 656-8958 to set up a meeting.