Your will is likely the foundational element of your entire estate plan. This document names an executor for your estate and outlines how you want to distribute your assets after you die. Many people have yet to create a will and according to a survey conducted by...
Illinois divorce courts generally divide marital assets fairly. Any debt accumulated during marriage also classifies as part of your marital estate. You may, however, use your marital assets to pay your shared debts and then divide the proceeds. If you have shared or...
Social media is a part of daily life for many people these days. Some people have even found a way to make a living using their online accounts. They also make a tricky problem when you die. These online sites have quite strict security, so someone else getting access...
Following a divorce, children sometimes struggle with the new dynamic. While you and your ex work out what you believe is in the best interests of your children, your kids may have ideas or preferences of their own. How should you react if your child asks to spend...
As a newly divorced parent of minor children, the holidays can be a tricky time for you and your offspring. Regardless of the event, there are likely many memories and traditions tied to the time. In these already often stress-filled times, it can be difficult for...
An estate planning tool that has been available in other states for decades has finally come to Illinois. Since the beginning of this year, you can use a transfer on death instrument (TODI) to pass on any piece of real estate you own to your loved ones upon your...
Are you and your spouse candidates for a gray divorce? An article in Kiplinger says you are if the two of you are 50 years old or older and/or if your marriage has lasted at least 20 years. You are not alone. While gray divorces comprised only about 10% of U.S....
When you choose an executor for your estate, it is an important decision that you should put a lot of time and thought into. One of the best ways to choose the best executor for you is by understanding exactly what an executor will handle. Seeing probate through...
Divorce is a difficult process, no matter how you go through it. If you have children, the difficulties increase exponentially. Particularly during the first phases of divorce, there is the matter of breaking the news to the children and figuring out living situations...
Bird nesting describes a co-parenting arrangement where the children remain in the family home and parents rotate in and out according to a set schedule. In some cases, the parents also maintain a separate shared residence for each to stay at when not on parenting...
