The Payne Law Office, Chartered Legal Blog

We all know that having an estate plan is important in Illinois. However, there are a number of common mistakes that people make when they are putting together their plans. Not having a will A will is one of the most important documents in an estate plan. It allows...

If you own property in Illinois, legal changes now allow you to transfer all types of real estate to a beneficiary without going through probate after your passing. Illinois expanded its Transfer on Death Instrument Act on Jan. 1, 2022, to include commercial...

A person who dies without a will has to go through probate court. In Illinois, the person's property goes through a process known as intestate succession. This process gives an opportunity for each of the deceased person's heirs to inherit the property. The rules for...

If you want to make sure your assets are passed down to your beneficiaries in a timely manner once you pass away, you may want to consider the benefit of revocable living trusts. However, it is important to note that some assets can go into the trust while others can...

When Illinois residents draft a will, choosing an executor is one of the most important decisions they make. Their executors will be tasked with making sure that the estate’s debts are paid and the remaining assets are distributed to heirs in accordance with the...

Planning a will can be much easier for those who already know who they want to leave their assets to when they pass away. One of the most difficult decisions an Illinois resident can face is being fair with their heirs when they have considerable property to...

The Uniform Electronic Wills Act allows people to execute an electronic will, so people can record wills in electronic form instead of traditional printing. The new laws allow probate courts to give e-wills legal effects in Chicago, Illinois. Electronic wills Illinois...

In Illinois, there are many ways to ensure that your loved ones respect your wishes after you're gone. One such way is to include a "no-contest" clause in your trusts and wills. This particular clause has proven itself effective as an effective deterrent against trust...

Creating an estate plan in Illinois can seem like a daunting process. Many people do not like to think about or discuss the issues around estate planning, so one big hurdle is that they may not know the difference in estate planning, writing a will and creating a...

On average, estate plans should be updated every three to five years. Your estate's administration in Illinois is either done privately or in a public hearing. For these reasons, re-evaluating an estate plan now can prepare you. The risk of having your assets...