Law Offices of Robert J. Ross

Estate planning is more than making a will. It is an investment in your personal security and the well-being of your loved ones. A current, properly drafted estate plan can save your loved ones from great expense of time and money. Our goal is to help our clients make the process of estate planning simple and efficient.

We represent clients in estate planning matters:

• Drafting trusts, wills, living wills and powers of attorney to efficiently deal with property rights upon disability or  death;
• Helping clients understand and then create clear, enforceable plans to minimize:
• future taxes;
• conflicts;
• professional fees; and
• the need for probate.

“Estate planning” means planning for the use and disposition of your assets upon your disability or death. It also includes planning for lifetime distributions using gifts, trusts, beneficiary designations and joint ownership. A good estate plan has three primary goals:

1. To document plans to care for you, your family, loved ones and charities;
2. To minimize exposure of your assets to creditors and taxes;
3. To plan for the efficient distribution of your assets by a fiduciary who you choose in a manner you select.

Our “Estate Planning Memo” addresses many common questions about estate planning, including:

Why should I have a living trust?

What is probate and how does probate work in Illinois?

How can I avoid probate?

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