Our Blog - Surety Matters

  Parents of children under 18 need an estate plan that includes the designation of a guardian to oversee the financial arrangements made for minors. Correspondingly it is vital for the appointed guardian to understand…
Read Moreabout Serving As A Financial Guardian?

  If the thought of loved ones locked in conflict over managing your affairs and distributing your assets makes you queasy, pave the way for smooth passage through careful estate planning. Either a will or…
Read Moreabout Avoid Family Feuds: Wills and Trusts

  When Joseph Stancak died in Chicago at the age of 87, he left behind $11 million, and had no will. Now, six years later, 119 distant relatives have been identified and will inherit a…
Read Moreabout Unclaimed Estate: $11 Million

  In many families, property, specifically the family home, is the most important asset for consideration during estate planning.  Accordingly, lawyers share advice about how the dual goal of remaining securely at home while we…
Read Moreabout Life Estates Explained

  Estate planning increasingly involves the establishment of a trust, which is a practical way to designate funds for our own needs and for beneficiaries, including children or those with special needs. Trusts allow for…
Read Moreabout What Is a Trust?

  Probate is the legal, public process that brings closure to our affairs when we die. Probate protocols vary by state, and at some point, most families will navigate the appropriate proceedings upon the death…
Read Moreabout Probate Complications

  Trusts can play a variety of roles in our estate plans, since they can be specifically set up to attend to particular life circumstances. For example, a retirement plan trust shields the principal of…
Read Moreabout Retirement Plan Trusts Explained

  When a loved one dies without a will, courts may appoint a temporary administrator to take responsibility for fiduciary functions. This ensures that pressing affairs of the estate, like securing a property, are addressed…
Read Moreabout Temporary Administrator?

  Families frequently—and mistakenly—believe that when a will exists, probate can be avoided upon the death of a loved one. The fact is, a will needs to be filed in probate court, and this is…
Read Moreabout Filing A Will in Probate Court?