Estate Planning • Probate • Wills • Trusts
Plan today for peace of mind tomorrow, with clear and practical guidance on wills, trusts, powers of attorney, probate and estate administration.
Personal. Thorough. Attentive.
From its Belvidere office, the firm helps individuals, families, executors and administrators throughout Boone County and neighboring Winnebago and Ogle Counties, including Rockford, with estate planning, wills, trusts, probate and estate administration.
Estate planning allows you to make important decisions about your family, property and future before a crisis occurs. When a loved one dies, probate and estate administration involve a different set of responsibilities, deadlines and legal steps. The firm brings both sides of this process together in one practice area so clients can receive thoughtful planning before a loss and practical guidance afterward.
Every estate plan should reflect the client’s circumstances and goals. The firm takes time to listen, explain the purpose of available planning documents and prepare a plan designed to clearly express the client’s wishes. Services may include wills, trusts, powers of attorney and review or updating of existing estate plans.
Administering an estate can feel overwhelming while a family is also dealing with grief and change. The firm helps executors, administrators and families understand the probate process, required court filings, estate-administration responsibilities and the steps needed to move the estate toward completion.
Our approach. Whether you are planning ahead or handling an estate after a death, the firm emphasizes clear explanations, careful preparation, organization and personal attention throughout the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plain-language answers to questions clients often ask about wills, trusts, probate and estate administration in Illinois.
A will states how property should be handled at death and can also name an executor and guardians for minor children. A trust can hold and manage property during life and after death. Which documents make sense depends on the client’s assets, family circumstances and goals.
No. Whether probate is needed depends on how assets are titled, whether beneficiary or transfer-on-death designations apply, whether property is held in trust, and the nature and value of the estate. A review of the assets can help determine the appropriate process.
Read more: Do I need probate if there is a trust? →The personal representative is generally responsible for gathering and protecting estate property, handling required court and administrative steps, addressing valid claims and expenses, and distributing property as authorized. The exact duties depend on the estate and the type of administration.
It is wise to review an estate plan after major life changes such as marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, a death in the family, a significant change in assets, a move, or a change in the people you want to act for you. Periodic review is also useful even when no major event has occurred.
Yes. The firm assists with wills, trusts, powers of attorney, probate and estate administration from its Belvidere office and serves clients in Boone County and neighboring Winnebago and Ogle Counties, including the Rockford area.
The information above is general and is not a substitute for legal advice about a specific matter.
Planning for Boone County Families
Estate planning can involve wills, trusts, powers of attorney, beneficiary planning, and decisions about how property should be managed during life and transferred at death. The right combination depends on family circumstances, assets, goals, and whether avoiding or simplifying probate is important.
When probate is required for a Boone County estate, the matter proceeds through the circuit court. Official Illinois sources include the Probate Act of 1975, the Illinois Power of Attorney Act, and the Illinois Trust Code.
Every matter is different. Contact the office to discuss your situation, whether it fits the firm’s current practice and what the next step may be.