When creating an estate plan, many parents with young children have one big concern: Who will provide for our children financially if something were to happen to us?
One of the most important goals of parenting is ensuring your children’s
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What is the attorney review period for a real estate transaction in Illinois?
When you purchase real estate in Illinois, you will negotiate with the seller and come to an agreement. Once you both agree on the terms in principle, you will sign a real estate contract. Once both parties sign the contract,…
How much money should I have before I set up a revocable trust?
The decision to set up a revocable trust is less about a specific net worth and more about your goals and the complexity of your estate. Just about everyone can benefit from a revocable trust and let’s dive into some…
How to refinance real estate that is owned by a trust?
A very common estate planning practice is to draft a trust and title your real estate in the name of the trust. This practice lets the trust “own” your real estate holdings. There are many positive reasons why one would…
Title Insurance: What’s the difference between an owner’s title insurance policy and a lender’s title insurance policy?
When reviewing documents with real estate clients, title insurance is one of the most asked-about costs on the settlement statement. During the process, you will learn two types of title insurance policies: an owner’s title insurance and a lender’s title…
Are you mortgage shopping? Annual Percentage Yield (APR) versus Interest Rate… How to compare one mortgage to another?
When searching for a home loan (mortgage) or refinancing an existing mortgage, it is confusing to compare one loan to another. We all want to get the best deal. One might think the loan with the lowest advertised interest rate…
In real estate, what is a contract for deed?
A contract for deed, also known as a land contract, installment contract, or a bond for deed is a legal agreement between two parties, a buyer and a seller. Unlike most traditional real estate transaction that involves a mortgage from…
Is there a minimum net worth you should have before making a will?
As an estate-planning law firm, we are asked by clients, how much money do I need to create a will? In simple terms, there is no minimum net worth requirement for creating a will. Frankly, net worth is far down…
Podcast Episode – Estate Planning Essentials with Attorney Lauren Jackson
Recently I recorded an episode on the Your Life, Your Money Podcast with financial advisor Scott Sierens. During this episode we went through the fundamental aspects of estate planning, addressing common misconceptions and highlighting why having a solid estate plan…
Whose debt is it anyway? Can you be held responsible for your parents’ debt?
During the probate process, a question revolves around what happens to debt after your parents die. Are the children responsible for their parents’ debt? In most cases, you are not personally responsible for your parents’ debt when they die. However,…