Probate, Estate Planning & Trust Administration

Illinois Estate Planning and Probate Lawyers

Providing for your family, planning for the succession of your business or ensuring that your deceased loved one's wishes are carried out during the probate process all require the help of an experienced probate and estate planning lawyer.

At Ciesla & Ciesla , our attorneys provide thorough and cost-effective representation to businesses, individuals and families throughout the Chicago area. For a consultation about estate planning, guardianships or probate, contact our law firm.

Protecting Your Assets and Children Through Estate Planning

Our clients frequently have multiple concerns that they wish to address through an estate plan: How do I protect my assets and minimize estate taxes? Will my children receive my property when I pass away? What will happen to my business? How do I avoid probate and disputes about my property?

An estate plan allows you to find answers to these important questions. Our Illinois estate planning lawyers will take the time to understand your family, business, tax objectives and other interests. This enables them to better evaluate what estate planning tools will be most effective for you.

These tools often include:

• Living wills
• Trusts, including charitable trusts, living trusts, generation skipping trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, minor's trusts, special needs trusts, tuition trusts
• Guardianships for minor children or elderly adults
• Powers of attorney for financial decision making
• Powers of attorney for healthcare

Estate Planning for Same Sex Couples

Estate planning is essential for same sex couples who wish to grant their partners full inheritance rights. Our lawyers offer comprehensive estate planning services to same sex couples. Rest assured, they will always take the time to define your rights, explain your responsibilities and outline your legal options.

Family Business Succession Planning

As estate planning and business lawyers, we have an in-depth understanding of the steps individuals must take to ensure that their family business and business assets fall into the right hands.

Probate and Estate Administration

Our years of experience guiding executors and personal representatives through the probate or estate administration process has taught us strategies for avoiding costly will contests and other estate litigation.

We can help you:

• Document the estate and divide assets
• File a will
• Make reports to the Illinois probate court
• File estate taxes with the state and federal government
• Pay creditors
• Identify heirs
• Minimize your personal liability

Trust Administration

We guide trustees through the entire trust administration process. As part of our dedicated representation, we provide the following services:

• Managing trust property
• Making payments to beneficiaries
• Paying estate debts
• Providing accounting documentation to beneficiaries

Contact Ciesla & Ciesla in Northbrook, Illinois to schedule a consultation.

Providing for our clients' legal needs, so they can go about their business