The fact is that most people who live to a certain age are likely to experience age-related mental incapacity. Alzheimer’s, dementia, and the natural effects of aging can lead you to become confused, disoriented, and unable to make important decisions or manage your own affairs. Someone else will have to step in and start making medical and personal decisions, as well as managing your finances. If no incapacity planning has been done, the most likely solution is court-ordered guardianship. Guardianship proceedings are public and can be very upsetting to the ward, who has little or no say over who the…
Continue Reading What is Incapacity Planning and Why is it Important?

Even under the best of circumstances, probate can be a complicated legal procedure. Months or even years could pass between the day your family member’s will (if there is one) is submitted to the probate court to the day you are able to collect your inheritance. There are a lot of steps involved with probate, all of which need to be carefully followed to avoid delays or unnecessary expenses. The sheer complexity of probate means this process is generally best supervised by a qualified attorney who is familiar with the procedures and can handle any potential pitfalls. If you anticipate…
Continue Reading 4 Problems That Can Complicate Illinois Probate

Frankly, everyone who is able to make a living will should have one. No one can predict the future – even young and healthy individuals can find themselves in a situation where they are at least temporarily incapacitated and unable to make medical decisions for themselves. There are some individuals for whom having a living will is particularly important. If you are interested in creating a living will, you will want to work with a qualified attorney to make sure all your wishes are expressed accurately in the document.
When Should I Make a Living Will?
The short answer is,…
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Both wills and trusts are important estate planning documents that can be used to govern what happens to your property after your death. Each comes with distinct advantages and disadvantages. It is best to speak to a qualified estate planning attorney who can help you design a comprehensive estate plan—which may include one or both documents—based on your unique situation.
What Are the Main Differences Between Wills and Trusts?
Wills and trusts are both legal documents that allow you to dictate what will happen to your property after you have died. However, there are significant differences.
For example, wills and…
Continue Reading Should I Have a Will, a Trust, or Both?

Managing an estate takes a great deal of responsibility and good decision-making capabilities. This is true throughout the entire estate planning process; however, it becomes especially significant toward late adulthood. Unfortunately, not all individuals are capable of managing their estate effectively on their own. In these instances, it may be necessary to request and appoint guardianship over the estate owner. Through diligent research, effort, and collaboration with an experienced elder law attorney, successful guardianship is possible.
When is Estate Guardianship Necessary?
In Illinois, guardianship may be granted in instances where an individual, known as the ward, is not capable of…
Continue Reading The Importance of Estate Guardianship in Illinois

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the federal agency that oversees workplace safety in the United States. The agency has designated construction sites as one of the most dangerous workplaces because of the high number of deaths and injuries of construction workers each year. The agency has even identified the top construction site hazards, referred to as the “Fatal Four,” that are responsible for the most construction site accident deaths. These four are falls, struck by an object, electrocutions, and caught-in/between, compressed or crushed.
Hazardous Materials
The Fatal Four are also responsible for a high number of violations…
Continue Reading Hazardous Materials and Construction Site Injuries in Illinois

Parents are bound to disagree on various issues during a divorce. In most cases, parents can come to an agreement on important issues such as allocating parenting time and decision-making responsibilities. Sometimes, the parents have to attend mediation or use some other form of dispute resolution to help them resolve their disagreements. Other times, parents are unable to come to an agreement amongst themselves, even when utilizing mediation or lawyer-assisted negotiations. In those situations, a judge will intervene to make sure the child’s best interests are protected.
Determining Parenting Time When Parents Disagree
If the court steps in to determine…
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Now that the weather is getting warmer, the number of people on the road will rise, along with the number of traffic accidents and fatalities. According to information from the National Safety Council (NSC), the number of traffic fatalities that occur during the summer months is much higher than the number of traffic fatalities during the winter months. In April 2020, there were 2,520 reported traffic deaths, but May 2020 had 3,340 reported traffic deaths, which amounts to a nearly 36 percent increase in fatalities just one month apart. One of the best things you can do to prevent yourself…
Continue Reading Helpful Tips to Practice Safe Summer Driving in Illinois

During the divorce process, spouses will need to address and resolve a wide variety of legal issues. If a couple has children together, the matter of child custody will be one of their primary concerns, and they will need to create a parenting plan that will define their rights and obligations toward their children while detailing how they will share custody. As parents work to reach agreements about how these matters will be handled, they can ensure that their parenting plan includes all of the necessary information that will allow them to meet their obligations and provide for their children’s…
Continue Reading What Do Divorcing Parents Need to Include in Their Parenting Plan?