- Consumer's Choice Award 2019
- Consumer's Choice Award 2020
- Consumer's Choice Award 2021
- Consumer's Choice Award 2022
- Consumer's Choice Award 2023
- Consumer's Choice Award 2024
Planning ahead with a thoughtful estate plan helps Lemont families protect their loved ones, minimize taxes, and avoid unnecessary court intervention. At Frankfort Law Group, our team takes time to understand your goals, review assets, and tailor a plan that fits your values and circumstances. From naming guardians for minor children to selecting executors, a clear roadmap provides peace of mind and reduces potential conflicts during difficult times. We guide you through each step with clarity and steady, respectful support.
Estate planning and probate matters in Illinois require careful consideration of assets, family dynamics, and timing. Our firm explains options in plain language, helps you prioritize needs, and drafts documents that reflect your wishes. Whether updating an existing plan or starting from scratch, we work with you to create durable provisions, avoid probate delays, and preserve family harmony. Our approach emphasizes accessibility, transparent communication, and ongoing support as your circumstances evolve.
Choosing the right planning and probate strategy can save time, reduce costs, and prevent disputes among survivors. A well crafted will, trust, durable power of attorney, and healthcare directive gives you control over asset distribution, medical decisions, and legal safeguards. By planning in advance, you minimize court involvement, protect beneficiaries, and provide financial stability for loved ones. Our team helps you balance flexibility with clarity, ensuring critical decisions are documented and accessible when it matters most.
Frankfort Law Group serves Lemont and surrounding communities with a practical, client focused approach to estate planning and probate. Our attorneys bring broad experience in will contests, trust administration, guardianship, and probate matters. We work closely with families and business owners to tailor solutions that fit goals and budgets. Clear explanations, thorough document preparation, and responsive service define our practice, with a commitment to helping clients navigate complex processes while preserving dignity and thoughtful outcomes.
Estate planning encompasses documents and strategies designed to protect assets and express your wishes. Probate governs how your estate is administered after death, resolving debts, taxes, and distribution. Understanding both areas helps you choose tools that align with your family structure and financial picture. We explain roles, timelines, and potential pitfalls in plain language so you can make informed decisions.
We tailor plans to individuals, couples, and business owners in Lemont, considering tax implications, blended families, and legacy goals. By outlining guardianship for minors, designating trusted fiduciaries, and selecting favorable trust structures, you can protect beneficiaries and simplify transitions during life changes. Our guidance covers asset transfer, beneficiary designations, and ongoing plan reviews.
Estate planning is a coordinated set of documents and strategies that helps you manage what happens to your assets, healthcare, and legal rights. Probate is the court supervised process that validates a will, oversees debts, and distributes property to heirs. Together, these elements form a roadmap that reflects your values while reducing risk for your loved ones. A thoughtful plan clarifies decisions and preserves the intent behind your possessions.
Essential components include a last will and testament, living trust or other trust arrangements, durable power of attorney, healthcare directive, and beneficiary designations. The process typically involves asset inventory, document preparation, conversations with family, and filing with the appropriate court or institutions. We help you gather information, choose fiduciaries, and implement secure storage so your plan remains effective as life changes.
This section outlines the main steps and terms involved in planning and probate, from clarifying goals to executing documents and managing trusts. It covers how assets are titled, how guardianship is appointed, and how probate courts handle settlements. Understanding these elements helps families anticipate needs, avoid delays, and maintain control over outcomes.
A Will is a legal document that directs how your assets will be distributed after death, names guardians for minor children, and can appoint an executor to administer the estate. It becomes effective when properly signed and witnessed. Without a Will, state laws determine distribution, which may not reflect your wishes. Regular reviews ensure the document remains aligned with life changes, such as new family members, updated assets, or shifts in goals.
Probate is the court supervised process that validates a will, pays debts, and distributes remaining assets to heirs. The process can involve notice to beneficiaries, inventory of assets, and accounting for taxes. Proper planning may simplify probate, minimize delays, and help preserve family harmony. Our team explains probate steps clearly, outlining expected timelines and potential issues so you can plan with confidence.
A trust is a legal arrangement that holds assets for beneficiaries under specific terms. Trusts can avoid probate, provide ongoing management, and protect privacy. They require careful drafting, funding, and regular reviews to remain effective as life changes. We discuss how trusts can fit into your overall plan to support loved ones according to your wishes.
An executor is the person named in a will to manage the estate after death. Duties include identifying assets, paying debts, filing probate paperwork, and distributing property to beneficiaries. Choosing a reliable, organized administrator helps ensure your instructions are carried out smoothly. We help you select the right person and prepare them for the responsibilities involved.
Estate planning and probate involve several approaches, from simple wills to complex trust structures. Each option has implications for control, taxes, and costs. A basic will may be appropriate for straightforward families, while trusts and durable powers of attorney offer flexibility and privacy. We assess your situation, present practical alternatives, and help you choose a path that aligns with your needs and resources.
Some cases involve straightforward assets, a single family structure, and uncomplicated distributions. In these situations, a streamlined plan can provide clarity and efficiency without unnecessary complexity. We still ensure documents are accurate, properly executed, and aligned with your stated goals.
During transitions such as aging parents or a recent home purchase, a temporary arrangement may protect interests while giving you time to review more comprehensive options later. We help you implement essential protections now and plan for future updates.
Complex family dynamics, significant assets, or blended households often require coordinated planning. A comprehensive approach ensures guardianship, tax considerations, business interests, and beneficiary designations all align. By reviewing multiple documents together, transitions remain smooth and expectations clear.
Engaging in a full service allows for asset titling review, beneficiary coordination, trust funding, and periodic plan updates as circumstances change. This approach reduces the risk of gaps and ensures your plan remains aligned with goals.
A comprehensive approach brings clarity across documents, improves consistency, and minimizes the chance of overlooked details. Clients often gain a clearer path for guardianship, asset management, and future administration, with coordinated provisions that work together seamlessly.
Coordinated planning reduces the need for multiple consultations and helps you understand how each element supports the overall goals for your family. By aligning documents from the outset, transitions occur more smoothly for loved ones and executors.
A thorough plan offers privacy, strategic tax considerations, and durable protections that adapt to life changes. Regular reviews help keep your instructions current, ensuring your wishes are followed even as laws evolve or family circumstances shift.
Beginning the planning process sooner rather than later gives you time to gather assets, discuss wishes with family, and adjust documents as life changes. Early preparation also helps prevent unnecessary delays and reduces anxiety for loved ones. Schedule a thoughtful discovery conversation to outline goals, priorities, and timelines that fit your schedule in Lemont.
Major events such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child, or a change in asset holdings warrant a formal plan review. We help you assess whether adjustments are needed, ensuring your documents stay aligned with current wishes and financial realities.
If you want to protect family harmony, minimize court involvement, and ensure your wishes are respected, estate planning and probate guidance can provide clarity. Thoughtful preparation reduces risk, saves time, and helps beneficiaries understand the path forward during difficult moments.
This service is particularly valuable for families with complex assets, blended households, or evolving health and financial situations. By working with a dedicated team, you gain practical options, clear timelines, and a plan that supports your loved ones now and in the future.
Common situations include blended families, significant or diverse asset portfolios, and concerns about guardianship for minor children. Changes in tax laws or business ownership also create a need for coordinated planning. In these scenarios, a comprehensive plan helps keep interests aligned and reduces the chance of disputes among heirs.
When there are stepchildren, step-siblings, or multiple guardians, clear documents help ensure each party understands their role. A well drafted plan provides guidance for guardianship and guardianship transitions, minimizing ambiguity during times of stress.
A diverse asset base may require specialized documentation to optimize tax outcomes and preserve family wealth. Coordination between wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations helps ensure assets are managed and transferred according to your preferences.
Owners of family or LLCs often need planning that aligns business succession with personal goals. Proper planning clarifies ownership transfer, fiduciary duties, and ongoing management to support continuity and financial stability.
Our team offers patient guidance, clear explanations, and attentive support throughout the planning and probate process. We help you gather information, prepare documents, and communicate decisions with family members and fiduciaries, ensuring your wishes are respected and your loved ones feel supported.
Choosing our firm means working with attorneys who prioritize clarity, practical solutions, and responsive communication. We take time to understand your goals, explain options in plain language, and help you implement durable documents that fit your budget and lifestyle in Lemont.
Our approach emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and steady guidance from initial consultation through execution and updates. We keep you informed about timelines, potential questions, and the impact of decisions on your family, assets, and legacy, so you can move forward with confidence.
With a focus on practical results, we tailor plans to your unique circumstances and provide ongoing support as life evolves. Our goal is to help you protect your loved ones, avoid probate delays, and maintain clear expectations for the future.
From your first consultation to final execution, our process is designed to be straightforward and thorough. We listen to your goals, inventory assets, discuss options, draft documents, and guide you through signing and storage. You will have a dedicated point of contact to answer questions, keep timelines on track, and ensure documents accurately reflect your wishes.
During the initial meeting, we review family goals, asset types, and potential planning tools. We outline available options, gather relevant information, and discuss timelines. This session sets the foundation for a tailored plan that aligns with your values and circumstances.
We collect asset lists, beneficiary designations, and any existing documents. The goal is to understand your current position, identify gaps, and prepare for efficient drafting of instruments that reflect your wishes.
We discuss goals for guardianship, asset protection, and distribution. This conversation helps shape the recommended instruments, ensuring a coherent and effective plan that can be implemented smoothly.
We prepare the necessary documents, review terms with you, and adjust for tax and estate considerations. Clear drafts are provided for your review, and changes are incorporated before final execution to ensure accuracy and alignment with your goals.
Our team drafts wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives, ensuring compatibility and consistency across documents to support a cohesive plan.
We review all provisions with you, discuss any necessary revisions, and confirm that your preferences are clearly stated and legally effective.
We finalize execution, arrange witnessing or notarization as required, and provide secure storage options. We also discuss plan maintenance and future updates so your documents stay current as life changes.
Documents are signed in accordance with Illinois law and stored securely. We provide guidance on access for executors and fiduciaries while maintaining privacy where appropriate.
We discuss periodic reviews and updates to reflect changes in family circumstances, asset holdings, or tax considerations, ensuring your plan remains aligned with your goals.
At the Frankfort Law Group, we take great pride in our commitment to personal service. Clients come to us because they have problems, and they depend upon us to help them find solutions. We take these obligations seriously. When you meet with us, we know that you are only doing so because you need help. Since we started our firm in northeast Illinois, we have focused on providing each of our clients with personal attention. You do not have to be afraid to tell us your story. We are not here to judge you or make you feel ashamed for seeking help. Our only goal is to help you get results and move past your current legal problems.
At the Frankfort Law Group, we take great pride in our commitment to personal service. Clients come to us because they have problems, and they depend upon us to help them find solutions. We take these obligations seriously. When you meet with us, we know that you are only doing so because you need help. Since we started our firm in northeast Illinois, we have focused on providing each of our clients with personal attention. You do not have to be afraid to tell us your story. We are not here to judge you or make you feel ashamed for seeking help. Our only goal is to help you get results and move past your current legal problems.
A will is a document that specifies how assets are distributed after death, appoints guardians for minor children, and designates an executor to oversee the estate. A trust is a separate arrangement that holds assets for beneficiaries under defined terms, often used to manage property during life and after. The choice between a will and a trust depends on goals, asset complexity, and privacy considerations, and both tools can be used together for a comprehensive plan.
A power of attorney grants someone you trust the authority to handle financial matters if you become unable to do so. A healthcare directive provides instructions about medical decisions when you cannot speak for yourself. Having both documents in place helps ensure your wishes are respected and reduces the burden on loved ones during difficult times.
Probate timelines vary by case, but many estates in Illinois take several months to over a year depending on complexity and whether disputes arise. Proper planning, accurate asset inventories, and timely filing can help streamline the process. Our team explains what to expect and works to keep administration moving forward as efficiently as possible.
A properly drafted will can avoid some probate issues, but most estates may still go through probate unless trusts or other arrangements bypass the court process. Planning with a professional helps identify strategies to minimize delays, protect assets, and provide clear instructions for administrators and beneficiaries.
Life changes such as marriage, divorce, births, and new assets require updates to your plan. Failing to review can leave your documents outdated or misaligned with your current wishes. Regular check-ins ensure that beneficiary designations, asset titles, and guardianship provisions reflect your latest intentions.
Choose an executor or trustee based on reliability, organization, and ability to manage responsibilities. Discuss expectations with the person, confirm their willingness, and name alternates. We can help you evaluate candidates and prepare them for the role so administration proceeds smoothly.
Estate planning documents can include privacy provisions, but some information may become part of the public record during probate. We strive to balance transparency with privacy by using trusts and careful document drafting to protect sensitive details where possible.
Gather personal identification, recent asset lists, existing wills or trusts, beneficiary designations, and contact information for family members and financial institutions. Bringing these items to the first meeting helps accelerate the planning process and ensures all relevant details are considered.
We recommend reviewing estate plans at least every few years or after major life events. Updates may involve asset changes, new guardians, or shifts in tax laws. Regular reviews help keep your plan accurate and aligned with your goals.
Costs vary with the complexity of the plan. We discuss pricing upfront during the initial consultation, outline what is included, and provide a clear estimate for drafting, review, and execution. Ongoing updates may incur additional fees, which we explain before proceeding.