Recent Blog Posts
Two Year Blogiversary
Two years ago we rolled out the welcome mat for this blog. And here we are 80 posts later! On last year’s blogiversary I shared 5 Things About Our Blog. Today I want to share some numbers and stats. If you run any kind of website or blog, you’re probably familiar with a tool… Read More »
Ernie Banks Estate, Part 4: Citations to Discover and Recover
Cubs legend Ernie Banks died nearly 4 months ago, but his estate continues to make headlines as new facts and twists trickle out in the legal wrangling between his caretaker and his family. The ultimate battle has yet to begin — a will contest has not yet even been filed — but the battle… Read More »
The Four Phases of a Revocable Living Trust
Sometimes the best way to understand a concept is to break it down into different phases over time. I think this construct works well for understanding estate planning with a revocable living trust, which serves varying goals and purposes at each different stage. For a basic primer on revocable living trusts, read here. The… Read More »
Estate Planning Jokes for April’s National Humor Month
It can’t be an accident that National Humor Month coincides with income tax month. Who doesn’t need a little laughter after trying to decipher over 4 million words in the tax code. Last April I linked to a few humorous videos. Here are some short estate planning jokes (none are mine, but I have… Read More »
April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day
Did you know that April 16 (every year) is National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD)? Just what is NHDD? It’s a “50-state annual initiative to provide clear, concise, and consistent information on healthcare decision-making to both the public and providers/facilities through the widespread availability and dissemination of simple, free, and uniform tools (not just forms)… Read More »
Ernie Banks Estate, Part 3: Creditor Claims Against the Estate
Mr. Cub’s estate battle has now entered roughly the top of the second inning. To recap, you can read my first two installments on this case here and here. What’s happened since my last installment on March 3rd? Quite a bit (you can actually review the basic probate docket entries here). I will start… Read More »
The ‘Two and a Half Men’ Finale and Presumption of Death Probate
I finally got around to watching the ‘Two and a Half Men’ series finale on CBS recently. After 12 seasons, it was time to write its obituary. Surprisingly enough, I actually found the finale to be moderately entertaining. Perhaps it was due to the dialogue involving unclaimed property and death certificates. In a nutshell,… Read More »
Guest Blog: Things That Need to be Done When a Business Owner Dies
Today’s post is a guest blog written by Robert Deprez — Managing Director and Founder of Deprez Leadership in Chicago, which provides leadership transition advisory and interim CEO services to middle market companies. For additional articles and information on Deprez Leadership, visit www.deprezleadership.com. The unexpected death of a business owner triggers a number of… Read More »
Pets as Property: Testamentary Freedom vs. Public Policy
Some people consider, and treat, pets as their children. We love our furry friends and care for their well-being. Pets can, and often should be, part of an estate plan (Illinois even allows for pet trusts — a topic for a future blog). But there is an important legal distinction between pets and children…. Read More »
Ernie Banks Estate, Part 2: Probate vs. Non-Probate Property
A lot of people are following the Ernie Banks probate case with intense interest, attorneys included. I think part of the reason for the public interest is that a lot of people have either gone through a similar family situation, or know someone else that has. It has touched a chord. But this is… Read More »