Estate Planning

A sound estate plan does more than say who receives your property. It names the people you trust to act for you if you cannot, keeps your affairs out of probate, and works together with your business interests, retirement accounts, and real estate. We prepare revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, durable powers of attorney, and health care directives, and we help you transfer assets into your trust so the plan works when it is needed. For larger estates, we design irrevocable trusts and gifting strategies that reduce estate tax and preserve wealth for future generations. We advise clients under California community property law and under Illinois law, including the Illinois estate tax.