Everybody has an estate. They might come in the form of personal property, real property or a combination of the two. The sizes of peoples’ estates are are different too.
What a Will Does
A will operates to instruct the administrator of your estate on how you would like your estate distributed upon your death. With a will, you can specifically name who will be permitted to administer over your estate along with who takes what. If you live in or around Winnebago County, an estate planning lawyer in Rockford, IL, can draft a will for you and make sure that it meets the requirements of a will in Illinois, while also making sure that the instrument is properly executed.
Death Without a Will
If
you die without a will, Illinois law already has an estate plan for
you. It’s called the law of intestate succession, and it sets forth
exactly how your estate is to be distributed. Your chronically
irresponsible brother who you haven’t seen in 20 years might be
awarded part of your estate and spend it on liquor and casino
gambling. The probate court could also appoint an administrator of
your estate who you never even knew during your lifetime.
Don’t
risk everything that you ever worked for by dying without a will when
you have an opportunity to work with an estate planning lawyer in
Rockford, IL. Keep in mind that if you change your mind on a
beneficiary, you can execute a codicil to the will or make an
entirely new one. Contact The Crosby
Law Firm about how we can help with your
estate planning needs. Call us at 815-977-7878, or use our online
contact form at online.
