Estate planning

Rick represents clients in Rockford, Loves Park and across Winnebago County from his office at 7111 N. Alpine Rd, Loves Park.

What Rick handles

• Simple wills
• Wills that name a guardian for your children
• Updating or replacing an older will after a marriage, a divorce or a birth
• Trusts
• Powers of appointment
• Wills for business owners, and what happens to the business after you
• Powers of attorney, on their own page: Power of attorney

How it works, now and later

The planning happens at a table in Loves Park. You talk through who depends on you, what you own and who you trust; Rick drafts the will; you read it and ask about every line you are unsure of. Then you sign it in front of two witnesses, which Illinois requires.

If a will goes through probate after a death, that happens in the circuit court of the county where the person lived (755 ILCS 5/5-1). Whoever holds the will has to file it with the clerk of that court immediately after the death (755 ILCS 5/6-1). For a Winnebago County resident that is the Circuit Clerk's office, Room 108 of the courthouse at 400 W. State St in Rockford. For Boone County it is the Boone County Circuit Clerk, in the courthouse at 601 N. Main St in Belvidere.

If an estate goes through the court, the person in charge publishes a notice to creditors and mails it to the creditors they know of. The claims deadline is at least 6 months after the first publication, or 3 months after the mailing if that is later (755 ILCS 5/18-3).

If someone close to you has died, start here. When someone dies in Illinois

Questions and answers

Writing a will, or changing one? Making a will in Illinois

• Do I need a will in Illinois?
• What happens if you die without a will in Illinois?
• Does a will have to be notarized or witnessed in Illinois?
• Who can make a will in Illinois?
• Can I name a guardian for my children in my will?
• Does divorce cancel my will in Illinois?
• How do I change or cancel a will?
• Does every estate go through probate in Illinois?

When to plan

When you marry or divorce. When a child is born. When you buy a home or start a business. When someone depends on you for care.

What to have ready

A list of what you own and owe, the names of the people you want to provide for, and the name of the person you would trust to carry out your wishes. If you have an older will, bring it.

The first conversation

Rick asks about your family and what you own before he says anything about documents. Then he explains what a will would do for you, what it would not, and whether a power of attorney belongs with it.