Springfield, Illinois Estate Planning Attorneys in Sangamon County

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Springfield, Illinois Estate Planning Attorneys in Sangamon County

Estate planning is not only for the wealthy or for those who are getting ready to retire. Estate planning is for anyone in Sangamon County, Illinois looking for extra life protection, regardless of their financial situation – it’s never too early to start. An estate plan can be simple, like having a will in place, or much more complex, depending on your needs. At its most basic state, an estate plan is a legal strategy to ensure you have a voice in how your assets are carried out in the event of your death or incapacity. If you are a parent to minor children, it also ensures they will be cared for by the people you trust and designate if something happens to you. Many different estate planning strategies can be used to achieve your goals. Working directly with a Springfield, Illinois estate planning attorney is the best way to ensure your plan perfectly suits you and your family.

 

Estate Planning Law Firm in Sangamon County, Illinois in Springfield

At Stange Law Firm, our Springfield, Illinois estate planning attorneys have experience helping people like you create comprehensive estate plans that protect their families and assets. We understand that every family is unique, and we take the time to get to know you and your specific needs to create a plan that will work for you.

Some of the estate planning services we offer in Springfield, IL in Sangamon County include:

  • Wills: A will is a legally binding document that states how you would like your assets to be distributed after your death. If you die without one in place, Missouri law will determine how your property is divided. This is a risk as their decisions may not be in accordance with your wishes.
  • Trusts: A trust is a legal entity that can be used to hold assets on behalf of another person. Trusts avoid probate, minimize taxes, and protect assets from creditors, making them a great option for a variety of purposes.
  • Elder Law: Elder law planning is a way to protect seniors and their families as they age. This type of planning includes estate planning, asset protection, long-term care planning, and more.
  • Special Needs Planning: Special needs planning is a way to ensure that a person with special needs will be taken care of financially and emotionally if something were to happen to their caregiver. This type of planning can include creating a special needs trust.
 

With many options available, estate planning can be overwhelming. However, our estate planning attorneys can help you navigate the process and protect your assets with ease.

What Are Common Assets to Include in an Estate Plan in Springfield, IL?

Our clients often ask what types of assets should be included in their estate plans. Our response usually depends on what is sought to be accomplished with the assets.

The most common assets people choose to include in their estate plan in Springfield, IL are:

  • Real estate – including your home, vacation property, and rental property
  • Vehicles – including traditional cars, trucks, motorcycles, personal boats, and RVs/other camping equipment
  • Retirement accounts – including 401(k)s, IRAs, and pensions
  • Investment accounts – including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds
  • Bank accounts – including checking accounts, savings accounts, and money market accounts
  • Business interests – including the ownership of a small business or partnership
  • Personal property – including jewelry, art, collectibles, and family heirlooms
  • Life insurance policies – including whole life or term policies
 

While there is no universal template for what assets should be included in an estate plan, the above are the most commonly included ones.

What Obstacles Are There to Creating an Estate Plan in Sangamon County?

People face several common obstacles when trying to create an estate plan. These obstacles can make the process seem daunting and even impossible. However, with the help of an experienced estate planning attorney, you can overcome these obstacles and create a plan that will honor your family’s most intimate wishes.

Some of the most common obstacles to estate planning in Sangamon County, IL are:

  • Not knowing where to start: Estate planning can seem overwhelming, especially if you have never done it before. However, an estate planning lawyer will share what decisions need to be made early on, and what documents need to be prepared. They will take you through each step in the process to keep stress at a minimum while making progress on your estate.
  • Procrastination: Many people put off estate planning because they think it is something that can be done later. However, it’s an important part of taking care of your loved ones and protecting your assets. If you wait too long to create a plan, it could be too late.
  • Not having enough assets: Some people think that they do not need to create an estate plan because they do not have enough assets. However, estate planning is not just for people with a lot of money. Everyone in St. Louis can benefit from having a plan in place.
  • Not knowing whom to include: Many people are not sure whom to include in their estate plan. However, a St. Louis estate planning attorney can help you identify the people who should be included in your plan based on your specific goals and needs.
  • Not having enough time: It’s true that if you were to create an estate plan on your own, it would take a significant amount of time. That’s why the profession of estate planning legal counsel exists – to take care of the heavy lifting for you. This way, you can be confident that your plan is comprehensive and tailored to your unique situation without having to spend hours researching and drafting documents yourself.

Contact Stange Law Firm in Springfield, IL Today to Schedule an Initial Consultation

Creating an estate plan is an important part of taking care of your loved ones and protecting your assets. If you have questions about estate planning or need help creating a plan in Sangamon County, Illinois or nearby, contact Stange Law Firm today. We are eager to help you get started.

Sangamon County (Springfield), Illinois Office (217-717-8605): 400 S. 9th Street, Suite 100, Springfield, Illinois 62701

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Helpful Information Regarding High Net Worth Divorce From our Webpage

To learn more about our work in the area of high net worth divorce, please follow the links below:
Do You Need a Last Will and Testament or an Estate Plan?
Everybody should consider making a will. However, a will is about much more than the division of a sizable estate, and making a will is not something that those with substantial assets.
Multi-state Trust Attorneys in the in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska
As Stange Law Firm, PC, we can determine the right type of trust for your needs and objectives and select the type of trust that best protects your interests.
Valuing professional practices and businesses
Valuing a professional practice can be extremely difficult because much of the value is in the individual's contribution, not in merchandise or interests that can be easily divided. If you have questions, we have answers.
Pensions, IRAs and 401(k)s
Missouri law significantly affects the division of retirement savings accounts. If many of your assets are in IRAs or 401(k)s, we can talk with you about your options.
Qualified Domestic Relations Orders
QDROs create or recognize the existence of an alternate payee's right to receive all or a portion of the benefits payable under a retirement plan. We can explain what this means for you.
Divorce Tax Issues
For some, they can have significant questions and concerns about how getting divorced might effect them from a tax perspective. We can help ensure that clients can get the tax advice they need from tax professionals.
Maintaining Lifestyle
Many individuals have spent their entire life working hard in order to maintain a lifestyle that they have sought out. We can help individuals going through divorce ensure that they are put in the best financial position possible after a divorce.
Business Owners
Many individuals have spent their whole life trying to create a successful business or they have assisted their spouse build up this interest. It can be stressful when that business interest becomes part of a divorce proceeding. However, we an help ensure that a business interests are fairly evaluated.
Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements
Prior to entering into a marriage, or after the wedding date, many individuals are interested in putting together a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement to ensure that there are not lengthy and contentious divorce proceedings later if the marriage ends in divorce In these instances, we can help.
Farm Divorce
In certain cases, parties going through a divorce may own a family farm. This can result in the farm itself, equipment, livestock and other valuable assets being put in play in a divorce. We can help you if this is the case.
Stocks and Bonds
Many married couples also have significant sums in stocks and bonds. It's vital to work with an attorney to have an accounting of what is out there and to ensure it is properly addressed in family court.
Vocational Examination
The income producing potential of a husband and wife can be an important issue in a spousal support or child support case. A vocational examination can be useful in many of these cases where the current income of a party does not appropriately reflect what they could make.
Real Estate Portfolios
Real estate can be an important issue in divorce cases where the parties own rental property and other valuable real estate. We can work with parties in these types of cases to make sure these assets are property valuated and apportioned.
Delayed Compensation
In some situations, a party may be compensated through delayed compensation. This is an important area that should not be over-looked in a divorce.
Overseas Assets
Overseas assets can be significant issue in certain cases. It is vital that you have an attorney who understands how to address this issue
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Stange Law Firm, PC

120 S. Central Avenue, Suite 450

St. Louis (Clayton), Missouri 63105

Toll Free: 855-805-0595
Fax: 314-963-9191
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