Insights
Estate, trust & business law,
in plain language.
Practical guidance for Illinois and Missouri families and business owners — written to be understood, not to impress.
Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs): Pros and Cons
Explore GRAT pros and cons, a simple example, tax risks, and when a grantor retained annuity trust may fit your estate plan.
September 13, 2026What Happens to Your Digital Assets When You Die?
Plan for photos, online accounts, and digital wallets after death. Learn how Illinois and Missouri law can help protect access and family memories.
September 7, 2026Missouri Successor Trustee Duties After Death: Fees & Rules
What must a Missouri successor trustee do after the settlor dies? Learn the statutory notice, accounting, asset-management, distribution, and fee rules.
September 7, 2026Funding a Living Trust in Illinois: What to Transfer
Funding a living trust in Illinois takes more than signing documents. Learn what to review for your home, bank accounts, retirement benefits, and LLC interests.
September 3, 2026Illinois Estate Tax Examples: $4 Million to $10 Million
Compare Illinois estate tax estimates at different estate values, with clear assumptions and guidance on deductions, gifts, and married-couple planning.
August 31, 2026Illinois Estate Tax and Out-of-State Property
Own property outside Illinois? Learn how tax situs and apportionment affect an Illinois estate tax estimate and why location alone is not enough.
August 24, 2026How Prior Gifts Affect Illinois Estate Tax
Understand adjusted taxable gifts, annual exclusions, and the records needed to use an Illinois estate tax calculator without double counting.
August 17, 2026Does Life Insurance Count Toward Illinois Estate Tax?
Life insurance can affect Illinois estate tax even when beneficiaries receive it directly. Learn why ownership, death benefits, and trust planning matter.
August 10, 2026What Counts Toward an Illinois Taxable Estate?
Learn which assets count toward Illinois estate tax, how deductions differ from probate, and what to gather before estimating your exposure.
Archive placement: July 28, 2026What Happens to Your LLC When You Die?
Who will own and run your LLC after your death? Illinois and Missouri owners should coordinate operating agreements, buyouts and estate planning documents.
July 12, 2026Illinois Land Trusts: What They Actually Do — and What They Don't
An Illinois attorney explains how land trusts work, the privacy they actually provide, their limits, and when pairing one with an LLC makes sense.
July 12, 2026At What Net Worth Do You Actually Need a Trust in Illinois?
There is no magic number — but there are clear thresholds where a revocable living trust stops being optional. An Illinois estate planning attorney explains.
Archive placement: May 12, 2026LLC Operating Agreements in Illinois and Missouri: What to Decide Before You Sign
Starting an LLC with another owner? Review the ownership, voting, buyout and succession questions your Illinois or Missouri operating agreement should address.
April 17, 2026FinCEN Residential Real Estate Rule Update
An update on the status of FinCEN's residential real estate reporting rule and what it means for property owners and entities.
March 10, 2026What Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost in Illinois?
Compare what an Illinois living trust fee includes: supporting documents, deeds, funding guidance and follow-up. Learn what changes the scope of your plan.
February 22, 2026FinCEN's Real Estate Reporting Rule: What It Means for LLCs, Partnerships, Corporations, and Trusts
FinCEN's residential real estate reporting requirement and what it means for transfers involving LLCs, partnerships, corporations, and trusts.
January 31, 2026Stock vs. Asset Purchase: What to Know Before Buying or Selling a Business
Stock sale or asset sale? The choice drives taxes, liability, and risk. What Illinois and Missouri business owners must weigh before a deal.
December 29, 20252026 Federal Estate and Gift Tax Limits
Understand the $15 million federal exclusion, $19,000 annual gift exclusion, and why Illinois families still need a separate estate tax review.
December 28, 2025Illinois Estate Tax for Married Couples: QTIP Trusts
How Illinois estate tax works for married couples, including the lack of portability, credit shelter trusts, QTIP elections, and planning for both deaths.
November 26, 2025How to Keep Your Identity Private With an Illinois LLC
How Illinois business owners can keep their name off the public record using an LLC and land trust structure — and the limits of LLC privacy.
November 23, 202510 LLC Mistakes to Avoid in Illinois and Missouri
Review common LLC mistakes involving ownership, contracts, records and tax elections, with practical next steps for Illinois and Missouri business owners.
October 2, 2025LLC vs. S-Corp in Illinois & Missouri: Which Is Right for Your Business?
LLC or S-corporation? A clear comparison of liability, taxes, and paperwork to help Illinois and Missouri small business owners choose the right entity.
August 25, 2025Legal Red Flags to Watch for in a Letter of Intent (LOI)
The letter of intent sets the terms of a deal before the contract. The red flags business owners should catch in an LOI before signing.
August 24, 2025Business Succession After Connelly: Life Insurance and Buy-Sell Agreements
What the Supreme Court's Connelly decision means for life-insurance-funded buy-sell agreements and business succession planning.
August 6, 2025The Corporate Transparency Act: What Business Owners Need to Know
The Corporate Transparency Act's beneficial ownership reporting — who must file, what's required, and the current state of enforcement.
August 1, 2025Illinois Raises the Small Estate Limit to $150,000: What It Means for Families
Illinois increased its small estate affidavit limit to $150,000. What the change means for families settling an estate without full probate.
July 9, 2025Federal vs. Illinois Estate Tax: Why Planning Still Matters
The 2026 federal estate tax exclusion is $15 million, but Illinois uses a separate $4 million threshold. Learn what that means for your estate plan.
July 3, 2025Probate in Illinois: Costs, Process, and What Happens Without a Will
A plain-language guide to Illinois probate — what it costs, how long it takes, and what happens to your estate if you die without a will.
July 1, 2025What Estate Planning Really Costs in the Metro East and St. Louis
A realistic look at estate planning costs for Metro East and St. Louis families — and why the right plan usually saves far more than it costs.
June 28, 2025How Much Are Attorney Fees for Probate in Illinois and Missouri?
What probate attorney fees look like in Illinois and Missouri, how they're set, and how to keep estate settlement costs down.
May 9, 2025What Happens If You Die Without an Estate Plan in Illinois and Missouri?
If you die without a will or trust, state intestacy law decides who inherits. What that means in Illinois and Missouri — and how to take control.
March 27, 2025Power of Attorney vs. Last Will: Understanding the Difference
A power of attorney works while you're alive; a will takes effect when you die. Understanding the difference — and why you need both.
February 18, 2025Using Land Trusts and LLCs for Real Estate Estate Planning
A strategic approach to using Illinois land trusts and LLCs together to hold, protect, and pass down real estate wealth.
January 27, 2025Important Update to Illinois Power of Attorney for Property Requirements
Illinois updated its statutory requirements for powers of attorney for property. What changed and what it means for your existing documents.
October 1, 2024Why Accurate Books Matter for Business Success — and Legal Protection
Accurate books aren't just good accounting — they protect your liability shield and your business's legal standing. Why recordkeeping matters.
October 1, 2024Understanding the Illinois Probate Process: A Step-by-Step Breakdown
A step-by-step walkthrough of the Illinois probate process — from opening the estate to final distribution — in plain language.
Talk through your next step
Start with a free 15-minute introductory call about your estate-planning or business-law needs. Serving clients throughout Illinois and Missouri, with virtual appointments available.