Finding an attorney who is a “real person” can be difficult. Many attorneys surround themselves almost exclusively with other attorneys and are accustomed to speaking in ivory tower legalese. You should be able to connect with your attorney on a personal level, and he or she should speak to you in plain language that you can understand. You will be working very closely with this person on issues that are very important to you. It is important that he or she be down-to-earth and someone that you connect with.
The most common complaint that clients have of their attorneys is that the attorney is unreachable, does not communicate with them regularly, or does not promptly return your calls. Your attorney should reach out to you about your case regularly and respond within 24 hours to calls and e-mails. An open line of communication between you and your attorney is essential to building trust.
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Your attorney’s goal should not be to win at all costs. Rather, it should be to achieve a favorable outcome for you as efficiently as possible. It is important that your attorney set realistic expectations at the outset as to the costs you should expect, the concerns that the attorney has about the outcome of your case, and the length of time that you should expect your case to take.
Regardless of the nature of your case, we have an experienced attorney who will focus on your individual needs. Our team of attorneys works closely together, bringing each of their different fields of experience to bear in order to optimize our client care.
Kevin's firm handled setting up my will and trust recently. They took something that seemed intimidating and made it easy to understand. I've also referred a couple clients to Kevin - he's trustworthy, approachable and very fairly priced.
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"Kevin was extremely professional, responsive and knowledgeable when I came to him for help. I would definitely recommend O'Flaherty Law!"
When someone passes away, their estate goes through probate, a legal process that ensures their assets are distributed according to their will or, if there is no will, according to state law. As a community law firm, we are committed to providing personalized and accessible legal services to our local clients. Probate can seem scary, but working with a probate attorney makes the process go smoothly and as stress-free as possible. Our probate attorneys in Bolingbrook have legal experience in probate and estate administration, so families can focus on healing not the legal stuff. We go above and beyond to help you through this tough time.
Probate is the court process of proving a will, paying debts, and distributing assets to heirs. The process includes:
In Illinois, probate is required even if there is a will. If the estate is over a certain value or certain types of assets are involved, probate is usually required. A probate attorney manages the process and makes sure everything is done according to Illinois law, providing comprehensive probate administration services to navigate the complexities of estate management and execution.
One of our clients, Emily from Bolingbrook, IL, came to us after her father passed away unexpectedly. Her father had no estate plan, and Emily had no idea how to do probate. She was overwhelmed with the paperwork, legal terminology, and the emotional loss of a parent.
Our probate attorneys stepped in to help. We walked Emily through every step, from filing the necessary documents with the probate court to making sure her father’s assets were inventoried and distributed properly. Along the way we communicated clearly and compassionately so Emily understood the process and felt good with each decision.
An estate administration lawyer can assist executors with various aspects of estate management, including navigating court processes, addressing debts, and distributing assets, ensuring compliance with probate laws.
There were some bumps along the way during probate. Some assets had to be appraised and there were minor disputes among family members about how some items should be divided. Our probate attorney mediated the disputes so everyone could focus on honoring her father’s wishes. In the end Emily’s family was at peace knowing everything was done legally and fairly. Emily’s story shows why it’s so important to have a probate attorney with you during this tough time.
Probate can be simple but there are many potential problems that can occur. Some of the most common probate problems are:
In addition to probate issues, our firm is also adept at handling civil litigation, ensuring that any disputes or litigation are managed effectively.
A probate attorney can help resolve these problems quickly and easily. Our Bolingbrook probate attorneys are experienced in dealing with disputes and making sure estates are settled according to Illinois probate law.
While probate is often required, there are ways to minimize or avoid probate altogether. By working with an estate planning attorney before you pass, you can make sure your assets pass without court supervision. Estate planning documents, such as wills and beneficiary designations, are crucial in ensuring your assets are managed and distributed according to your wishes, thereby avoiding probate.
Ways to avoid probate include:
By planning ahead and using these tools your loved ones will avoid the time and expense of probate.
A probate attorney is key to making sure the probate process goes smoothly. As part of their comprehensive legal services, a probate attorney in Bolingbrook, IL offers a range of services to address diverse client needs. Here’s what you can expect when working with a probate attorney in Bolingbrook:
Probate is complicated especially if the estate has a lot of assets or if there are disputes among family members. Having a probate attorney by your side will make sure everything is done according to the law and your family is protected during this tough time.
Our attorneys have extensive experience practicing law, ensuring that your probate matters are handled with the utmost experience and care.
At our firm, we believe probate shouldn’t add to the stress of an already emotional situation. We’ll take care of the legal side of probate so you can focus on what matters most—your family.
Here’s why clients choose our Bolingbrook probate attorneys:
Need help with probate or have questions about being an executor or beneficiary? Contact our Bolingbrook probate attorneys today. We’ll work with you to make sure the estate is settled according to your loved one’s wishes and your family’s future.
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The purpose of a consultation is to determine whether our firm is a good fit for your legal needs. Although we often discuss expected results and costs, our attorneys do not give legal advice unless and until you choose to retain us.
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Bolingbrook, IL 60440
I am personally committed to ensuring that each one of our clients receives the highest level of client service from our team. Our mission is to provide excellent legal work in a cost-effective manner while maintaining open lines of communication between our clients and their attorneys. Many of our clients are going through difficult times in their lives when they reach out to us. They should feel comfortable leaning on the experience and knowledge of our attorneys as their counselors and advocates. We are here to help!
In this article, our Bolingbrook estate attorneys explain no-contest clauses in wills and trusts. A no contest clause is language in a will or a trust that provides that if a beneficiary of the will or trust challenges its validity, the beneficiary will forfeit some or all of the benefits he or she would have otherwise received under the terms of the will or trust. No-contest clauses, while generally enforceable, are not a bar to probate litigation, and are only effective to the extent that the benefit that the beneficiary is expecting under the document in question is significant enough to deter a challenge.
In this article, our Bolingbrook probate lawyers explain how probate claims work. A probate claim is an assertion that the claimant is owed money by the deceased individual's estate. We explain the notice that the estate's executor or administrator is required to give to known and unknown creditors, the process for creditors filing cliams with the executor and/or the probate court, and what happens if the executor or administrator decides to dispute the claim.
In this article, our Bolingbrook estate administration attorneys explain the probate process. We explain how to file a petition to open a probate estate, the issuance of letters of office to the executor or administrator of the estate, notice to heirs and creditors, the probate claim filing period, and the executor's creation of an inventory and final report.