Practice area
Wills, trusts and the papers that go with them
A plan is more than a will. We draft the four documents most families need, and a living trust when it saves your heirs real time or money.
A will
Who gets what, who settles the estate and who raises children still at home.
A living trust
Keeps the house and accounts out of probate. We tell you plainly when a will is enough instead.
Financial power of attorney
Someone you trust can pay bills and deal with the bank if you can’t.
Health care directive
Your wishes for treatment, and the person who speaks for you at the hospital.
Who usually needs a trust
Most of the families we see do fine with a will. A trust earns its cost when one of these is true.
Property in both states
A house in Iowa and a cabin in Illinois can mean two probates. A trust can mean none.
A blended family
Children from an earlier marriage, and a spouse who should be cared for too.
A child who needs help with money
A trustee can hand out money over time instead of in one check.
A family farm or business
Keeps it running while the estate is settled.
Questions
About wills and trusts
How long does it take?
Three to five weeks from the first meeting to the signing, unless you need it sooner. Tell us at the first call if someone is ill.
Will my plan still work if I move across the river?
Usually yes, but we’d want to look at it. Since we practice in both states, a review after a move is a short meeting.
Do you keep the originals?
You keep the signed originals. We keep scanned copies, and we’ll tell your executor where to find them.
Plan it in one season
An hour to talk it through, a few weeks to read the drafts, one visit to sign.