Illinois Estate Planning Attorneys

Trusted Lawyers for Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning Strategies

For many individuals, estate planning can be a subject that is difficult to address. The process of estate planning requires a person to consider his or her own death and how it may affect the financial security of his or her family members and loved ones. At Sosin, Arnold & Schoenbeck Ltd., our compassionate attorneys have vast experience in helping our clients plan for the transfer of their assets in accordance with their wishes.

Our accomplished lawyers have more than 100 years of combined legal experience, along with a well-deserved reputation for thoroughness and reliability. We understand the challenges inherent to estate planning, and we have developed an approach that always keeps our clients' needs as our primary focus.

Client-Centered Estate Planning Solutions

At Sosin, Arnold & Schoenbeck Ltd., we believe that a truly comprehensive estate plan is only possible when a client is completely forthcoming about his or her holdings, goals, values, and needs. That is why we take the time to listen carefully to our clients, getting to know them and understanding their objectives for the estate planning process. We utilize a flat-fee structure for most of our estate planning services to encourage open communication without distractions related to legal fees or unexpected costs.

The experienced lawyers at our firm also understand the importance of working closely with each client to develop estate planning strategies customized to address his or her unique circumstances. We provide guidance in selecting the right tools and instruments, as well as in deciding how the estate will be held, administered, and divided. Our attorneys also recognize the importance of choosing the best individuals or entities to serve as executors, trustees, agents, and guardians as appropriate. While such decisions belong to the client, we ensure that our clients have all of the information they need to make the best choices.

Comprehensive Services Including Asset Funding

In order to ensure that a person’s estate plan will be implemented in the manner the person intends it to be implemented, the person’s assets typically need to be re-titled or transferred, and the person’s beneficiary designations for life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and annuity contracts must be updated. Failing to complete these tasks in conjunction with the completion of an estate plan could result in much or all of the person’s assets being disposed of in a manner that is inconsistent with the plan.

The skilled attorneys at Sosin, Arnold & Schoenbeck Ltd. recognize the importance of completing these tasks and provide them in conjunction with our estate planning services. For any client with an estate plan that incorporates any form of trust planning, we create a Personal Balance Sheet and Funding Plan that identifies all of the clients’ assets and liabilities. The document provides our funding recommendations with regard to each item. We refine the plan based upon our client’s input, goals, and objectives and then implement it with the client’s assistance simultaneously with the client’s execution of his or her estate planning documents. Our comprehensive approach to estate planning gives you the security and peace of mind you deserve from estate planning counsel, along with a full awareness of the composition, titling and future disposition of your assets.

Putting the Pieces Together

When our attorneys help you create an estate plan, we understand that is important for you to have ready access to the plan and instructions that guide you in using the instruments that comprise the plan. In every case, we provide digital and physical copies of your estate planning documents, along with full instructions for you and your fiduciaries.

Sosin, Arnold & Schoenbeck Ltd. is proud to offer customized, comprehensive estate planning services to individuals and families in the greater Chicago region and throughout Northern Illinois. Contact us at 708-448-8141 to speak to one of our attorneys.