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If you’re a business owner in Illinois preparing for a sale, here’s a question most people don’t think to ask:
“Is my estate plan ready for this transaction?”
And the honest answer is usually: not yet.
Selling a company — especially a family-owned business — isn’t just a financial transaction. It’s a major estate planning event. If your estate plan isn’t aligned with the sale, you could unintentionally create tax problems, delay closing, or leave your family stuck in

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Continue Reading What Business Owners in Illinois Must Fix in Their Estate Plan Before They Sell

On November 13, 2025 the Internal Revenue Service announced the cost-of-living adjustments for the various qualified retirement plan limits.  Almost all of the limits shown below have increased from last year.
 

Qualified Plan Limit
Cost-of-Living Adjustments

401(k) and 403(b) elective deferral limit

2025 – $23,500

2026 – $24,500

$200,000 compensation limit

2025 – $350,000

2026 – $360,000

$160,000 defined benefit limit

2025 – $280,000

2026 – $290,000

$40,000 defined contribution limit

2025 – $70,000

2026 – $72,000

$80,000 definition…
Continue Reading 2026 Qualified Plan Cost of Living Increases, 2026 Social Security Taxable Wage Base

Closeup of Vote by Mail envelope
Closeup of a Vote by Mail envelope, official balloting material - business reply mail, USPS first class mail.

In August of this year, the US Post Office announced a new rule that included without much fanfare a MAJOR change in when letters are postmarked. Under this new rule, most letters will no longer be postmarked on the day the letter is received by a post office but instead postmarked a day later when the letter is processed at a regional mail processing facility.
It is important that mailers understand the distinction between the date when the Postal…
Continue Reading Postmark changes at the Post Office and late mail

Estate planning for dentists doesn’t need to be complicated. What happens to your dental practice—and your wealth—when you decide to sell or retire?

For Illinois dentists, selling a dental practice isn’t just a business decision—it’s a key moment in your estate and tax planning. The sale can impact your retirement, your family’s future, and even your liability exposure long after you hang up your white coat. Whether you’re selling to an associate, merging with a larger group, or transitioning

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Continue Reading Estate Planning for Dentists Selling Their Practice in Illinois

It’s Halloween—a season of ghosts, goblins, and spooky surprises. But one of the scariest things you can leave behind for your family isn’t a haunted house. It’s your digital ghosts—unprotected online accounts, lost passwords, and forgotten assets that come back to haunt your loved ones.

What Are Digital Ghosts?

  • A Facebook account that can’t be closed or memorialized.
  • A crypto wallet that disappears without the key.
  • Online bills or subscriptions no one knows about.
  • Photos, music, or videos locked

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Continue Reading The Digital Ghosts You Leave Behind

Imagine this: your family tries to log into your email or PayPal account after you pass away, but they’re blocked. Without proper planning, your digital assets could be locked forever, no matter how valuable they are.
That’s why legal tools matter.

The Problem with “Just Sharing Passwords”
Handing over a password list may sound easy, but it’s not legally recognized. In fact, it could violate privacy laws or user agreements. To ensure your digital assets are handled properly, you

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Continue Reading Avoiding Digital Nightmares: Legal Tools for Digital Estate Planning

For individuals who are unmarried or contemplating a second or third marriage, understanding how a prenuptial agreement can protect assets brought into the relationship is essential. Wisconsin is a marital property state. In Wisconsin, all assets (real estate, bank accounts, income, etc.) acquired by either spouse during the marriage carry with them a presumption that they are marital property. Consequently, these assets are considered equally owned by both spouses. Marital property or marital assets are owned equally by the…
Continue Reading Understanding the Impact of Long-Term Marriage on Prenuptial Agreements: Key Considerations for Asset Division

Think about your online life: email, Facebook, Instagram, cloud storage, bank accounts, crypto wallets. Now imagine your loved ones trying to access those accounts after you’re gone. Could they log in? Would they even know where to start?
Digital assets often die with their owner—not because heirs don’t want them, but because they can’t access them.
Why Passwords Matter in Estate Planning
A password protects your accounts during your lifetime, but it can become a roadblock when you pass

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Continue Reading Securing Your Digital Assets for the Next Generation

Estate planning isn’t just about houses, cars, and savings accounts anymore. In today’s digital world, many families have valuable property online—cryptocurrency, NFTs, digital businesses, even social media accounts that bring in advertising income. But here’s the catch: if you don’t plan ahead, your loved ones may never be able to access or inherit these assets.

What Happens to Crypto and NFTs?
Cryptocurrency and NFTs are unique because they don’t exist in a physical form. Without access to your private

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Continue Reading Who Inherits Your Crypto, NFTs, and Online Accounts?

When most people think about estate planning, they picture bank accounts, real estate, investments, or family heirlooms. But in today’s world, an equally important part of your legacy lives online: your digital assets.
From photos stored in the cloud to cryptocurrency wallets, your digital life carries value—both sentimental and financial. Ignoring these assets could leave your family frustrated, locked out, or even vulnerable to fraud.

What Are Digital Assets?
Digital assets include more than just your social media pages.

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Continue Reading Why Digital Assets Belong in Your Estate Plan

When a loved one passes away in Illinois, their estate often needs to go through a legal process called probate. Probate ensures that debts are paid, taxes are filed, and assets are distributed according to the person’s will or, if there is no will, under Illinois intestacy laws. At the center of this process is the executor—sometimes called a “personal representative.”
But what exactly does an executor do? Let’s break down their responsibilities.

Who Can Be an Executor in

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Continue Reading What Is the Role of an Executor in Illinois Probate?

Can You Avoid Probate in Illinois?
Probate has a reputation for being slow, expensive, and stressful—and for good reason. In Illinois, the probate process can take months (sometimes more than a year) and often involves court filings, legal fees, and public records. The good news? With the right planning, you may be able to minimize or completely avoid probate for your estate.
What Is Probate?
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone’s affairs after death. It makes sure

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Continue Reading Can You Avoid Probate in Illinois?

Probate is the court-supervised process of settling a person’s estate after they pass away. While probate helps ensure assets are distributed properly, it doesn’t always move quickly. Families are often surprised by how long the process can take — and how many bumps can appear along the way.
If you’re preparing to handle an estate in Illinois, here are some of the most common delays in probate and tips to minimize them.

Common Delays in Probate
1. Missing or

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Continue Reading Common Delays in Probate & How to Avoid Them

FinCEN (the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network) is a subdivision of the U. S. Department of the Treasury and is tasked with combating money laundering and other financial crimes.

Recently, FinCEN made headlines related to their proposed rule that would have instituted stringent beneficial ownership reporting requirements for many U.S. companies and their attorneys, accountants, and advisors. However, following strenuous objections to the proposed rule, FinCEN ultimately exempted U.S. companies from the reporting requirements.

FinCEN is now back with a

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Continue Reading FinCEN’s New Real Estate Reporting Rule: More Traps for the Unwary

When it comes to estate planning, many people believe that if they don’t write a will, everything will “just work out.” Unfortunately, that’s not how it works in Illinois—or anywhere else. Dying without a will (also called dying intestate) can leave your loved ones with legal headaches, financial burdens, and even family conflict.

To help clear things up, let’s bust three common myths about what happens if you pass away without a will.
Myth #1: “My spouse will

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Continue Reading 3 Myths About Dying Without a Will

Most families hope that love will keep them united after a loved one passes. Unfortunately, probate courts in Illinois tell a different story. Disputes over estates are surprisingly common, and once they begin, they can drag on for years—costing families both money and relationships.
The good news? Most estate battles start for the same reasons, and with the right planning, they can often be avoided.

1. Unclear or Outdated Documents
One of the fastest ways to create family conflict

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Continue Reading The Top 3 Causes of Estate Battles (and How to Avoid Them)