29 Sep

What Happens if You Die Without a Will in Illinois?

If you die without a will in Illinois, state law decides who inherits your property, not you, your family, or anyone you may have intended to provide for. This process is called intestate succession, and it follows a rigid formula set out in the Illinois Probate Act regardless of your personal wishes, your family's needs, or any informal promises you made along the way. At Hawbecker & Garver, we've guided DuPage County and Chicagoland families through estate planning and probate matters since 2004, and one…

What Happens if You Die Without a Will in Illinois?

29 Sep

What to Expect During the Estate Planning Process

Estate planning is not just for the wealthy; it is a critical step for every individual and family to ensure that their wishes are honored and their loved ones are protected. Without a proper plan, your assets may not pass to your intended beneficiaries, and the courts could appoint a guardian for minor children or make decisions about your healthcare if you become incapacitated. Yet many people still hesitate to pursue estate planning because they don’t know much about the process. At Hawbecker & Garver,…

What to Expect During the Estate Planning Process

08 Sep

What Is the Best Financial Advice for Lottery Winners?

Winning the lottery is something most people only ever fantasize about. You probably never imagined that one day, you would be holding a winning ticket and realizing that a life-changing amount of money is now yours. It is exciting, surreal, and something worth celebrating. At Hawbecker & Garver, LLC, our attorneys have more than 150 years of combined experience helping clients protect their wealth and plan for the future. As exciting as your lottery win may be, playing it smart with your new wealth is…

What Is the Best Financial Advice for Lottery Winners?

14 Jul

What Is a Power of Appointment?

When you have worked hard to build an inheritance for the people you love, one worry tends to follow: making sure it reaches them the way you intend. Not "close enough," but exactly as you would want, going to the people who matter most and never redirected in ways you would never have chosen. A well-written will or trust covers a lot. Still, life has a way of changing after the paperwork is signed. One child's finances may improve while another faces a hardship. A…

What Is a Power of Appointment?

20 Apr

How Can I Responsibly Leave Wealth to My Grandchildren?

Grandchildren are often at the center of a grandparent's long-term planning. They represent a continuation of your values and your legacy for future generations. It is natural to want to set something aside for them, but the challenge is making sure it happens the way you intend. Since 2004, Hawbecker & Garver, LLC has helped grandparents turn their intentions into clear, workable plans. We've seen firsthand how the right structure can make a meaningful difference, and how easily things can go off track without one.…

How Can I Responsibly Leave Wealth to My Grandchildren?

12 Apr

When Should You Consider Naming a Trust Protector?

Completing an effective estate plan often brings a profound sense of relief. You finally know your assets are secure and your family is protected. But you may still be dealing with one nagging question: What happens if tax laws shift or your family's circumstances change years down the road? At Hawbecker & Garver, LLC, we focus on meeting our clients' needs. Since 2004, our team has guided families and individuals through the estate planning process in Illinois, helping their wishes remain intact no matter what…

When Should You Consider Naming a Trust Protector?

28 Mar

What are Slayer Statutes?

Estate planning law is built to account for more than just who gets what after someone dies. It also accounts for situations most people would rather not imagine; situations where a death isn't just a loss, but the subject of investigation, suspicion, or criminal allegation. One of those estate planning laws is called a slayer statute. Slayer statutes exist for a specific purpose: they prevent a person who intentionally and unlawfully causes another's death from receiving any inheritance from that person's estate. Here's how Illinois’…

What are Slayer Statutes?

What Happens if You Die Without a Will in Illinois?

What to Expect During the Estate Planning Process

What Is the Best Financial Advice for Lottery Winners?

What Is a Power of Appointment?

How Can I Responsibly Leave Wealth to My Grandchildren?

When Should You Consider Naming a Trust Protector?

What are Slayer Statutes?

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