ESTATE PLANNING BLOG

Bradford Miller Law, P.C. focuses on real estate law, landlord tenant law and estate planning. This is the estate planning blog. If you are interested in reading about landlord tenant law, visit that blog at http://chicagoltlaw.blogspot.com/. If you are interested in real estate law, visit http://chicagorealestatelawyers.blogspot.com/. The law firm's main website is www.bradfordmillerlaw.com.



This blog will focus on estate planning. If you are in need of an estate plan, call Attorney Bradford Miller at 312-238-9298 for a free consultation. Located at 10 S. LaSalle, Suite 2920, Chicago, IL 60603.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

What can you do to help your parents who are resisting help when it comes to their finances

Just as many older people resist giving up driving, they also fight giving up their "financial driver's license." Unfortunately, when people develop even mild cognitive impairment, their ability to handle finances is impaired. As a first step you can offer to help with the bill paying. This way you can monitor how things are going and your parent would not be giving up control, they would just be getting some help.

There are also money-management programs that help with bill paying, if you think having a neutral third party would help. To find one, contact your local Area Agency on Aging through eldercare.gov.

If your parent has a progressive condition which is likely to continue to decline, it is important to designate someone now, while they still have the mental capacity to make a power of attorney or a trust rather than having to go to court later to file for guardianship. Sometimes having a trusted professional, such as her primary care physician or a family lawyer, make the suggestion would make it more likely to happen.

The Attorneys at Bradford Miller Law, P.C. have excellent credentials, strong experience and wide-ranging knowledge of estate planning tools and the Illinois probate process. We do not believe in pushing complex or costly services that our clients do not need. We believe in making the entire process as convenient, painless and affordable as possible for you. At www.bradfordmillerlaw.com you can find helpful information regarding Estate Planning and information about our firm. Give us a call at (312) 238-9298 for a FREE 15-minute consultation.

Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.
Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law and Estate Planning
134 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 1040
Chicago, Il 60602

Offering free legal representation to homeowners seeking a short sale

Key words: Chicago short sale attorney, Chicago landlord tenant law attorney, Chicago estate planning attorney, Estate Planning Lawyer, Chicago real estate attorney, Chicago real estate lawyer, Chicago building code violations, Chicago eviction attorney, Chicago Leases, Chicago real estate attorney fees. This is intended to be advertising. Please consult with an attorney before acting on any information given here.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

What is an Estate?

An Estate is the whole of one's possessions, especially all of the property, assets, debts, and liabilities left by a deceased or bankrupt person.Your estate is everything that you own or have legal control of.

Bradford Miller Law, P.C. can help you organize your estate. If you do not make proper legal arrangements for the management of your assets and affairs, state laws will take over upon your death or incapacity. Our experienced attorneys can help you avoid potential  problems when updating or planning your estate. We can help you through this process at a reasonable rate. We will help you prepare all the legal documents suited to your personal situation.

To get started or discuss whether our services are right for you, give us a call at 312-238-9298 for a FREE 15-minute consultation or contact us online today.  At www.bradfordmillerlaw.com you can find helpful information regarding Estate Planning and information about our firm.

Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.
Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law, and Estate Planning
134 N. LaSalle, Suite 1040
Chicago, IL 60602

Offering free legal representation to homeowners seeking a short sale

Key words: Chicago short sale attorney, Chicago landlord tenant law attorney, Chicago estate planning attorney, Estate Planning Lawyer, Chicago leases, Chicago real estate attorney, Chicago real estate lawyer, Chicago real estate closings, Chicago building code violations, short sale attorney Chicago. This is intended to be advertising.  Please consult with an attorney before acting on any information given here.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Joint banks accounts and executors of the Will

What happens when one sibling is on the parent's checking account as a joint account holder and the other sibling is the executor of the Will?

Being an executor means you handle the estate after a person dies. One sibling can be the joint account holder during the parent's life, and another can be the executor. Usually, a joint account is set up to assist a child with managing their parent's finances, it is not always meant to be a gift to that child upon the death of the parent if there are more siblings.

You should be aware that if the Will states that all the property is to be evenly divided among all children and if only one of the children is on the joint account, that child will likely get all the remaining money in the account even if that means the money and property is not evenly divided among the heirs. It is advisable to consult with a lawyer for more information about joint accounts and estates, particularly because each state's laws are different.

Bradford Miller Law, P.C. can help you prepare all the legal estate planning documents that you will need. We also offer advice, and keep your estate plan current with the laws governing estate planning. Knowing that you and your loved one's affairs are in order can be satisfying and bring you peace of mind.

To get started or discuss whether our services are right for you, give us a call at 312-238-9298 for a FREE 15-minute consultation or contact us online today.  At www.bradfordmillerlaw.com you can find helpful information regarding Estate Planning and information about our firm.

Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.
Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law and Estate Planning
134 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 1040
Chicago, Il 60602

Offering free legal representation to homeowners seeking a short sale

Key words: Chicago estate planning attorney, Chicago short sale attorney, Chicago landlord tenant law attorney, Estate Planning Lawyer, Chicago real estate attorney, Chicago real estate lawyer, Chicago building code violations, Chicago eviction attorney, Chicago Leases, Chicago real estate attorney fees. This is intended to be advertising. Please consult with an attorney before acting on any information given here.




Thursday, December 4, 2014

What does Intestate mean?

Intestate means that a person died without leaving a legal Will. Your Last Will and Testament is an extremely important document and having your will drafted professionally is essential. The issues at hand are simply too important to rely on do-it-yourself legal kits or a lawyer primarily focused on unrelated practice areas.

The Attorneys at Bradford Miller Law, P.C. have excellent credentials, strong experience and wide-ranging knowledge of estate planning tools and the Illinois probate process. We do not believe in pushing complex or costly services that our clients do not need. We believe in making the entire process as convenient, painless and affordable as possible for you. At www.bradfordmillerlaw.com you can find helpful information regarding Estate Planning and information about our firm. Give us a call at (312) 238-9298 for a FREE 15-minute consultation.

Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.
Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law and Estate Planning
134 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 1040
Chicago, Il 60602

Offering free legal representation to homeowners seeking a short sale

Key words: Chicago short sale attorney, Chicago landlord tenant law attorney, Chicago estate planning attorney, Estate Planning Lawyer, Chicago real estate attorney, Chicago real estate lawyer, Chicago building code violations, Chicago eviction attorney, Chicago Leases, Chicago real estate attorney fees. This is intended to be advertising. Please consult with an attorney before acting on any information given here.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Financial exploitation

Financial exploitation occurs when a trusted person takes advantage of an incapacitated person. Unfortunately, the perpetrator may be an agent under a power of attorney or a guardian who has the authority to handle the person's money. The best preventive measures are to be sure that you only give the power to handle your  money to someone that you can really trust and to make sure that you inform others of your wishes and intentions so they can keep a watchful eye. Common signs of financial exploitation are:
  • Money or property seems to be missing.
  • Sudden changes in spending or saving. 
  • A relative or caregiver who keeps someone from having visitors or phone calls and does not let let the person speak for them self.
Bradford Miller Law, P.C. can help you and your family prepare all the legal estate planning documents that are required. We will offer advice, and keep your estate plan current with the laws governing estate planning. And, you have the satisfaction of knowing that you and your loved one's affairs are in order.

To get started or discuss whether our services are right for you, give us a call at 312-238-9298 for a FREE 15-minute consultation or contact us online today.  At www.bradfordmillerlaw.com you can find helpful information regarding Estate Planning and information about our firm.

Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.
Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law and Estate Planning
134 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 1040
Chicago, Il 60602

Offering free legal representation to homeowners seeking a short sale

Key words: Chicago estate planning attorney, Chicago short sale attorney, Chicago landlord tenant law attorney, Estate Planning Lawyer, Chicago real estate attorney, Chicago real estate lawyer, Chicago building code violations, Chicago eviction attorney, Chicago Leases, Chicago real estate attorney fees. This is intended to be advertising. Please consult with an attorney before acting on any information given here.