The Elder Law & Estate Planning Attorneys of Illinois, P.C./ The Law Office of Siebert & Associates, P.C. is currently doing in person at our office consultations in our Covid-19 conference room, our staff is 100% vaccinated and we comply with strict COVID guidelines so that we can safely help our Clients. In addition, we continue to offer remote Zoom consultations for our Clients who are unable or uncomfortable coming to our office.

The Elder Law & Estate Planning Attorneys of Illinois, P.C./ The Law Office of Siebert & Associates, P.C. is currently meeting clients and potential clients in person at our office in our Covid-19 conference room. Our staff is 100% vaccinated and we comply with strict COVID guidelines so that we can safely help and service for our clients as well as potential clients. In addition, we continue to offer remote Zoom consultations for clients and potential clients who are unable or uncomfortable coming to our office.

COVID-19 Safety Protocols and COVID-19 Conference Room

Elder Law & Estate Planning Attorneys of Illinois, P.C./ The Law Office of Siebert Associates, P.C . is open and has taken steps to minimize any risk to Clients, visitors, or staff. The Office has implemented specific protocols and created a restricted access COVID-19 Conference Room, which either meet or exceed the appropriate CDC guidelines. Clients and potential Clients can safely meet with an Attorney either by video-conference or face to face in the COVID-19 Conference Room. Information on the Office Protocols can be found on the Office Protocols For Coronavirus Outbreak webpage and information on the Office’s COVID-19 Conference Room can be found on the webpage entitled COVID-19 Conference Room Is Open to Serve Your Legal Needs Safely. It is our goal to continue to provide the highest level of legal services to our Clients while protecting the safety of both our visitors and staff.

Estate Planning

What is Estate Planning?

Estate Planning is the process of evaluating your objectives for the management and the disposition of your property during, and subsequent to, your life. At the Elder Law & Estate Planning Attorneys of Illinois, P.C. /Law Office of Siebert & Associates, P.C. we will help you review your objectives and create a plan for your future. Whether you are rich or poor, married or single, it is important for you to take steps to prepare yourself legally for incapacity and death. If you fail to plan for your disability and death, someone else, maybe someone you don’t even know, will end up making all the decisions for you.

Each individual’s circumstances and needs are different from everyone else’s. It is important that you have an Estate Plan that is appropriate for your circumstances, not some cookie cutter standard form which does address your circumstances. The Elder Law & Estate Planning Attorneys of Illinois, P.C. /Law Office of Siebert & Associates, P.C. will help you determine what documents are appropriate for your circumstances. Call (847)253-7500 today to schedule an appointment with an experienced Estate Planning Attorney.

Estate planning is implemented through the execution and use of a variety of legal documents, including but not limited to Last Wills, Durable Powers of Attorney, Revocable Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, Asset Protection Trusts and Special Needs Trusts. Among the estate planning documents, one of the most commonly prepared is a Last Wills and Testament. A Last Will is a document that controls the disposition of a person’s property at death. It determines who is to receive what property. It also will name guardians for minor children, and set forth their duties. A Last Will can also establish a trust to be created after your death for minor children, or for other purposes. The Last Will names the Executor, the person who will be responsible for paying your debts, clearing all estate issues and distributing your assets.

Durable Powers of Attorneys A Power of Attorney is a legal document in which you give another person legal authority to act for you. A durable Power of Attorney authorizes your agent to continue to act for you after you become incapacitated. A durable Power of Attorney for Property allows your agent to carry out financial tasks for you when you cannot do so. This might include paying your bills, managing your property, and handling other money matters. A durable Power of Attorney for Health Care lets your agent make medical decisions for you when you can’t are incapacitated.

A Trust is an arrangement under which one person, called a trustee, holds and manages property for another person, called a beneficiary. A “living trust” also called an “inter vivos” trust, is simply a trust you create while you’re alive,  that is created upon your death. Different kinds of living trusts can help you avoid probate, reduce estate taxes, or set up long-term property management. A living trust lets you arrange how you want your property managed while you are alive and how your assets should be distributed after your death.

Trusts offer a great deal of flexibility and can be tailored to meet each persons unique circumstances and issues.  to address specific issues. At the Elder Law & Estate Planning Attorneys of Illinois, P.C. /Law Office of Siebert & Associates, P.C. we have several living trusts designed for specific circumstances, including Alzheimers & Dementia Planning, Parkinson’s Disease Planning, Special Needs Planning and an Addiction Trust to protect a loved one with an addiction.

Medicaid Planning Medicaid planning consists of actions taken to reallocate assets in an effort to protect the non-institutionalized spouse and the family, and to promote the independence and quality of life for the Medicaid applicant. We help seniors and their families prepare a comprehensive plan to deal with long term care, while maximizing the financial resources available to the spouse and family.

A Special Needs Trust is a type of trust that helps to protect the assets of a person with disabilities. A special needs trust is set up for a person with special needs to supplement any benefits the person with special needs may receive from government programs. Individuals with disabilities often receive governmental assistance and would benefit from having funds in a trust used to maintain their quality of life.  A properly drafted special needs trust will allow the beneficiary to receive government benefits while still receiving funds from the trust.

A Living Will is very different from your regular will. It does not involve transferring your property to loved ones. Instead, it identifies the medical procedures you do, or don’t want to receive during your final illness. A living will can tell your doctor whether you want to receive life-sustaining treatment. Living wills are not as effective as Durable Powers of Attorney, as though they express your desires regarding treatment, they are not enforceable by anyone except the drafter, who is usually incapacitated. A Durable Power of Attorney is a more effective document because it gives authority to another individual to make decisions for the incapacitated individual.

IF YOU WANT TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A CONSULTATION ON THIS OR ANY OTHER LEGAL TOPIC, PLEASE CALL (847) 253-7500 OR GO TO CONTACT US PAGE.

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At all times he was and is today honest, a man of great knowledge and wisdom in the legal field... Having him as our family Legal Advisor for any situation is comforting. It is a great pleasure that I recommend the services of James C. Siebert, Attorney at Law.

Maria W

How would you rate Mr. Siebert’s legal expertise? Excellent Throughout your representation were your questioned answered in a timely and courteous manner? Yes, Mr. Siebert and his entire staff were extremely helpful. Would you recommend Mr. Siebert to your family, friends or acquaintances? Yes and we have

Joe S

How would you rate Mr. Siebert’s legal expertise? Very high he speaks in on easy to understand so you are immediately at ease. How would you rate the quality of our legal services provided? Very high Would you recommend Mr. Siebert to your family, friends or acquaintances? Yes and have

Gale K

My wife and I appreciate the time you have taken out of your day to help with other issues such as estate planning, wills and other personal issues. We both admire your legal expertise ... You have the integrity that is not seen from many lawyers in this day and age and have always been so willing to help us in our times of need

Michael S

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for attending to my brother, Josef’s immediate needs and my peace of mind in preparing the legal aspects of our needs.

George W.