Fiduciary Services

When you’re creating your Illinois estate planning documents, it’s important to choose trustworthy individuals to act on your behalf in certain situations. This may include naming an executor to administer your estate or a trustee to manage your Illinois trust. However, some people may not have anyone they feel comfortable appointing to these roles.

That’s where Wilson & Wilson Estate Planning and Elder Law, LLC, comes in. We offer fiduciary services to our clients, so you can rest assured that your estate planning goals will be met and your estate will be properly administered, even if you don’t have a family member or friend you want to appoint as your fiduciary.

Our experienced LaGrange and Northbrook estate planning attorneys will work with you to develop a custom estate plan that meets your unique needs and goals. We’ll take care to explain your fiduciary options and help you choose the right person or organization to serve in this role.

If you’re in Cook County, DuPage County, or Lake County, contact our La Grange and Northbrook fiduciary services attorneys today to learn how we can help you create a comprehensive estate plan.

When it comes to Illinois estate planning, a fiduciary is someone who acts on behalf of another person, known as the principal, to manage their finances and make decisions on their behalf. This can include acting as an executor of an estate, making financial or healthcare decisions through power of attorney, and acting as a trustee or guardian.

Many people choose to appoint a family member or friend as their fiduciary. However, if you don’t have anyone you feel comfortable appointing to these roles, or if you need a fiduciary with specialized expertise, you may want to consider appointing an attorney.

An attorney acting as a fiduciary has a legal obligation to act in your best interests and to avoid any conflicts of interest. The La Grange and Northbrook fiduciary services lawyers at Wilson & Wilson Estate Planning and Elder Law always use their skills and experience to carry out their duties in a professional and efficient manner.

Here are some of the specific ways an attorney can help as a fiduciary:

• As an executor. An attorney can help you administer your estate after you die. This includes gathering and appraising your assets, paying your debts, and distributing your remaining assets to your beneficiaries according to your will.
• As a trustee. An attorney can help you manage your trust according to your wishes. This can include investing your assets, making distributions to your beneficiaries, and paying taxes.
• As an agent under power of attorney. An attorney can help you create a power of attorney document that grants them the authority to make financial or healthcare decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated.
• As a guardian. An attorney can help you appoint a guardian for your minor children or for an adult child or family member who is disabled. The guardian will be responsible for making personal decisions on behalf of the ward, such as where they will live and what kind of medical care they will receive.

If you’re considering appointing an attorney as fiduciary, be sure to interview several attorneys to find one who you feel comfortable with and who has experience in the type of fiduciary role you need. You should also ask about the attorney’s fees and services.

Many clients appoint family members or close friends as executors, trustees, agents under power of attorney, or guardians. If you don’t have anyone suitable for these roles, you may consider appointing an attorney.

The experienced La Grange and Northbrook fiduciary services attorneys at Wilson & Wilson Estate Planning and Elder Law, LLC can help you with all aspects of estate planning, including fiduciary services. We’ll work with you to choose the right fiduciary for your needs and draft the necessary legal documents.

Contact us online to learn more, or call our LaGrange office at (708) 482-7090 or our Northbrook office at (847) 656-8958.