Estate Planning, Probate and Guardianship Law

There are legal strategies available that allow you to significantly lower estate and inheritance taxes. If your are planning for your family's financial future or dealing with the loss of a loved one, you will want to discuss your situation with a dedicated lawyer who is extremely knowledgeable about estate planning, probate law and guardianship law.

At Tummelson Bryan & Knox, LLP, we help clients in Champaign-Urbana and throughout East Central Illinois with their estate planning needs, and their probate responsibilities. Our attorneys have many decades of meaningful experience helping clients make informed decisions about their future. Contact us by calling 217-367-2500 for an appointment.

Estate Planning

After taking the time to discuss your situation and review your financial documents, we will draft individualized estate planning documents that accurately reflect your needs and wishes. Some types of documents we can draft on your behalf include:

• Wills
• Trusts (living trusts, life insurance trusts, special needs trusts)
• Powers of attorney (pertaining to either financial or medical decisions)

Everyone should have a Will. By executing a Last Will and Testament, you can designate where your assets (large or small) will go at your death. You can also choose the person who will carry out your wishes by naming the Executor(s) of your estate. If you have minor children, you can also nominate Guardians for them if you die during their minority.

A Living Trust, also called a Revocable Trust, is a Trust created by a person who usually acts as their own Trustee. It can be revoked or amended at any time just like a Will. You can state in the Trust who will receive the trust assets at your death, and name Successor Trustees to take over the Trust in the event of your disability or death. If your assets are held in your Revocable Trust, probate can be avoided at your death.

We offer planning options to clients facing the difficult issues associated with advancing age, disability and asset preservation.

Probate Administration

The passing of a loved one is an extremely difficult time. We will help you properly handle all of your legal responsibilities (probate of the estate, trust administration, federal and state death tax returns) so that you can focus your energy on caring for your family's overall needs.

Contact us to discuss your estate planning and probate concerns with a knowledgeable lawyer. Our office is conveniently located in Urbana, Illinois a block north of the Champaign County and Federal Courthouses.

Guardianship Law

A Guardian is a legal decision maker who is appointed by the Court for someone unable to make those decisions on their own. A Guardian may be appointed for a child or an individual who is legally incapacitated through age or disability. Our office is able to provide advice on Guardianships and is prepared to move quickly when necessary in obtaining emergency Orders of Guardianship which allow the Guardian to quickly be in place to handle medical or financial decisions.

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