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Why Families Fight Over Estates — and 7 Ways Your Estate Plan Can Help Prevent It
Who would make healthcare decisions, manage your finances or handle your property if you couldn't do it yourself? Learn why incapacity planning is an important part of an Illinois estate plan.
Mario Correa
3 days ago7 min read


Estate Planning Isn’t Just About Death: What Happens If You Become Incapacitated?
Who would make healthcare decisions, manage your finances or handle your property if you couldn't do it yourself? Learn why incapacity planning is an important part of an Illinois estate plan.
Mario Correa
Sep 156 min read


Estate Planning for Blended Families in Illinois: 6 Questions Every Remarried Couple Should Answer
Second marriages can make estate planning more complicated. Here are six important questions Illinois blended families should answer about spouses, children, property, trusts and inheritance.
Mario Correa
Sep 86 min read


You Signed Your Estate Plan. But Is It Actually Finished? 7 Things Illinois Families Forget to Do
Signing your estate planning documents doesn't necessarily mean the work is finished. Here are seven things Illinois families should review to make sure their estate plan still works as intended.
Mario Correa
Sep 16 min read


You Have a Trust — But Did You Actually Fund It? A Plain-English Explainer
It's one of the most common estate planning mix-ups we see: someone signs a trust, feels confident their estate is protected, and never takes the next step. A trust document by itself doesn't do anything. It only protects the assets that are actually inside it — and it's surprisingly easy to miss one. A Trust Only Covers What You Put Into It Mario ran into this again recently: a family had done almost everything right. They'd properly retitled their home, their bank accounts,

Nefertiti N. Mason
Aug 252 min read


Does Your Trust Actually Own Your Business? The Overlooked Gap in Illinois Estate Plans
Creating a trust isn't enough if your business was never transferred into it. Learn how this commonly overlooked estate planning gap can send an LLC or closely held corporation into probate—and two ways business owners can correct it.
Mario Correa
Aug 183 min read


Can My Spouse Really Disinherit Me? Illinois Spousal Rights Explained
Illinois law lets a surviving spouse claim a share of the estate — but joint assets and trusts complicate that protection. Learn what actually protects a spouse under Illinois law
Mario Correa
Aug 113 min read


Illinois Nursing Home Costs: What Every Family Should Know Before a Crisis Hits
For most families, the decision to move a parent into a nursing home doesn't happen on a calm afternoon with plenty of time to plan. It happens after a fall, a stroke, or a hospital stay that makes going home alone no longer safe. In that moment, cost is often the last thing anyone wants to think about — and the first thing that catches families off guard. What Nursing Home Care Actually Costs in Illinois Recent industry cost-of-care survey data puts the median price of a sem
Mario Correa
Aug 42 min read


When a Nursing Home Files for Guardianship: How a Health Care Power of Attorney Can Protect Your Family
Learn how a Health Care Power of Attorney may help families avoid guardianship disputes when a loved one enters a hospital or nursing home. Plan ahead with Correa Law.
Mario Correa
Jul 283 min read


Why Do Estate Planning At All?
Why should you create an estate plan? Learn how estate planning helps protect your loved ones, simplify the administration of your estate, prepare for incapacity, and provide peace of mind for your family.
Mario Correa
Jul 212 min read


What Happens to Your Business If You Die Without a Succession Plan?
Learn why business succession planning is a critical part of estate planning. Discover how trusts, powers of attorney, and buy-sell agreements help protect your business and your family.
Mario Correa
Jul 143 min read


Estate Planning for Blended Families: Protecting the People You Love
Blended families face unique estate planning challenges. Learn how wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, and thoughtful planning can help protect your spouse, children, and stepchildren while preserving your family's legacy.
Mario Correa
Jul 73 min read


The Illinois Estate Tax Surprise: Why the New $15 Million Federal Exemption Doesn't Tell the Whole Story
Think the new $15 million federal estate tax exemption means you're protected? Learn how Illinois estate tax laws differ and why reviewing your estate plan is important.
Mario Correa
Jun 302 min read


What Happens To Your House If Your Spouse Remarries After You Die?
If your spouse remarries after your death, what happens to your house? Learn how remarriage can affect inheritance, blended families, and your estate planning goals.
Mario Correa
Jun 243 min read


What Happens to Your Digital Assets When You Die?
When most people think about estate planning, they think about their home, bank accounts, investments, and personal belongings. But what about your digital life? Today, many of us have valuable assets stored online, including social media accounts, email accounts, cloud storage, online banking, cryptocurrency, digital photos, and even online businesses. Without proper planning, your loved ones may have difficulty accessing these accounts—or may be unable to access them at all
Mario Correa
Jun 173 min read


Can Nursing Homes Take Your House in Illinois?
Worried about nursing home costs and your home? Learn how Illinois nursing home planning, Medicaid, and estate planning may affect your property and family.
Mario Correa
Jun 93 min read


Do Married Couples Need Separate Wills in Illinois?
When married couples begin estate planning, one of the most common questions they ask is: "Do we need separate wills, or can we share one?" It's an understandable question. After all, most married couples have similar goals. They want to protect each other, provide for their children, and ensure their assets are distributed according to their wishes. The short answer is: Yes, married couples generally need separate wills in Illinois. While your estate plans may look very simi
Mario Correa
Jun 23 min read


5 Estate Planning Mistakes That Destroy Families After Someone Dies
Most family fights don’t start in court — they start after the funeral. Learn 5 common estate planning mistakes that can lead to probate, conflict, and costly problems for families in Illinois.
Mario Correa
May 263 min read


Do Married Couples Need Separate Wills in Illinois?
Do married couples need separate wills in Illinois? Learn why most couples should have separate estate planning documents and how proper planning protects your family.
Mario Correa
May 193 min read


How to Avoid Probate in Illinois (What Families Should Know)
When most people hear the word “probate,” the reaction is usually the same: 😩 “How do we avoid that?” And honestly? That’s one of the biggest reasons families contact an estate planning attorney in the first place. Probate in Illinois can take months, sometimes longer, depending on the complexity of the estate and whether family disputes arise. During that time, loved ones may be dealing with court filings, delays, legal fees, and unnecessary stress while already grieving. T
Mario Correa
May 123 min read
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