Estate Planning for Chicago Families
Wills, trusts, and powers of attorney for families in Logan Square, Chicago, and throughout Cook County.
Most people put off estate planning because it feels like something to deal with later. But the plan you don't make is still a plan — Illinois law simply makes the decisions for you, and your family lives with the results.
I'm William Galioto, and I've been practicing transactional law in Chicago since 2009. I work directly with every client. No associates, no handoffs, no hourly meter running while you decide what questions to ask.
Why Cook County probate is worth avoiding
Probate is the court process for transferring assets that were owned in your individual name at death. In Cook County, that means the Probate Division downtown at the Daley Center.
It is not a catastrophe, but it is:
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Slow. Illinois requires a creditor claim period of six months, so even a straightforward estate rarely closes faster than that. Many take a year or more.
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Public. Your will, your asset inventory, and your beneficiaries become part of the court record.
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Expensive. Attorney's fees, court costs, and publication costs come out of the estate — money that would otherwise go to your family.
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Restrictive. Your family may not be able to sell the house or access accounts until the court authorizes it.
Illinois offers a small estate affidavit for estates under $100,000 that contain no real estate. If you own a home in Chicago, that option is almost certainly unavailable to you.
A properly drafted and — this is the part people miss — properly funded revocable living trust generally keeps your assets out of that process entirely.
You probably need a plan sooner than you think
Estate planning is not just for retirees. The clients I work with most often are:
Parents of Young Kids
If both parents die without a will naming a guardian, an Illinois court decides who raises your children. Family members can petition, and they don't always agree. A will lets you make that choice yourself.
Blended Families
Second marriages, children from prior relationships, and stepchildren create outcomes under default Illinois law that are frequently the opposite of what people intend.
Chicago Homeowners
If your home is titled in your individual name when you die, it generally has to pass through probate in the Circuit Court before it can be sold or transferred — even if your will is perfectly clear about who should get it.
Business Owners
An LLC or S-corp interest with no succession plan can leave your family holding an asset they can't operate and can't easily sell.
Unmarried Partners
Illinois intestacy law does not recognize an unmarried partner as an heir. Without a plan, your partner may inherit nothing, regardless of how long you've been together.
Existing Estate Plan
Old documents naming ex-spouses, deceased trustees, or minor children who are now adults are one of the more common problems I see.
What it's like working with me
01
Free initial consultation
We talk about your family, your assets, and what you're worried about. I'll explain which approach fits and roughly what it costs. There's no obligation and no charge, and I'll tell you if you don't need what you came in asking for.
03
Information gathering & estate plan design
I send you a Fact Finder to complete in advance so our time together is spent on decisions, not data entry. We work through guardians, trustees, distribution timing, and contingencies.
05
Document Signing
Illinois requires specific execution formalities, including witnesses and notarization depending on the document. We handle that at signing, properly, so the documents hold up.
02
Flat Fee quote
Before any work starts, you get a written fee agreement with a fixed price. You'll know the total cost before you commit.
04
Draft review
You receive complete drafts with a plain-English explanation of what each document does. We revise until you're satisfied.
06
Funding
I prepare and record the deed transferring your Chicago property into the trust and give you clear written direction on retitling accounts and updating beneficiary designations. This is the step that makes the plan work.
Frequently asked questions
Let's talk
Serving Logan Square, Avondale, Bucktown, Wicker Park, Humboldt Park, the Northwest Side, and families throughout Chicago and Cook County.
Serving Logan Square, Avondale, Bucktown, Wicker Park, Humboldt Park, the Northwest Side, and families throughout Chicago and Cook County.
