Wills & Trusts Attorney in Schaumburg, IL
Clear Guidance for Wills, Living Trusts & Family Estate Planning
A will or trust can help make your wishes clear, but figuring out which documents your family needs can feel confusing.
You may be wondering whether a will is enough, whether a trust makes sense, or whether your current documents still reflect your life today.
23 Legal helps families, homeowners, aging adults, and adult children across Schaumburg, the northwest suburbs, and Chicagoland understand wills, trusts, and estate planning options in plain language.
Not sure whether a will, trust, or both make sense for your family? 23 Legal can help you understand your options before you make a decision.
Do You Need a Will, a Trust, or Both?
A will and a trust both help document how your wishes should be carried out, but they work differently.
A will can name beneficiaries, explain who should receive certain assets, and name guardians for minor children. A trust can help manage and transfer assets in a more structured way.
Depending on your family, property, and goals, you may need a will, a trust, or a combination of documents. The right answer depends on what you own, who you want to protect, and how you want decisions handled later.
Will vs. Trust Comparison
Will
A will can help you:
- name who should receive certain assets
- name guardians for minor children
- document basic estate planning wishes
- support family planning
- create a starting point for your estate plan
A will may still need to go through probate depending on the situation.
Trust
A trust can help you:
- manage and transfer assets in a more structured way
- provide instructions for property, accounts, or other assets
- support planning for children or loved ones
- help organize assets and instructions
- potentially help avoid probate for assets properly placed in the trust
A trust only works as intended when it is set up and funded properly.
When a Will May Be Useful
A will is often one of the first estate planning documents people think about, and for good reason. It gives you a way to document important wishes and give your loved ones clearer guidance.
A will may be useful if you want to:
- name guardians for minor children
- explain who should receive certain assets
- document basic estate planning wishes
- update outdated documents
- create your first estate plan
- make sure loved ones have clearer guidance later
For many families, a will is an important starting point. It may not be the only document you need, but it can help answer questions your loved ones should not have to guess about later.
If you are thinking about estate planning for families, this is often one of the first conversations to have.
When a Trust May Be Useful
A trust may make sense when you want more structure around how property or assets are managed and transferred.
This can be especially helpful for homeowners, parents, blended families, or people who want to reduce confusion around property and asset distribution.
A trust may be useful if you want to:
- create clearer instructions for how assets should be handled
- plan for children or loved ones
- address property ownership as part of an estate plan
- reduce probate concerns where appropriate
- organize assets and instructions
- plan for blended family or family-property considerations
Trusts are sometimes misunderstood. They are not only for extremely wealthy families, but they also are not automatically necessary for every situation. A conversation with an estate planning attorney can help you understand whether a trust fits your goals.
If your planning involves real estate, property transfer documents may also need to be reviewed so ownership lines up with the plan.
Talk Through Your Family and Assets
Start with your family, property, wishes, concerns, and any documents already in place.
Understand Your Planning Options
We explain whether a will, trust, or combination of documents may fit your situation.
Put Clear Documents in Place
You move forward with documents that reflect your wishes and give your loved ones guidance.
Estate Planning Forms & Next Steps
Once you are ready to begin or continue the estate planning process, 23 Legal may ask you to complete intake or design forms so the team can better understand your family, assets, goals, and preferences.
Estate Planning Intake Form
The intake form helps organize basic information about your family, assets, and estate planning goals before or during the planning process.
Estate Plan Design Questionnaire
The estate plan design questionnaire helps shape the details of your estate plan once the process is underway.
“We worked with Ben and his team earlier this year to help us create a living will and trust for our growing family. They accommodated our busy/changing schedule, came to our home to allow us to sign the documents in person, and did not miss any detail when creating our documents. Super friendly team, would highly recommend! They could not have made the process smoother for us.”
Prefer to hear it explained directly?
23 Legal Attorney Ben Weaver shares practical guidance on common legal questions in this video.
Common Questions About Wills & Trusts
Do I need a will or a trust in Illinois?
It depends on your family, assets, property ownership, and goals. Some people only need a will, while others may benefit from a trust or a combination of documents.
Is a trust only for wealthy families?
No. A trust may be useful for families with property, children, blended family considerations, privacy concerns, or goals around avoiding probate where appropriate. The question is not just how much you own, but what you want the plan to accomplish.
Can I create a will without a lawyer in Illinois?
Online forms and DIY documents exist, but they may not reflect your full situation. A lawyer can help make sure your will fits your family, assets, property, and goals.
Are online will valid in Illinois?
Online wills may seem convenient, but validity and usefulness depend on whether the document is prepared, signed, and executed correctly and whether it actually fits your situation. It is worth getting legal guidance before relying on a generic form.
When should I update my will or trust?
You may need to update a will or trust after major life changes, such as marriage, divorce, having children, buying a home, losing a loved one, changing beneficiaries, or experiencing significant changes in assets.
Related Estate Planning Resources
Need help with another estate planning or propert-related question?
Estate Planning
Probate & Power of Attorney
Estate Planning for Families & Aging Adults
Estate Planning Intake Form
Estate Plan Design Questionnaire
Property Transfers / Quitclaim Deeds