Estate Administration
Why should you consider having a Will? Perhaps the most important reason is that if you don’t have your own will, the State of Illinois has one for you! All states have some type of plan for the distribution of property of deceased persons. Unfortunately, those plans are not flexible in determining who will receive your assets after your death. Other reasons you may want to have a will include:
- You can make gifts of personal property, like antiques or collections, or real estate to specific individuals; the state’s plan doesn’t allow for this.
- You can name the guardians of your young children, both to manage their property as well as who will care for them on a daily basis.
- You can create trusts within your will that would carry on to benefit your family members and help protect their inheritance from outside influences.
- Also through the use of trusts, you may wish to treat some family members differently from others. Some may already have accumulated substantial assets, while others may have ongoing special needs.
- Even if you have established a living trust for yourself and your family, there could be some assets that you haven’t previously transferred into the name of the trust. A “pour-over” will can transfer over those assets after death into your trust to be held along with the property contributed during your lifetime.
To review some of the most important things to consider when naming an executor, click here.
If you would like to learn more about our trust services, please contact Clayton Apt, Trust Officer, at 309.681.3891.
Or if you prefer, you may email Clayton here.
This web site is not designed to provide legal, tax or accounting advice. As a service to users, general information is provided. Contact your attorney, tax professional or accountant for advice on your specific situation.
NOTE: All of the Heritage Bank Trust Services (non-deposit investment products and services) mentioned on these pages are NOT FDIC insured; have the possibility of losing the principal amount invested; and carry NO bank guarantee.