Articles of Interest

Why do I need a Will?

A Will is a basic estate planning tool in which a person, the testator, states how he or she would
like his of her estate to be distributed and administered upon death. A basic Will sets forth the
name of a person to administer the estate, called an executor, and directs the executor as to how
and among whom the estate assets should be distributed. If a person dies without a will, which
the law calls “intestate,” Illinois statute sets forth a hierarchy for distribution of one’s estate.
Generally speaking, the estate is divided among the decedent’s spouse and children, if any.

Read more answers to common estate planning questions

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