Estate Litigation Lawyer Barrington Illinois 
Many clients who seek help from an estate litigation lawyer in Barrington, Illinois from Bott & Associates, LTD. are interested in getting information about how to prevent estate litigation from happening. The last thing most grantors want is family members to attend court over an estate dispute after they have departed. Litigation can also reduce the value of an estate and delay the distribution of assets to beneficiaries.
An estate planning lawyer Barrington, IL families can depend on has seen how families can be divided because of an estate-related issue. You can trust that we understand the gravity of the situation, and that people can act in less than ideal ways when it comes to money.
There aren’t any guarantees that an estate won’t go through litigation, however, there are a few ways that you can help reduce the chances of it happening down the line:
Speak With Your Heirs
It may sound obvious and simple, but it is important to talk with your heirs about your intentions and how you want your estate to be distributed. If you don’t, it can leave certain relatives feeling left out or angered because they didn’t receive what they had thought they would. Emotions can quickly escalate, particularly during a period of profound grief. If your estate is going to be divided unevenly, or you are leaving a person out for whatever reason, you may want to communicate this with them ahead of time.
If you don’t feel comfortable talking with beneficiaries (or those who were intentionally excluded) then an estate litigation lawyer in Barrington may suggest at least leaving a letter behind in an effort to keep their claim out of court.
Drafting Your Estate Plan With an Attorney
Make sure that your documents within an estate plan are properly written, prepared, and signed with assistance from a lawyer. Your estate litigation lawyer in IL from Botts & Associates, LTD. can review your documents for errors or areas in which you could clarify your wishes better. If there are any gray areas or vague terms in your estate documents, this could leave room for misinterpretations and a court dispute. Additionally, it doesn’t matter whether your estate is modest or substantial, as everyone can benefit from legal guidance as they create an estate plan.
Update Your Estate Plan Documents
Some people think that once they finish their estate plan, they are done for good. But, as life circumstances change and events transpire over the years, you may need to update your documents as needed. Events such as marriages, divorces, babies being born, a vast increase or decrease in finances, and relationships growing closer or apart are reasons to revisit your estate plan. An Illinois estate litigation lawyer in Barrington usually suggests reviewing these documents every five years or so, or as life events unfold.
You can rely on a Barrington, IL estate litigation lawyer to provide quality legal services regarding all things estate planning, so please call us today to reserve a free initial consultation!
