Aurora Trust Lawyer

Trusted trust attorneys with over 10 years of experience.

If you are considering setting up a trust in Aurora, IL, the right structure depends on what you own, who you are trying to protect, and whether your priority is avoiding probate, reducing estate taxes, or preserving a family member’s eligibility for government benefits. Getting clear answers to those questions before you commit to a particular type of trust can save your family significant time and money down the road.

Kravets Law Group works with individuals, families, and business owners across Illinois to create and manage trust structures that fit their specific goals. Our Aurora, IL trust lawyer has been serving clients since the firm opened in 2020, and Daniel Kravets brings 10 years of legal experience to every trust he drafts. We offer flat-rate pricing for most trust documents and free consultations for new clients. If a trust makes sense for your situation, we’ll tell you. If it doesn’t, we’ll say that too.

Trust Lawyer Aurora, IL

What is a trust, and when do you need one?

A trust is a legal arrangement where one person (the trustee) holds and manages property for the benefit of another (the beneficiary). You can create a trust during your lifetime or through your will.

For Aurora families, trusts serve several purposes. They can keep your estate out of probate court, protect assets from creditors, provide for a family member with special needs, or manage wealth across multiple generations. The right type of trust depends entirely on what you’re trying to accomplish. Daniel Kravets personally handles all trust matters and has created customized trust structures for families with assets ranging from modest savings to multi-million-dollar estates.

Types of Trust Cases We Handle in Aurora

Our firm drafts and administers a range of trust structures for Aurora clients. The right trust depends on your family, your assets, and your goals.

• Revocable living trusts. This is the most common trust we create. A revocable trust lets you transfer assets out of your name during your lifetime, which means they pass to your beneficiaries without going through probate. You keep full control and can change or revoke the trust at any time. Trust funding is a critical step that many attorneys overlook.
• Irrevocable trusts. Once created, an irrevocable trust generally cannot be changed. These trusts are used for asset protection, tax planning, and Medicaid planning. They remove assets from your taxable estate, which can be significant for larger estates.
• Special needs trusts. Families with a child or dependent who receives SSI or Medicaid need a trust that preserves those benefits. A special needs trust holds assets for the beneficiary without disqualifying them from government programs. We’ve drafted these for families in Aurora and throughout Illinois.
• Dynasty trusts. For families who want to protect wealth across multiple generations, a dynasty trust can hold assets in perpetuity. This structure shields assets from estate taxes at each generational transfer.
• Life insurance trusts. An irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) owns your life insurance policy so that the death benefit isn’t included in your taxable estate. For families with significant life insurance, this trust can save tens of thousands of dollars in estate taxes.
• Charitable trusts. If philanthropy is part of your plan, a charitable remainder trust or charitable lead trust lets you support a cause while generating tax benefits. We work with Aurora families to structure these gifts in the most efficient way.
• Pour-over wills. This is not a trust itself, but it is a critical companion document. A pour-over will directs any assets not already in your trust to flow into it at death, keeping your estate plan unified.
• Trust amendments and restatements. Life changes, and your trust should change with it. We draft amendments to update specific provisions, and full restatements when the changes are substantial enough to warrant a new document.

Why Choose Kravets Law Group for Trust Matters in Aurora, IL?

A Decade of Trust Drafting Experience

Daniel Kravets has been practicing law since 2016 and has created trust structures for families with $300,000 to over $30 million in assets. He earned his law degree from Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law and holds bar admissions in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. He is an active member of the Chicago Bar Association and a frequent speaker at community events on estate planning topics.

His experience includes dynasty trusts designed to protect multi-generational wealth, special needs trusts that preserve government benefits, and revocable living trusts for families who want to avoid the cost and delay of probate. He is also authoring a forthcoming book on estate planning. For families in Aurora who want a broader estate planning strategy, we build plans that include trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives.

Clear, Flat-Rate Pricing

Most trust matters at our firm are priced at a flat rate. We give you a complete breakdown before we start drafting, and additional fees for deeds or transfer documents are quoted separately and transparently. We also provide a free initial consultation so you can ask questions about the benefits of trusts and determine whether a trust is the right move for your family.

Understanding Trust Cases

Key Trust Documents and What They Do

Trusts involve several interconnected documents. Here is what each one does:

• A trust agreement is the core document. It names the grantor, the trustee, and the beneficiaries, and sets out the terms for how assets are managed and distributed.
• A certificate of trust is a shorter document that summarizes the trust’s key provisions. Banks and title companies often require one when you retitle assets.
• Trust funding documents include deeds, account transfer forms, and beneficiary designation changes. Without these, the trust exists on paper but doesn’t control any assets.
• A pour-over will catches assets that were never moved into the trust during the grantor’s lifetime. It directs those assets into the trust at death.
• Powers of attorney are separate documents that cover financial and healthcare decisions during incapacity. They work alongside the trust but serve a different function.

Illinois trusts are governed primarily by the Illinois Trust Code and related provisions under the Illinois Probate Act. These statutes set out trustee duties, beneficiary rights, and rules for trust modification and termination.

What Are Important Aspects of a Trust Case?

Several issues come up regularly in trust planning. Joint tenancy property passes automatically to the surviving owner, regardless of what your trust says, so you need to re-title joint assets if you want them in the trust. Retirement accounts and life insurance policies pass by beneficiary designation, not through the trust. And if you own real estate in another state, the trust can help you avoid ancillary probate in that state.

For blended families, trust provisions need to balance the interests of a surviving spouse against the interests of children from a prior relationship. This is where the drafting gets complicated, and where the wrong language can create years of litigation.

What Is the Trust Case Timeline?

Creating a trust typically takes three to six weeks, depending on the size of the estate and the type of trust involved.

• Consultation: We discuss your assets, family situation, and objectives.
• Drafting: The trust agreement and companion documents are prepared within one to two weeks.
• Review: You review the documents, ask questions, and request changes.
• Execution and funding: You sign the trust, and we begin the process of transferring assets into it. This can take an additional two to four weeks depending on how many assets need to be re-titled.
• Ongoing administration: We’re available for questions after the trust is funded. We recommend reviewing your trust every three to five years.

What Should You Bring to Your Trust Consultation?

Come prepared with the following:

• A list of all major assets: real estate, bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and business interests
• Copies of any existing estate planning documents, including prior wills and trusts
• Names and contact information of intended beneficiaries, successor trustees, and guardians for minor children
• Information about any debts or liabilities
• Details about any government benefits you or a family member currently receive, if applicable

This information lets us give you concrete advice during the consultation rather than speaking in generalities.

What Are Important Illinois Legal Resources for Trust Cases?

Illinois has a well-developed body of law governing trusts. The following resources provide foundational information.

• The Illinois Probate Act contains the statutes governing trust creation, administration, and termination in Illinois.
• The Cook County Probate Division handles trust-related filings and disputes when they involve the court system.
• The IRS estate and gift tax page explains how trusts interact with federal estate and gift taxes.
• The Illinois Attorney General provides consumer protection resources relevant to estate planning and trust administration.
• Illinois Legal Aid Online offers free legal information for Illinois residents on estate planning topics.

Reach Out to Kravets Law Group to Schedule a Consultation

If you’re considering a trust in Aurora, IL, we can help you determine which type fits your situation and what it will cost. We offer flat-rate pricing for most trust documents and a free initial consultation. Daniel Kravets personally handles every trust matter and takes the time to explain each provision so you’re confident in your plan. We typically respond to inquiries within one business day. Contact us to schedule your free consultation.

Trust Statistics in Aurora

Aurora has more than 180,000 residents, and about a quarter of them are under 18. With so many Aurora households raising children, guardianship provisions, staggered distributions, and successor trustee choices are central considerations for any trust lawyer in Aurora working with local families.

Homeownership also shapes most Aurora trust plans. When a family’s largest asset is a house, the question of how that house passes after death becomes the center of the plan. The Census Bureau’s Aurora data gives a useful picture of what local families are working with:

• Aurora had an estimated 181,505 residents as of July 2025.
• About 25.2% of residents are under 18, and 11.1% are 65 or older.
• The city has roughly 61,317 households, averaging 2.91 people each.
• The owner-occupied housing rate is 66.4%.
• The median value of an owner-occupied home is $274,800.

A house titled in one person’s name usually requires a probate case to transfer after death. A funded trust allows that same house to pass to the next generation privately, under instructions you set in advance.

Questions to Ask a Trust Lawyer Before Hiring

Choosing an attorney for your trust is a decision you’ll live with for years, since the documents often outlast the relationship that created them. These are the questions we’d encourage any Aurora family to ask a trust lawyer, including when they’re interviewing us.

1. Who will actually draft my documents? Ask whether an attorney or a staff member will prepare the trust and supporting documents. At our firm, Daniel Kravets personally handles every trust matter.
2. How is the fee structured? Ask whether the quote is flat or hourly, and what it includes. Deeds, assignments, and account transfer paperwork are sometimes billed separately, and you should know that before you sign an engagement letter.
3. Will you help fund the trust? A trust controls only the assets titled in its name. Find out whether the attorney prepares the deeds and gives written instructions for retitling accounts, or whether that work falls entirely on you.
4. What happens if I own property outside Illinois? Real estate in another state can trigger a separate probate case there. An attorney licensed in more than one state, as Daniel is in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, can coordinate those transfers directly.
5. How will the trust interact with my beneficiary designations? Retirement accounts and life insurance pass by designation, not by the trust. A good attorney reviews those forms alongside the trust document.
6. Should my trust be revocable or irrevocable? The answer depends on whether your priority is flexibility, asset protection, or tax planning. A recommendation should follow a discussion of your goals, not precede it.
7. What does my successor trustee need to know? Ask whether your Aurora trust attorney provides guidance for the person who will administer the trust after your death.
8. How often should the trust be reviewed? Marriages, divorces, births, and property sales can all make parts of a trust outdated. Ask what the review process looks like and what an amendment typically costs.
9. Do you also handle wills and business planning? A trust attorney in Aurora should coordinate the whole plan. Most trust plans need a pour-over will, powers of attorney, and sometimes business succession planning for owners of closely held companies.

Aurora Trust Lawyer FAQs

How much does a trust cost in Aurora?

Most trust documents prepared by our Aurora trust lawyer carry a flat rate, quoted before any drafting begins. The price depends on the type of trust and the number of properties involved. Deeds and transfer documents are priced separately, and we list those fees in writing so the full cost is clear before the plan is complete.

Do I need a trust if I already have a will?

A will alone does not keep assets out of probate. If you own real estate or want privacy for your family, a trust is usually the more effective tool. Most estate plans coordinate wills and trusts so each document covers what the other cannot.

How long does it take to set up a trust?

Working with a trust attorney in Aurora, IL, most families have their plan drafted and signed within a few weeks. Funding can take longer, because banks and brokerages each have their own paperwork. We help with those transfers until each asset is titled in the name of the trust.

Can a trust be challenged after I die?

Yes, but the window is limited. Under the Illinois Trust Code, a challenge to a trust that was revocable at death generally must be filed within two years of the death, and a trustee’s formal notice can shorten that period to six months.

Does a revocable trust protect my assets from creditors?

Generally, no. Because you keep control of a revocable trust during your lifetime, the assets inside it are still treated as yours. Clients who need creditor protection usually look at irrevocable structures instead.

Can I change my trust after it is signed?

A revocable trust can be amended or restated at any time while you are alive and competent. Irrevocable trusts are much harder to change, which is why the choice between the two deserves careful thought before signing.

Who needs a special needs trust?

Families with a child or other relative who receives SSI or Medicaid should consider one. Leaving money outright to that person can disrupt their eligibility. A special needs trust holds the inheritance and pays for supplemental expenses, such as therapies, equipment, or travel, while keeping those benefits in place.

Who should I name as successor trustee?

Choose someone organized, available, and trusted by your beneficiaries. That may be an adult child, a sibling, or a professional trustee. It is also wise to name a backup in case the first choice cannot serve.

Can I be my own trustee?

Yes. With a revocable living trust, most people serve as their own trustee during their lifetime and name a successor to take over at death or incapacity.

What happens to property I forgot to put in the trust?

A pour-over will directs those assets into the trust at death, but they may still go through probate first. Careful funding is how families keep that step to a minimum and support avoiding probate in Illinois.

I own a home in Pennsylvania or New Jersey. Can you help?

Yes. Our Aurora trust attorney, Daniel Kravets, is licensed in both states, and out-of-state property is a common reason families create a trust. Planning ahead can help avoid probate in Pennsylvania or New Jersey as well as Illinois.

Important Resources for Aurora Trust Cases

Kane County Probate Court and Local Resources

Aurora spans four counties. Most of the city lies in Kane County, but some neighborhoods fall in DuPage, Will, or Kendall County, and a probate case is generally filed in the county where the person lived. For Kane County residents, that is the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, which operates the Kane County Courthouse in Geneva and the Kane County Judicial Center in St. Charles. Deeds that move Kane County real estate into a trust are recorded with the Kane County Recorder. A funded trust generally keeps a family out of probate court, but an Aurora, IL trust lawyer still needs to know which county handles your property before the deeds are prepared.

What Are Important Local Resources for Aurora Trust Cases?

The offices below handle the filings, records, and senior services that most often come up when Aurora families work with a trust lawyer to create or administer a trust.

• Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court: (630) 232-3440
• Kane County Circuit Court Clerk: (630) 232-3413
• Kane County Recorder: (630) 232-5935
• Senior Services Associates, Aurora: (630) 897-4035

Kravets Law Group does not endorse or maintain any affiliation with the organizations listed above. This information is provided as a public resource only.

About Kravets Law Group

Kravets Law Group is a Chicago-based law firm that handles estate planning and business matters for clients throughout Illinois, including Aurora and the surrounding Fox Valley. Daniel Kravets is active in the Decalogue Society of Lawyers, the nation’s oldest Jewish bar association. His probate work in Cook County and surrounding counties includes contested estates where heirs disputed distributions, which he resolved without extended litigation to preserve estate assets.

What Our Clients Say

★★★★★

“I worked with Kravets Law Group to create my estate plan, and the experience was outstanding from start to finish. Daniel took the time to understand my goals, explain my options clearly, and design a plan that truly fits my family’s needs. He’s incredibly knowledgeable about trusts, wills, and asset protection strategies, but also approachable and patient. Can’t recommend the firm enough!”

Lyudmyla Len

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Additional Resources for Aurora Trust Cases

• Gene Hackman Estate Shows Trust Planning Need
• Who Can Contest a Will After Death?

Contact Kravets Law Group

A trust attorney in Aurora, IL can help you decide which structure fits your family and put it in place correctly. Kravets Law Group offers flat-rate pricing on most trust documents, with deed and transfer costs quoted upfront. During your consultation, we’ll review your assets, explain your options in plain English, and outline next steps. We typically respond to inquiries within one business day. Contact us to schedule a time to talk.