If you don’t have a will, Illinois decides what happens to everything you own. State law picks who gets your house, your savings, your belongings. It doesn’t matter what you told your spouse or wrote in a letter. Without a valid will, the intestacy statutes control—and they might not match what you actually want.
A will lets you make those decisions yourself. You name who inherits what. You choose a guardian for minor children. You pick someone you trust to handle your estate. These choices belong to you, but only if you put them in writing and execute the document properly. A will that doesn’t meet Illinois requirements isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.
If you need a Glenview, IL wills lawyer, Kravets Law Group drafts wills that hold up when families need them most. Daniel Kravets, Founder and Managing Partner, handles every will personally. He’s spent a decade helping Glenview families put their wishes into legally binding documents—simple wills for straightforward situations, more complex arrangements for blended families, business owners, and parents with young children.
Why Choose Kravets Law Group For Wills In Glenview, IL?
A Decade of Estate Planning Experience
Daniel started practicing in 2016 and launched this firm in 2020. Wills have been part of his work from day one. He’s drafted them for young couples just starting out, retirees updating decades-old documents, and everyone in between. Each family brings different concerns. Different assets. Different relationships. That variety taught him to ask the right questions and anticipate problems before they happen. Our broader estate planning practice means your will coordinates properly with trusts, powers of attorney, and beneficiary designations.
Direct Attorney Relationship
Daniel meets with you. Daniel drafts your will. Daniel answers your questions—now and later. No intake coordinators gathering information. No associates doing the real work while a partner skims the file. You get a Glenview wills attorney who actually knows your situation and remembers the conversation you had three months ago.
Involved Locally
Daniel is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, and the Decalogue Society. Glenview families aren’t abstractions to him. He understands the community, the concerns people have, the kinds of assets and family situations that come up regularly in this area.
Clear Pricing
We quote flat rates for most wills. You know the cost before we start. No hourly billing adding up while you ask reasonable questions. No invoice shock when the documents are ready.
What Our Clients Say
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Highly recommend Daniel at Kravets Law Group for all your business law needs! He took the time to really listen to my specific situation and tailored a package perfectly to fit my business. His knowledge, passion, and willingness to go above and beyond have made him an invaluable asset to my small business. If you’re looking for someone professional, attentive, and truly invested in helping you succeed, Daniel is the one to call!” – Kelly Clark
Types Of Will Cases We Handle In Glenview
We draft wills for all kinds of situations:
- Simple wills. You want everything to go to your spouse, then to your kids equally. No complications. A straightforward will accomplishes this and names an executor to handle the administrative work. Quick to draft, easy to understand, legally effective.
- Wills with testamentary trusts. Minor children can’t inherit directly. Neither can adults who shouldn’t receive a lump sum all at once. A testamentary trust gets created through your will when you die. It holds assets until beneficiaries reach an age you specify—25, 30, whatever makes sense. We work with clients on trust planning that coordinates with these testamentary provisions.
- Pour-over wills. Already have a living trust? You still need a will. A pour-over will catches any assets that weren’t transferred into your trust during your lifetime and directs them there after you die. It’s a safety net that keeps your estate plan working as intended. Our living trust clients always get pour-over wills as part of their package.
- Wills for blended families. Second marriages create complicated inheritance questions. Kids from prior relationships, stepchildren, shared children—who gets what? A properly drafted will addresses these issues directly and reduces the chance of disputes after you’re gone. Sometimes a will alone isn’t enough for these situations, and clients need additional asset protection planning.
- Wills naming guardians. Parents with minor children need to name a guardian. Who raises your kids if something happens to both of you? This might be the most important decision in your entire will. We help clients think through the factors—location, values, financial stability, existing relationship with the children—and put their choice in writing.
- Will updates and codicils. Life changes. Marriages, divorces, births, deaths, major asset purchases. An outdated will can create serious problems. We update existing wills or draft codicils for smaller changes, depending on what makes sense.
Illinois Legal Requirements For Wills
Illinois law sets specific requirements for a valid will. Miss any of them and a court might throw out the whole document. Here’s what matters:
You have to be at least 18 years old and of sound mind. “Sound mind” means you understand what a will is, what property you own, and who would naturally inherit from you. The document has to be in writing—Illinois doesn’t recognize oral wills under any circumstances. You have to sign it, or direct someone to sign for you if you physically can’t.
Two witnesses must watch you sign and then sign the will themselves. These witnesses need to be credible—meaning a court would believe their testimony about what happened. Illinois doesn’t require notarization for a will to be valid, but adding a notarized self-proving affidavit makes probate easier later. Without that affidavit, your witnesses might need to testify in court or sign additional documents after you die.
The Illinois Probate Act (755 ILCS 5/) governs will requirements and the probate process. We draft every will with these statutes in mind.
One thing catches people off guard: marriage and divorce can affect your will automatically. If you get married after signing a will, your new spouse has certain rights regardless of what the will says. If you divorce, Illinois law treats your ex-spouse as if they died before you—their inheritance and executor appointment get revoked automatically. These rules exist in the Illinois Compiled Statutes, and understanding them matters for keeping your will current.
The Cook County Circuit Court handles probate for Glenview residents. When you die, your executor files your will there and administers your estate under court supervision.
Key Components Of A Properly Drafted Will
Executor Selection
Your executor handles everything after you die. Filing the will with the court. Inventorying assets. Paying debts and taxes. Distributing what’s left to beneficiaries. This job takes time, organization, and attention to detail. Pick someone you trust who can actually do the work. We discuss executor selection carefully—sometimes the obvious choice isn’t the right one. Naming alternates matters too, in case your first choice can’t serve.
Specific Bequests
Want your daughter to have your grandmother’s ring? Your son to get the fishing boat? Specific bequests let you direct particular items to particular people. We draft these provisions clearly so there’s no confusion about what you meant.
Residuary Clause
After specific bequests and debts are handled, what happens to everything else? The residuary clause covers it. This is usually the bulk of most estates. We make sure this language is clear and accounts for situations where named beneficiaries die before you do.
Guardian Nominations
If you have minor children, your will should name a guardian. And a backup. Courts give significant weight to your stated preference, though they ultimately decide based on the child’s best interest. For families also considering guardianship issues for elderly parents, we can address both generations in comprehensive planning.
No-Contest Clauses
Worried someone might challenge your will? A no-contest clause says anyone who unsuccessfully challenges the will forfeits their inheritance. These provisions don’t prevent all disputes, but they create real consequences for frivolous challenges. Understanding who can contest a will helps families prepare for potential issues.
Coordination With Other Documents
Your will works alongside other estate planning documents. Powers of attorney for finances and healthcare. Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance. Maybe a revocable trust or special needs trust. We look at the whole picture and make sure everything fits together. The IRS has specific rules about how assets pass at death and potential tax implications for larger estates.
What To Expect From Your Glenview Wills Attorney
First, we talk. You tell me about your family, your assets, your concerns. Who should inherit? Who definitely shouldn’t? Any complicated relationships? Children with special circumstances? I ask questions. Some might surprise you—they’re meant to uncover issues you haven’t considered yet.
Then I draft. Your will, plus usually a power of attorney for finances and healthcare directives. We schedule a review meeting. I walk you through every provision, explain what it does, and answer questions until you’re satisfied.
Signing happens at our office. Takes about thirty minutes. We provide witnesses, handle notarization for the self-proving affidavit, and make sure execution is proper. You leave with original documents and guidance on where to store them safely.
The Illinois Secretary of State maintains records that may be relevant if your estate includes business interests or vehicles that need to be transferred after death.
After signing, we’re still here. Questions come up. Circumstances change. We help clients understand when updates are needed and handle those updates when the time comes.
For families dealing with estate administration after a loved one passes, we guide executors through probate—filing the will, inventorying assets, paying creditors, distributing inheritances, and closing the estate properly.
Contact Kravets Law Group
Everyone needs a will. Doesn’t matter how much you own or how old you are. If you have any assets, any preferences about who gets them, or any minor children who need a guardian named—you need a will.
We offer free consultations and flat-rate pricing. No pressure. No surprises. Just a straightforward conversation about what you need.
Our firm serves families throughout Glenview and the greater Chicago area. Contact a Glenview wills lawyer today to get started.