Most people know they need a will. They just don't know where to start or what it actually involves.
If you die without a will in place, Illinois intestacy laws determine who gets what. Those default rules might not match what you would have wanted. Your estate goes through probate court, which takes around six months and often much longer. Your family pays legal fees and court costs. If there are disputes among potential heirs, those get resolved in court while everyone's grieving.
A will solves these problems. At Kravets Law Group, Founder Daniel Kravets handles every will matter personally. He's been practicing law since 2016 and opened the firm in 2020. We've worked with Northbrook families across all situations—simple estates, blended families, multi-property owners, business owners. Each case requires different provisions, but the goal is the same: creating a document that holds up if challenged and actually reflects what you want to happen. Our Northbrook wills lawyer approach focuses on drafting wills that accomplish what you need them to accomplish.
Why Families Work With Kravets Law Group
Decade of Estate Planning Experience. Daniel Kravets has 10 years of experience drafting wills for Illinois families. He understands the challenges you face depending on what you own and who's involved. Minor children need guardian designations. Blended families need careful provisions to avoid conflicts between children from different marriages. Business owners have to address succession. We've handled all of these scenarios, and we understand the specific concerns that come up with will planning in this area.
Proven Results with Complex Family Situations. We've drafted wills for clients with both simple and complex estates, including blended families and multi-property owners. These documents ensure proper probate avoidance strategies are in place through companion trusts. We've created structures that work—not generic templates that might fail when tested.
Fixed-Rate Pricing with Clear Costs. Standalone wills and bundled will/trust packages are offered at flat-rate pricing. You know what you're paying upfront. No hourly billing surprises later.
Personal Service from Start to Finish. Daniel handles every case personally. We make the process simple and understandable, ensuring your wishes are documented clearly and legally enforceable.
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"Daniel was extremely helpful in a tough situation. The communication was key and the explanation of processes were very thorough. Couldn't recommend enough when looking for Will and Trust assistance." – Jeremy Schwartz
Types of Will Services We Handle in Northbrook, IL
We represent individuals and families who need wills as part of their estate plan. Our Northbrook wills attorney handles the full range of will-related matters.
- Last Wills and Testaments. The foundation document that names your executor, designates guardians for minor children, and specifies who inherits your assets. We draft these to work either as standalone documents or as part of a larger estate plan with trusts.
- Pour-Over Wills. These companion documents work with living trusts. Any assets you didn't transfer to your trust during your lifetime get "poured over" into the trust after death. Every properly funded trust should include one.
- Codicils. Amendments to existing wills. Life changes—marriages, divorces, births, deaths, major purchases. Rather than drafting an entirely new will, we can amend specific provisions through a codicil.
- Wills for Blended Families. Second marriages with children from prior relationships require careful planning. You need provisions that protect your current spouse while ensuring children from your first marriage aren't disinherited. Understanding will planning helps avoid contests later.
- Wills with Trust Provisions. For families with minor children or beneficiaries who aren't ready to handle large inheritances, we include trust provisions directly in the will. These testamentary trusts provide management and protection.
- Business Owner Wills. Business interests need specific language about succession, buy-sell agreements, and valuation. We coordinate with your business planning to ensure everything aligns.
Illinois Will Requirements
Creating a valid will in Illinois requires compliance with specific legal formalities. Miss one element and the entire document might be thrown out.
Under the Illinois Probate Act, every will must be in writing and signed by the testator (you) or by someone in your presence at your direction. You must be at least 18 years old and of sound mind and memory. The will must be witnessed by two credible witnesses who saw you sign or acknowledge the document in their presence.
Illinois doesn't recognize holographic wills (handwritten, unwitnessed documents) or oral wills except in very limited circumstances. Your will needs proper witnessing or it won't hold up in probate court.
If you die without a valid will, Illinois intestacy laws control who inherits. Surviving spouses get half if there are children, everything if no children and no parents. Children split everything equally if there's no spouse. More distant relatives inherit only if closer relatives don't exist. Illinois intestacy rules rarely match what people actually want.
The probate process in Illinois takes time. Executors must file the will with the Cook County Clerk Recordings Division if there's real estate involved. Court proceedings follow strict timelines. Interested parties have six months to contest the will after it's admitted to probate.
Proper will planning includes naming backup executors in case your first choice can't serve. Guardian designations for minor children need alternates. Specific bequests should account for assets that might not exist at death. Estate planning considerations extend beyond just drafting the document.
Working with qualified legal counsel matters. The Illinois attorney licensing requirements ensure your will is prepared correctly. DIY wills and online forms often contain mistakes that create problems—unclear language, improper execution, provisions that conflict with state law.
Contact Kravets Law Group
If you're ready to document your wishes and protect your family, contact our Northbrook wills lawyer today. We offer free initial consultations.
Daniel Kravets personally handles every case from our Chicago office, serving Northbrook and surrounding Cook County communities. Reach out through our website to schedule.
During your consultation, we'll review your family situation, what you own, and who you want to benefit. We'll explain which planning tools make sense for your circumstances—whether that's a simple will, a will with trust provisions, or a comprehensive estate plan with revocable trusts. You'll leave understanding the process, timeline, and costs.
Most will packages are completed within 2-3 weeks depending on your schedule.
We respond to questions promptly and stay available throughout.
Don't wait. Proper planning now ensures your family knows exactly what you wanted and avoids unnecessary conflict later.
