Northbrook Wills Lawyer

Trusted wills attorneys with over 10 years of experience.

If you have been putting off creating a will in Northbrook, IL, the risk you are taking is that Illinois intestacy laws will make every important decision for your family instead of you, including who receives your property, who raises your children, and who manages the administration of your estate. A properly drafted will puts those choices in your hands and makes sure that they hold up when it matters most.

Kravets Law Group works with individuals and families across Illinois to create wills that are clear, enforceable, and built around each client’s actual situation. Our Northbrook, IL wills lawyer has been helping families protect their assets and their families since the firm opened in 2020, and Daniel Kravets brings a full decade of legal experience to every will he drafts. We offer flat-rate pricing for wills and bundled will-and-trust packages, and every new client gets a free consultation before committing to anything. Contact us to get started.

Wills Lawyer Northbrook, IL

What does a wills attorney handle?

A wills lawyer drafts the legal document that controls how your property is distributed after your death, names the person who will manage that process as executor, and can designate guardians for your minor children. The will also determines which court has jurisdiction over your estate and can include provisions that reduce the burden of probate on your family.

In Northbrook, we work with families across the full range of situations. Some clients own a home, have a retirement account, and want a straightforward will naming their spouse and children. Others own multiple properties, run a business, have children from a prior marriage, or are caring for an aging parent, and their wills need to address more nuanced questions about distribution, guardianship, and succession. Daniel Kravets personally handles every will matter at the firm and has been practicing since 2016.

Types of Wills Cases We Handle in Northbrook

A will is usually the starting point, but it’s rarely the only document a Northbrook family needs. Here are the estate planning services we provide.

• Last wills and testaments. This is the foundational document in most estate plans, and the one we draft most frequently. We build wills that name beneficiaries, appoint executors, include guardian designations for minor children, and address specific bequests of personal property. We draft each will to comply with the signing and witnessing requirements under Illinois law so that the document holds up if challenged.
• Probate. When a Northbrook family member passes away, the will goes through probate court. We represent executors and administrators through every step, from the initial petition and creditor notification through final distribution and estate closing.
• Estate administration. After a death, someone has to inventory the assets, pay the debts, file the tax returns, and distribute what’s left. We guide executors and administrators through this process step by step, simplifying court filings and deadlines so the family can focus on grieving rather than paperwork.
• Pour-over wills. If you’ve created a trust, a pour-over will captures any assets that weren’t transferred into the trust during your lifetime and directs them into it at death. Getting trust funding right during your lifetime reduces the need for a pour-over will to do heavy lifting, but it’s an important backup in any trust-based plan.
• Codicils and will amendments. Life changes don’t always require a new will. A codicil modifies specific provisions such as a new beneficiary, a different executor, a change to a guardian designation without rewriting the entire document.
• Guardian designations. For Northbrook parents with minor children, naming a guardian in the will is often the most important provision in the entire document. We help clients think carefully through this decision, including naming alternate guardians in case the first choice is unable or unwilling to serve when the time comes.
• Powers of attorney and advance directives. A financial power of attorney lets someone manage your money and property if you’re incapacitated, and a healthcare power of attorney authorizes medical decisions on your behalf. An advance directive records your wishes about life-sustaining treatment. These documents are separate from the will but are part of any complete plan.

Why Choose Kravets Law Group for Wills in Northbrook, IL?

A Decade of Will Drafting for Illinois Families

Daniel Kravets has drafted wills for clients with estates ranging from $300,000 to over $30 million, covering simple situations and highly complicated ones alike. He earned his J.D. from Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law and holds bar admissions in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. He belongs to the Chicago Bar Association and is involved in the Northbrook and North Shore community through BNI and the Russian-speaking Jewish Division of the Jewish United Fund.

He has worked with blended families where careful drafting was necessary to prevent disputes between children from different marriages. He has drafted wills for multi-property owners whose estates would require ancillary probate in other states without proper planning. And he has built estate plans for business owners whose wills needed to coordinate with succession plans for their companies. He is also the author of a forthcoming estate planning book and regularly speaks at community and professional events in the Chicago area.

Flat-Rate Pricing With No Surprises

As your estate planning lawyer in Northbrook, IL, we charge a flat rate for standalone wills and for bundled packages that include a will, revocable trust, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. You know what the cost will be before we begin, and we don’t add charges along the way. We also offer a free initial consultation where we assess your situation and explain which documents you actually need. Families exploring whether a trust makes sense alongside a will can discuss the benefits of trusts during the same meeting.

Understanding Wills Cases

Key Estate Planning Documents and What They Do

A will is part of a broader set of documents, and understanding what each one does helps you see where your plan might have gaps.

• A last will and testament names your beneficiaries, appoints an executor to administer the estate, and designates guardians for minor children. The will goes through probate after death.
• A revocable living trust holds assets during your lifetime and transfers them to your beneficiaries at death without probate. You keep full control and can modify or revoke the trust at any time while you’re alive.
• A financial power of attorney authorizes someone to handle your money and property during incapacity. A healthcare power of attorney authorizes medical decisions on your behalf.
• An advance directive documents your preferences about life-sustaining treatment.
• A pour-over will directs any assets that weren’t placed in the trust during your lifetime into it at death.

Illinois requires a will to be signed by the person making it in the presence of two witnesses who also sign. These requirements come from the Illinois Probate Act, and a will that doesn’t meet them can be invalidated by the court.

What Are Important Aspects of a Wills Case?

The provisions that matter most are often the ones people overlook. Your will needs to address what happens if a named beneficiary dies before you do, and it should specify whether gifts pass per stirpes or per capita since those two approaches produce very different outcomes in a family with multiple generations. Property held in joint tenancy passes automatically to the surviving owner regardless of what the will says, which means certain assets simply aren’t controlled by the will at all.

If you own real estate in another state, your estate may face ancillary probate in that state unless the property is titled in a trust. For blended families, careful drafting prevents the conflicts that can arise when a surviving spouse’s interests collide with the inheritance expectations of children from a prior marriage. And family members do contest wills on grounds like lack of capacity, undue influence, and improper execution, which is exactly why precision in both drafting and execution matters so much.

What Is the Wills Case Timeline?

Most families complete the will drafting process within two to four weeks.

• Consultation: We discuss your assets, family, goals, and any specific concerns. This typically takes 45 minutes to an hour.
• Drafting: We prepare a draft of your will and companion documents within five to ten business days.
• Review and revisions: You review the draft and let us know if anything needs to change.
• Execution: You sign the will in front of two witnesses. We coordinate the logistics.
• Ongoing updates: We recommend reviewing your will every three to five years, and after any significant life event such as a marriage, divorce, birth, or major financial change.

What Should You Bring to Your Wills Consultation?

Bring the following to your first meeting:

• A list of your significant assets, including real estate, bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and business interests
• Names and contact information for the people you’re considering as beneficiaries, executors, trustees, and guardians
• Any existing estate planning documents, including prior wills, trust agreements, or powers of attorney
• Information about debts and liabilities, including mortgages and business obligations
• Details about business ownership, if applicable

Coming prepared lets us give you specific, actionable guidance at the consultation rather than a general overview.

What Are Important Illinois Legal Resources for Wills Cases?

Illinois has specific statutes governing will execution, probate procedures, and estate distribution.

• The Illinois General Assembly publishes the Illinois Probate Act, covering will requirements, intestacy rules, and probate.
• The Cook County Probate Division provides court forms and procedural guidance for probate cases.
• The IRS estate tax page explains federal estate tax thresholds and filing requirements.
• The Illinois Attorney General offers consumer protection resources.
• Illinois Legal Aid Online provides free legal information on estate planning.

Reach Out to Kravets Law Group to Schedule a Consultation

If you need a will in Northbrook, Kravets Law Group can help. We offer flat-rate pricing and a free consultation where we assess your situation and explain what documents you need. Daniel Kravets personally handles every will matter and walks you through each provision so you understand what you’re signing. Contact us to schedule your free consultation.