Estate Planning & Probate

The Law Office of Scott W. Brammer has extensive experience representing clients in Woodstock and all of McHenry county in a variety of legal matters related to estate planning and probate administration including:

• Wills and Trusts – Certain types of assets, such as those held in trusts and those with beneficiary designations, are not subject to the Illinois probate process. However, for all other assets, it is beneficial to have a last will and testament prepared that name your desired beneficiaries and any specific bequests. We can help you draft a new will or review and update an existing will, perhaps after a significant life change like a divorce or remarriage. We also advise clients as to the necessity of having a trust and can draft a trust catered to each client’s particular needs.
• Powers of attorney – There are two types of powers of attorney in Illinois: a power of attorney for property and a power of attorney for health care. A power of attorney grants a trusted person the authority to make certain decisions on your behalf, and it is often used as a contingency in the event that you become incapacitated during your lifetime. A power of attorney for property allows someone to make decisions about your assets and finances, while a power of attorney for health care allows a person to make decisions about your medical treatment, often with the guidance of a living will. Having both of these powers of attorney can often avoid the need to file a guardianship case in probate court.
• Guardianship for disabled adults – The Law Office of Scott W. Brammer has extensive experience with guardianship cases in probate court. In addition to being a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem, our firm has extensive experience in handling guardianship cases for adults who are unable to care for themselves. Similar to powers of attorney, legal guardians may be granted control of a person, their assets, or both.
• Contested estates – In some cases, beneficiaries and other interested parties may have grounds to contest a will or other elements of the estate administration process. We advise both beneficiaries and estate representatives in cases that may involve fraud, duress, lack of testamentary capacity, error, or improper creation of estate planning documents.

How Can The Law Office of Scott W. Brammer Help You?

Call my office at 815-324-7467 to arrange a free initial consultation regarding your case.