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Make 2023 a Productive Year: How to Get Your Affairs in Order

Make 2023 a Productive Year!

Here’ s a list of things you need to complete this year to get your affairs in order.

1.) Find out how much your home is worth – you don’t need an appraisal to do this, you can find out this information online through the property tax portal.

2.) Find out how much is owed on your home – this will help you create realistic goals for paying off your home.

3.) Pay off your mortgage – if possible, or plan to pay it off sooner than later.

4.) Find out your personal net worth – retrieve bank statements from all your financial institutions and find out how much you currently have saved.  This will help you set goals for better saving habits.  

5.) Update your beneficiaries on all your financial accounts – this can be done at your financial institutions for free. 

6.) Get ahold of your credit card debt  – retrieve an updated statement and make a plan to pay it down or off. 

7.) Organize all important documents – this will prevent chaos in an emergency situation, make sure your folders are labeled and in a fireproof lockbox.  Also, let your family know where to find these documents just in case they need access to them.

8.) Prioritize your health this year – take time to get a regular check up, go to the dentist or get that pain checked out that you’ve been neglecting.

9.) Be kind to someone in 2021- often times we forget about others, take this year to make amends with friends or family and help someone in need.

10.) Protect your home – prioritize your estate planning and protect your assets. 

Estate Planning is the new sexy!

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I’ve been involved in a accident…What happens now?

I’ve been involved in a accident…what happens now?

When involved in an accident your well-being is most the important aspect and we will fight to ensure your physical and emotional injuries are compensated. A personal injury accident can result in any of the following injuries:

• Loss of income (current or future income)
• Permanent or temporary physical impairment
• Decreased quality of life
• Overall pain and suffering

Do I have a case?
you should begin by asking yourself three basic questions: First, did you suffer a personal injury and not just property damage? Second, were your injuries caused by the negligence of another person or entity? Finally, do you have recoverable damages? If the answer to all three questions is “yes,” you may be able to obtain financial compensation for your injuries by bringing a personal injury lawsuit

Here’s some basic DO’s and DON’Ts when

dealing with a personal injury situation.

DO…..

1. Report your accident as soon as possible.

2. Seek medical attention for any injuries.

3. Gather as much information as you can about the accident.

4. Contact a personal injury attorney .

DON’T…..

1. Volunteer information to your insurance company regarding your claim.

2. Give your insurance company any recorded statement without talking to your Attorney first.

3. Admit fault.

4. Negotiate directly with the other driver.

5. DON’T accept or sign any settlements from any insurance companies before speaking to an attorney.

Contact our office when dealing with a personal injury matter

 

(773) 721-3333.

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Happy New Year!!!…have you done your estate planning yet?

If you haven’t…..we’re here to help!!!

  1. Land Trust – documentation used to simplify the transference of real estate upon one’s death. There are three important elements to a Land Trust:
  • The beneficial owner (the current owner(s) of the property)
  • The holder of the power of direction (the party with the power to direct the trustee to act)
  • The contingent beneficiary (the party who will inherit the property upon the owner’s death)
  1. Healthcare Power of Attorney – A Power of Attorney for Healthcare document allows a person, called the principal, to delegate another person, called the agent (a trusted friend or family member), the power to make decisions regarding healthcare that the principal is unable to make. The agent, who does not need to be an attorney, will speak for the principal and make decisions according to the principal’s wishes even when the principal is physically or mentally incapacitated.
  1. Durable (Property) Power of Attorney – A Power of Attorney for Property is a way for you to decide in advance who will handle, your financial affairs if you are not able to act on your own in the future. Executing this document will save your family from the burden of having to make financial decisions without knowing your wishes. It gives you (rather than for courts) more control over your life. For example, you may want to have the power to authorize real estate and stock transactions; to handle banking, tax or other types of business matters; to represent you in court; or to address other types of legal claims.

With these three documents, you can solidify your family’s future without the interruptions of probate court.

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We’re in The Chicago Defender!

📰EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! 📰Check out this week’s The Chicago Defender to find out the good news about Estate Planning written by our office available everywhere TODAY! We will be contributing pertinent information on estate planning on a weekly basis! #thechicagodefender #estateplanningmatter 🗞

We will be contributing weekly, so stay tuned!!!

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Make 2019 a productive year: How to get your affairs in order

Make 2019 a Productive Year!

Here’ s a list of things you need to complete this year to get your affairs in order.

1.) Find out how much your home is worth – you don’t need an appraisal to do this, you can find out this information online through the property tax portal.

2.) Find out how much is owed on your home – this will help you create realistic goals for paying off your home.

3.) Pay off your mortgage – if possible, or plan to pay it off sooner than later.

4.) Find out your personal net worth – retrieve bank statements from all your financial institutions and find out how much you currently have saved.  This will help you set goals for better saving habits.  

5.) Update your beneficiaries on all your financial accounts – this can be done at your financial institutions for free. 

6.) Get ahold of your credit card debt  – retrieve an updated statement and make a plan to pay it down or off. 

7.) Organize all important documents – this will prevent chaos in an emergency situation, make sure your folders are labeled and in a fireproof lockbox.  Also, let your family know where to find these documents just in case they need access to them.

8.) Prioritize your health this year – take time to get a regular check up, go to the dentist or get that pain checked out that you’ve been neglecting.

9.) Be kind to someone in 2019- often times we forget about others, take this year to make amends with friends or family and help someone in need.

10.) Protect your home – prioritize your estate planning and protect your assets. 

Estate Planning is the new sexy!

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We Care About Your Family… Do You?

The Family Care Expo is one-day resource fair and forum designed to provide you with the resources, products, and information to create a better future for you and your loved ones.

With over 30 exhibitors present, the expo will feature workshops , clinics, and one-on-one consultations. Looking to get informed? A broad range of topics will be covered, including:

-Immigration
-Expungement
-Estate planning
-Downsizing
-College planning
-Disability resources

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

There will be job opportunities available at WVON’s Family Care Expo on Saturday in the healthcare field. Become a Care Coordinator or learn how to earn while caring for your loved ones at home as a caregiver. This workshop starts promptly at 10am at Malcolm X College, 1900 West Jackson Blvd. The workshop is free because WVON is cool like that!

Sponsored by Meridian Health Plan!

 

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The Legal Line with Cliff Kelley – Aug 2017

While establishing a trust allows beneficiaries access to assets without going through probate, the legal obligation does not end with the creation of the trust. With the passing of the trustor, handling these sometimes-complex legal matters falls on the trustee, who has certain fiduciary duties to both the trust and its beneficiaries, not to mention an obligation to respect the final wishes of the trustor. Fiduciary oversight includes a number of duties, such as complying with state and federal laws, correctly transferring assets to beneficiaries, and preserving trust funds. Using an experienced Illinois trust attorney ensures that trustees fulfill these duties.