Planning ahead with clear legal documents can reduce stress, protect your family, and ensure that your wishes are honored. Without a plan, loved ones may be left to interpret unclear instructions, face delays with asset transfers, or lose control of medical decisions during a crisis. Even simple estates benefit from having the right legal tools in place.
Working with an experienced estate planning attorney helps you take control of your future. We assist clients with creating enforceable wills, selecting trusted decision-makers, and structuring trusts that preserve privacy and reduce potential conflict. Whether you want to protect minor children, address long-term care, or simplify asset distribution, a solid plan gives you peace of mind now and security later.
At Berardi and Associates, we assist individuals and families across Chicago in building thoughtful, legally sound estate plans. Every document is customized, reviewed for compliance, and created to reflect the client’s unique goals. Our job is to make complex planning feel simple, practical, and complete.
SAFEGUARD YOUR ASSETS WITH OUR ESTATE PLANNING SERVICES
You don’t know what the future will bring, but that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare. Regardless of what occurs in the future, you’ll be ready for it with the proper estate plan. An iron-clad estate plan will protect your interests if you’re incapacitated and fulfill your final wishes when you pass away. Because the future is unpredictable, don’t put off estate planning. Berardi and Associates, LLC provides complete estate planning services, including your last will and testament, trusts, powers of attorney, and advanced directives. Whether you have a vast amount of assets or live paycheck to paycheck, these Chicagoland area estate planning services are critical, so reach out today.
Last Will and Testament
The attorneys at Berardi and Associates, LLC can help you create a last will and testament, so your assets will be distributed based on your desires. Your will can also cover matters related to your business, your minor children, and even your pets. Our real estate planning attornies can include a residue clause in your will, as well. This clause will allow the executor to distribute the assets that you’ve acquired but did not specifically mention in the will. This is beneficial for small assets, but if you make large purchases after drafting the will, come back to Berardi and Associates, LLC to update the document.
Trusts
Your Chicagoland area estate planning attorney can help you form various trusts, including revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, living trusts, and special needs trusts. With the right trusts in your estate plan, you can ensure that you’re taken care of if you’re incapacitated, and your loved ones will receive your assets upon death. Trusts are more complicated than wills, so hiring a trust attorney is critical. While the paperwork is more complex, you enjoy benefits that include avoiding probate. Avoiding probate allows the executor to distribute assets faster and also protects everyone’s privacy.
Powers of Attorney
Berardi and Associates, LLC can also help with creating binding powers of attorney. You will choose someone to make health care and financial decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. Then, your estate planning attorney will create the documents. Then, you’ll be prepared in case anything happens.
Advanced Directives
Your attorney will also help you draft advanced directives. An advanced directive is a legal order used to determine your future medical care. While many people choose a living will, you can also have your attorney draft a Texas medical power of attorney. The directive will name aperson who will make decisions on your behalf if you’re incapacitated.
Selecting the right advanced directives can be confusing. Fortunately, you can get legal help to navigate this process.
What an Estate Planning Attorney Helps You Address
A well-prepared estate plan reflects your family structure, assets, and long-term goals. It is more than filling in names on standard forms. It requires strategy, foresight, and legal precision. Working with an experienced estate planning attorney, we help clients address the details that truly shape how their plans perform in real life.
We assist with:
- Identifying goals across generations. Whether you’re providing for a child with a disability, planning for retirement, or passing on a family business, we help define your objectives with clarity.
- Coordinating legal documents with real-world accounts. We ensure your estate documents align with how your assets are titled, how beneficiaries are listed, and how ownership is structured.
- Addressing estate tax exposure. For clients with significant assets, we help explore trust strategies and other methods to reduce potential estate tax obligations.
- Planning for family dynamics. From blended families to second marriages, we help minimize future conflict with proactive planning and clear instructions.
- Keeping your plan current. Life changes, and so should your documents. We advise clients to review their plans after significant events or every few years to keep them legally effective.
Working with an estate planning attorney ensures your plan is not only valid but also functional. We take a hands-on role in tailoring each element to work as a unified strategy that protects your future.
When Should You Start Estate Planning?
Estate planning is not just for older adults or those with substantial wealth. It becomes relevant as soon as you have assets to protect or people who rely on you. Whether you’re buying your first home, starting a family, or simply building savings, having a plan in place helps you stay prepared for the unexpected.
Early planning gives you the chance to decide who will manage your finances, make healthcare decisions on your behalf, and receive your assets in the future. A well-prepared will, power of attorney, and medical directive are tools that every adult should have, regardless of age or income.
Waiting until a medical issue or legal emergency limits your ability to act can create unnecessary complications. By working with an experienced estate planning attorney, you can make informed choices while you’re healthy, capable, and thinking clearly.
We help clients of all ages establish and update their plans with practical legal solutions that evolve as life changes. The earlier you start, the more control you have over your future.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a will and a trust?
A will goes into effect after death and must go through court procedures. A trust becomes active during your lifetime and allows assets to be managed privately, often without court oversight.
Do I need an estate plan if I’m single or don’t have children?
Yes. Everyone should have an estate plan to ensure their wishes are followed regarding property, healthcare, and financial decisions. Plans are not limited to parents or couples.
How often should I update my estate plan?
We recommend reviewing your plan every few years, or after significant life changes such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, or substantial financial shifts.
Can I assign multiple agents under my power of attorney?
Yes. You can designate a primary agent and one or more alternates. We can also help you determine whether co-agents are appropriate for your situation.
Start Your Estate Planning With Confidence
Without precise legal planning, decisions about your health, finances, and property may fall to people you didn’t choose or systems you didn’t expect. That uncertainty can create unnecessary stress during difficult times.
At Berardi and Associates, we are here to guide you through the estate planning process with clarity and care. We take the time to understand your goals and develop a plan that supports your family, protects your assets, and reflects your values.
Contact us today to speak with a trusted estate planning attorney or explore our full range of legal services on our website. Let us help you prepare with confidence.