Belleville Family Law Blog
- On Behalf of Johnson, Johnson, & Nolan
- Estate Planning
Your grandmother’s jewelry box had a key. Your Bitcoin wallet has a password that died with your laptop. When digital assets started replacing physical ones, estate planning got complicated fast. Most people think about wills when they’re worried about the house, the car, maybe some...
- On Behalf of Johnson, Johnson, & Nolan
- Estate Planning
When someone close to you dies and you believe their will doesn’t reflect their true wishes, the urge to take time and grieve before dealing with legal matters is completely understandable. Unfortunately, Illinois law doesn’t pause for grief. The state imposes strict deadlines for will...
- On Behalf of Johnson, Johnson, & Nolan
- Estate Planning
Most people assume any estate with significant assets must go through probate court. That’s not always true in Illinois. The state provides several alternatives for smaller estates, with the $150,000 personal property threshold serving as a key divider between simplified procedures and full probate administration....
- On Behalf of Johnson, Johnson, & Nolan
- Estate Planning
Nobody wants their family dealing with a lengthy, expensive probate process during an already difficult time. The good news is that Illinois law provides several effective ways to transfer assets without going through formal probate proceedings. Smart estate planning can help your loved ones avoid...
- On Behalf of Johnson, Johnson, & Nolan
- Estate Planning
Losing a loved one brings enough emotional challenges without adding the complexity of legal proceedings. The probate process in Illinois can feel overwhelming when you’re already dealing with grief, but understanding how an attorney can guide you through this process makes a significant difference in...
- On Behalf of Johnson, Johnson, & Nolan
- Probate
Most people think of probate as something to avoid at all costs. You hear horror stories about families stuck in court for years, legal fees eating up inheritances, and bitter disputes that tear families apart. But here’s what might surprise you: Illinois has actually designed...
- On Behalf of Johnson, Johnson, & Nolan
- Estate Planning
Land trusts represent one of Illinois’s most practical yet underutilized legal tools for property ownership. While many property owners have never heard of them, these simple structures can provide significant benefits for privacy, estate planning, and property management. Understanding when and how to use a...
- On Behalf of Johnson, Johnson, & Nolan
- Probate
Nobody wants their family dealing with probate court while they’re grieving. We see this all the time here in St. Clair County… families already struggling with loss, then facing months of court proceedings, attorney fees, and public records. The good news? Illinois gives you several...
- On Behalf of Johnson, Johnson, & Nolan
- Estate Planning
Death is inevitable. Yet most Illinois residents postpone estate planning until a health crisis forces the conversation. By then, options become limited and family stress intensifies unnecessarily. Estate planning isn’t just about wealthy families with sprawling properties and deep investment portfolios. Whether you own a...
- On Behalf of Johnson, Johnson, & Nolan
- Probate
There are many reasons to want to handle probate by yourself. The cost savings, of course, and having your hands in every part of the process provide a bit of comfort to some. But as the saying goes, if you think paying for service is...
Recent Posts
Recent Posts
- Digital Estates: Who Gets Your Facebook, Photos, and Bitcoin in 2026?
- The 6-Month Clock: Why You Can’t Wait to Contest a Will in Illinois
- The $150,000 Rule: Does Every Estate in Illinois Need Probate?
- What Probate Alternatives Should You Consider in Illinois?
- How Can an Attorney Help with the Probate Process in Illinois?