Estates & Wills

When You Need an Attorney for Estate Planning & Wills

A lawyer experienced in wills and estates is essential to create and properly execute a will and estate planning documents. At Steven G. Jones Law Office, located in Decatur, IL, a wealth of experience gives us the expertise to assist you.

Estate planning maps out the eventual distribution of your real property and assets. Taking a big picture approach, an estate plan is designed to protect and preserve property, assets and investments, as well as providing instructions for the care, guardianship, and education of minor children.

At the core of an estate plan is a Last Will and Testament. If you die without having drafted a Last Will and Testament, the State of Illinois will designate an executor and distribute your property according to guidelines set out by state law. Left to the discretion of the State, your family may suffer adverse consequences, and your property may not necessarily go to those you would have chosen.

Phone 217-233-3000
We return phone calls after-hours and weekends.
FREE initial consultation.

Our Legal Services for Wills, Estates, Health Care Directives, Powers of Attorney & Trusts

When you seek our counsel, we will guide you in creating a plan that meets your unique requirements. Attorney Steven Jones will carefully explain all the important aspects you should consider including health care directives, durable medical powers of attorney, financial powers of attorney, and steps for tax minimization.

In addition to preparing wills and estates, attorneys Steven Jones regularly assists clients who are planning for the care of an aging parent, have lost a loved one and need legal advice to guide the estate through probate. Our firm also represents individuals who are seeking payment of debts from a decedent’s estate, or are disputing the validity of a will.

Whether you just beginning a family and accumulation of assets or if you have spent a lifetime building your estate, planning for the future is essential for your peace of mind and the well-being of those you love.

If you have questions about probate in Illinois or to arrange an estate planning consultation, call our law firm at 217-233-3000 to learn how we can protect your interests.

Do relatively simple Wills cost hundreds of dollars as some of the advertisements for legal forms by non-law firms suggest?

Simply put, no! In central Illinois, basic wills usually cost far less than “hundreds of dollars” to draft assuming that they are, in fact, simple and not more complicated documents involving trust and guardianship provisions.

Do I really need a Will?

If you do not have a Will, your property will pass by laws of what is referred to as intestate succession, meaning certain rules will have to be followed as to how your property passes upon your death without regard to your desires or wishes. Therefore, you should have a Will drafted by an attorney if you want to have a say in how your property passes upon your death.