A pour-over will is a special kind of will so that someone’s assets are automatically transferred to a previously established trust after their death. It is a legal document that protects the person – the grantor – if they have assets that they never added to a trust they had set up. An Illinois pour-over will is good fall-back protection if you do not transfer all your assets to your will or trust – but it is not as good as reviewing your estate plan with your attorney and updating your assets and beneficiaries.
A trust or living will let you avoid the cost and stress of having your estate go through probate. Although a pour-over will can add your assets to your trust after your death, those assets impacted by the pour-over will may have to go through probate.
If you don’t have any will or trust, and your estate is valued at over $100,000, your assets will be distributed to your heirs according to Illinois intestate laws.
Probate is an expensive and time-consuming court process, and it delays the transfer of your assets to your beneficiaries for months – and sometimes years. You can protect your family and loved ones by scheduling a regular review of your estate planning attorney with a trusted legal advisor.
Do you have questions about estate las in Illinois? Our experienced estate and probate attorneys in Cook, Dupage, Kane, Lake, and Will counties in Illinois can advise you on the best options to protect your assets and loved ones. To talk to a trust attorney contact the Estate & Probate Legal Group at 630-864-5835