Estate planning representation grounded in 16 years of work on behalf of families in Lombard and the surrounding DuPage County area.
If you're trying to plan your estate or settle a loved one's affairs in Lombard, you probably have questions about your property, your accounts, and what happens to the people who depend on you. The default rules under Illinois law may not align with what you actually want.
Madden Law LLC was built on more than 16 years of estate planning experience serving families and business owners across DuPage County. Our Lombard, IL estate planning lawyer can help you get the right documents in place. Schedule a free consultation to talk through your situation.
Estate Planning Lawyer Lombard, IL
An estate planning attorney helps you decide what happens to your assets, your debts, and your dependents when you can no longer make those decisions yourself. Many people think that only applies when you pass away, but you can also make arrangements in the event you become incapacitated. The documents you sign now govern what happens later, and without them, the state of Illinois decides for you.
The work goes beyond a single will. It usually involves trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and beneficiary designations. Every adult with property or children has reason to put a plan together. A married couple with young kids needs different provisions than a single retiree with a paid-off home. An estate planning attorney in Lombard can evaluate your situation and tell you which documents you actually need.
Types of Estate Planning Cases We Handle in Lombard
Estate planning looks different for every client. Some people come in with nothing on paper. Others have a will from a decade ago that no longer fits. We help Lombard residents with the full range of estate planning matters, including:
- Wills. A will names who receives your property, who manages the estate after you die, and who raises your minor children. If you pass away without a will in Illinois, the state's intestacy rules make those decisions for you. We handle simple wills and more involved documents for blended families, multi-property owners, and business owners.
- Trusts. A trust holds and distributes assets on your terms, and it can often help your family avoid probate entirely. Revocable living trusts let you keep full control during your lifetime. Irrevocable trusts serve more targeted purposes, such as asset protection or reducing estate tax liability.
- Powers of attorney. A power of attorney authorizes someone you choose to handle your finances or make medical decisions if you become incapacitated. Illinois POA laws have changed in recent years, so older documents may need updating. We prepare both property and healthcare versions.
- Living wills and healthcare directives. A living will records your wishes about life-sustaining treatment, including ventilators, feeding tubes, and resuscitation. It removes the guesswork for your family when it counts most.
- Trust administration. After a death, the successor trustee has to inventory assets, communicate with beneficiaries, file tax returns, and make distributions. Most people underestimate the trustee's responsibilities. We guide trustees through every step so they fulfill their duties without personal liability.
- Probate. When there is no trust or when assets were left outside the trust, the estate typically passes through the DuPage County probate court. We represent executors, administrators, and beneficiaries through the filings, creditor notices, and final accounting.
- Guardianship designations. Naming who cares for your children if both parents are gone is one of the most personal parts of any estate plan. We also help parents create trusts that hold assets for minors until they reach an age you choose.
- Business succession. If you own a business, your estate plan has to address what happens to the company if you retire, become disabled, or die. We coordinate operating agreements, buy-sell terms, and ownership transfers as part of the overall plan.
Why Choose Madden Law LLC as my Estate Planning Lawyer in Lombard, IL?
An Attorney With Two Decades of Legal Experience
David Madden founded Madden Law LLC in 2025 after more than 20 years practicing law. He spent the first part of his career at national and regional firms representing corporations and high-net-worth individuals, work that covered complex financial structures, asset protection, and estate considerations. He earned his Juris Doctor from DePaul College of Law in 2003 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Michigan State University.
David is admitted to practice in Illinois and Michigan as well as several federal courts. He holds a Certified Information Privacy Professional credential from the IAPP and belongs to the Illinois State Bar Association, the DuPage County Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. Before law school, he served as an infantry Corporal in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and received an honorable discharge in 2003. He currently serves on the Woodridge School District 68 Board of Education.
Serving Lombard Families and Business Owners
We've helped families, individuals, and small business owners across Lombard and the surrounding DuPage County suburbs plan their estates. The work has ranged from first-time wills to full trust-based plans for more complex situations. Blended families, minor children, business ownership, and real estate in multiple states all require different provisions. We build each plan around the client's actual circumstances. Our clients have recognized the firm's commitment to clear communication and thorough preparation, and free consultations are available for all estate planning matters.
Understanding Estate Planning Cases
Key Estate Planning Documents and What They Do
A well-structured estate plan includes several documents, each with a separate function. No single form covers everything. The number and type you need depend on what you own, who depends on you, and how your family is structured.
- Last will and testament. Names your beneficiaries, appoints an executor to manage the estate, and designates a guardian for any minor children.
- Revocable living trust. Holds your assets during your lifetime and transfers them to beneficiaries after death, typically without going through probate court.
- Durable power of attorney for property. Authorizes a person you choose to manage bank accounts, pay bills, and handle financial transactions if you cannot.
- Healthcare power of attorney. Authorizes a person you choose to make medical decisions on your behalf when you are unable to communicate.
- Living will (advance directive). Records your preferences about life-sustaining treatment such as ventilators, feeding tubes, and resuscitation.
- Beneficiary designations. Attached to retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and payable-on-death accounts. These pass outside of a will or trust and override whatever those documents say.
What Are Important Aspects of an Estate Planning Case?
Getting documents drafted is only part of the process. Several other factors determine whether a plan actually protects your family the way you intend:
- Choosing the right people. The executor, trustee, and agents you name carry real legal responsibility. A poor choice in any role creates problems no document can prevent.
- Document coordination. Your will, trust, beneficiary designations, and powers of attorney all need to work together. A beneficiary designation on a retirement account overrides a conflicting provision in your will every time.
- Trust funding. A trust only controls assets that have been transferred into it. An unfunded trust means the estate still ends up in DuPage County probate court.
- Regular review. Marriages, divorces, births, deaths, and changes in tax law can make an older plan outdated. Most plans should be reviewed every three to five years or after any major life change.
What Is the Estate Planning Case Timeline?
Most estate plans move through a predictable process over several weeks, though complexity and scheduling can shift the timeline:
- Initial consultation (1-2 hours). We review your assets, your family situation, and your goals, then identify which documents you need.
- Drafting (1-3 weeks). We prepare the first round of documents based on the consultation.
- Review and revisions (1-2 weeks). You review the drafts, ask questions, and we make any changes.
- Signing (one meeting). All documents are signed with proper witnesses and notarization as required under Illinois law.
- Funding and follow-up. For trust-based plans, we help retitle assets and update beneficiary designations with banks, brokerages, and insurance companies.
What Should You Bring to Your Estate Planning Consultation?
If you are creating a will for the first time or updating an older plan, walking in with a few basic items saves time and lets us give you specific guidance. Items you want to bring include:
- A list of major assets: real estate, bank accounts, retirement accounts, investment accounts, and life insurance, with approximate values
- Names and relationships of the people you want to receive your property
- Names of anyone you would consider as executor, trustee, guardian, or agent under a power of attorney
- Any existing wills, trusts, or powers of attorney you have signed previously
You don't need everything organized. Bring what you have, and we will identify what's missing. The first consultation is about building a clear picture of your situation so we can recommend the right structure for your estate plan.
What Are Important Illinois Legal Resources for Estate Planning Cases?
Illinois estate planning rules come from a combination of state statutes, court procedures, and federal tax law. The following public resources can help you research current rules:
- The Illinois General Assembly publishes the full text of state statutes, including provisions covering wills, trusts, and powers of attorney.
- The Illinois Courts website provides self-help resources, standardized forms, and information on probate procedures.
- The Internal Revenue Service publishes federal estate and gift tax thresholds and filing requirements.
- IRS Form 706 is the federal estate tax return required for larger estates.
- The Social Security Administration provides information on survivor benefits available to families after a loss.
Reach Out to Madden Law LLC to Schedule a Consultation
If you have been putting off your estate plan, or if a recent life change has made your current documents outdated, now is a good time to sit down and get it handled. We offer free initial consultations for all estate planning matters in Lombard, IL. Contact us to schedule a time that works for you, and we will take it from there.