Lombard Estate Planning Lawyer

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.

Estate Planning Statistics in Lombard

Lombard had an estimated population of 44,399 as of July 2025, and 17.1 percent of residents were 65 or older. Census QuickFacts data puts the owner-occupied housing rate at 70.8 percent, with a median home value of $335,700. Real estate is the asset most likely to pull a family into probate court, because a house titled in one person's name alone does not transfer automatically at death.

The village contains 17,262 households according to the Census Bureau profile, with a median household income of $100,362. Most of those households hold enough in property and retirement accounts to justify written instructions. A Lombard estate planning attorney can put those instructions in a form the court will follow.

Questions to Ask an Estate Planning Lawyer Before Hiring

Hiring an attorney to draft documents that will outlive you deserves more scrutiny than most people give it. The questions below separate an attorney who drafts forms from one who builds a plan around your situation. Ask them at the consultation, before anyone signs anything.

• How long have you handled estate planning in Illinois? Years in practice generally matter less than years in this specific area. Illinois execution requirements, trust rules, and probate procedure differ from other states.
• Will you quote a flat fee or bill by the hour? A flat quote lets you know the cost before drafting starts. Hourly billing on a document project can be difficult to predict.
• Which documents does my situation actually require? An attorney who recommends the same package to every client is not evaluating your circumstances. A renter with no children needs less than a business owner with property in two states.
• Who handles funding after the documents are signed? This question separates real plans from paper ones. A trust controls only the assets retitled into it, and many plans fail at this step rather than at drafting.
• How will you coordinate my beneficiary designations? Retirement accounts and life insurance pass by designation form, not by will. An attorney who never asks about those forms is leaving a hole in the plan.
• Do you also handle probate and trust administration? A firm that only drafts will not be there when the executor or successor trustee needs guidance. We handle probate administration as well as planning.
• What happens if a relative challenges the plan? Ask how the attorney drafts to reduce that risk. Ask what the firm does if a challenge arrives anyway.
• How often should I return for a review? Marriages, births, deaths, divorces, and property purchases all change the analysis. An attorney should tell you what triggers a revision.
• Do you handle business interests? Owners need ownership transfer terms that agree with the personal plan. Our business succession planning work runs alongside the estate documents for small business clients.
• What should I bring to the first meeting? A specific answer signals a specific process. A vague answer usually means a template.

Lombard Estate Planning Lawyer FAQs

How much does an estate plan cost in Lombard, IL?

Cost depends on which documents you need. A single will costs less than a trust-based plan with deed transfers and beneficiary updates. We quote a flat price after the consultation, so you know the figure before drafting begins. Our estate planning packages bundle the core documents most families need. Complex situations involving business interests or out-of-state property are quoted separately.

Do you offer free consultations?

Yes. Every estate planning consultation with our firm is free, and there is no obligation afterward. We use that meeting to review what you own, discuss your family situation, and identify which documents your circumstances call for. You will leave with a clear recommendation and a price. Many people schedule the consultation simply to find out whether their existing documents still work.

Do I need a trust, or is a will enough?

A will alone sends your estate through probate court. A trust generally avoids that, which saves the family time and keeps the terms private. Not everyone needs one. If you own real estate, hold accounts in multiple institutions, or have children who will inherit at different ages, living trusts usually earn their cost. We will tell you honestly when a will is sufficient.

How long does it take to finish an estate plan?

Most plans move from consultation to signing in three to six weeks. Drafting takes one to three weeks after the initial meeting. Review and revisions add another week or two, depending on how quickly you return comments. Signing happens in a single appointment. Funding a trust takes longer, since deeds and account transfers depend on third parties.

Can I write my own will?

Illinois recognizes wills that meet its execution requirements, and nothing prevents you from drafting your own. The risk is in the details. Ambiguous language, missing witness formalities, or provisions that conflict with beneficiary designations create disputes that cost far more to resolve than the document saved. Courts interpret what you wrote, not what you meant.

Who should I name as executor?

Choose someone organized, available, and willing. The role involves inventorying assets, notifying creditors, filing tax returns, and distributing property under court supervision. Geographic proximity helps, though Illinois does not require it. Naming the oldest child by default causes more problems than it solves. Name a successor as well, in case your first choice cannot serve when the time comes.

What is the difference between a living will and a health care power of attorney?

A health care power of attorney names an agent to make medical decisions whenever you cannot communicate. A living will applies only if you have a terminal condition and records your instruction about death delaying treatment. The two are not interchangeable. Most plans include both, and our living wills work covers each document separately.

Does a power of attorney expire?

A properly drafted power of attorney remains effective until you revoke it or you die, unless the document itself sets an end date. Older forms can still create friction, since banks and title companies sometimes refuse documents they consider outdated. Reviewing a power of attorney every few years reduces the chance that an institution rejects it when your agent needs to act.

I recently moved to Lombard from another state. Does my plan still work?

Illinois generally honors documents validly executed elsewhere, but honoring is not the same as functioning smoothly. Real estate you now own in DuPage County needs Illinois-appropriate transfer provisions. Health care directives drafted under another state's statute may not match the forms Illinois providers expect. A review is faster and cheaper than a rewrite in most cases.

Do you handle bankruptcy as well as estate planning?

We do. Debt affects what an estate can pass on, and creditors reach estate assets before beneficiaries do. Clients carrying significant obligations sometimes speak with a Lombard Chapter 7 lawyer before finalizing a plan. Addressing both together produces a better result than handling them in isolation.

Local Information for Lombard Estate Planning Cases

DuPage County Probate Court and Local Resources

Lombard sits in DuPage County, so estates for Lombard residents are administered through the 18th Judicial Circuit Court in Wheaton. The probate division handles decedents' estates, guardianships, and claims filed against estates. Original wills must be deposited with the Circuit Court Clerk in person. Electronic filing applies to nearly everything else. Deeds transferring property into a trust are recorded separately through the county recorder rather than the court.

Important Local Resources for Lombard Estate Planning

The offices and organizations below handle the filings, records, and support services that come up in estate planning and administration across DuPage County.

• DuPage County Probate Division, 630-407-8700. Publishes local procedures for opening and closing an estate at the Wheaton courthouse.
• DuPage County Recorder, 630-407-5400. Records deeds, including transfers that move real estate into a living trust.
• DuPage County Community Services, 630-407-6500. Provides case coordination and long term care options counseling for residents 60 and older.
• AgeGuide, 630-293-5990. The area agency on aging for DuPage County, with its main office located in Lombard.

Madden Law LLC does not endorse, sponsor, or maintain any affiliation with the organizations listed above. We provide this information for reference only, and we are not responsible for the services they deliver.

About Madden Law LLC

Our founder has spent 16 years on estate planning work, and his admissions extend to the federal district courts for the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois and the Eastern District of Wisconsin. He belongs to Chamber630 and the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, and he has authored articles and presented on the Corporate Transparency Act and post-judgment collections. Since the firm opened in 2025, we have kept our practice focused on individuals, families, and closely held businesses across DuPage County. You can read more about our firm and the practice areas we cover.

What Our Clients Say

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Dave is a very knowledgeable attorney. He took care of our will, power of attorney, and other civil docs quickly and efficiently. Highly recommend!"

Daniel McIntyre

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Contact Madden Law LLC

Whether you need a first will or a full trust-based plan, our Lombard estate planning lawyer can tell you what your situation requires and what it will cost. Consultations are free, and we quote a flat price before drafting begins. Expect the first meeting to cover your assets, your family, and the people you would name in each role. Our office keeps weekday, Saturday, and evening appointment hours. Contact us to arrange a time, and we will handle the rest from there.