Estate Planning · Naperville & DuPage County, Illinois
Estate Planning —
Protect Your Family Before Life Forces the Issue
A complete Illinois estate plan ensures your assets go to the right people, your family stays out of probate court, and someone you trust — not a judge — makes decisions when you cannot. Brad Plaschke builds plans that actually work when your family needs them most.
- Illinois Licensed Attorney · ARDC #6225854
- 30+ Years Estate Planning Experience
- Naperville & DuPage County Focus
- Flat-Fee Quotes · No Hourly Billing
Why Planning Matters Now
The Cost of Waiting Is Real
Most Illinois families discover the gaps in their estate plan during a probate proceeding, a family medical crisis, or a nursing home admission — when options narrow and costs multiply. The time to plan is before any of those events occurs.
Without a Plan
- Illinois intestate laws — not you — decide who inherits your estate
- Probate takes 12–24 months and costs 3–8% of estate value
- Courts appoint a guardian for your minor children
- No healthcare directive means a court picks your medical decision-maker
- Nursing home costs deplete assets without Medicaid pre-planning
- Business succession becomes a crisis, not a strategy
- Your estate — debts, disputes, and all — becomes public record
With OnlyLawyers.co
- Assets transfer privately to the right people, without court involvement
- A funded trust bypasses probate entirely — no delay, no fees, no record
- You name your children's guardian in a legally binding document
- Healthcare and financial authority is established before any crisis
- Medicaid planning preserves your assets for your family, not a nursing home
- Business succession proceeds on your terms with continuity planning
- Peace of mind — your family is legally protected and clearly directed
$500
Starting cost for a basic Illinois will
$2K–$5K+
Comprehensive trust-based plan
$15K–$40K+
Typical Illinois probate cost — what a plan prevents
$120K+
Annual nursing home cost, DuPage County — without Medicaid planning
Illinois Estate Planning Services
A Full Spectrum of Planning — All Attorney-Led
Every engagement is handled personally by Brad Plaschke — no paralegals, no junior associates, no handoffs. Each service below links to a dedicated practice area page with full details.
01 · Core Planning
Revocable Living Trusts
The most powerful probate-avoidance tool available to Illinois families. Assets pass privately, immediately, and without court. Brad handles drafting and the funding step most attorneys skip.
02 · Core Planning
Wills & Pour-Over Wills
Simple wills, pour-over wills, and testamentary trust wills — drafted in compliance with Illinois execution requirements and designed to hold up in any Illinois court.
03 · Decision Authority
Powers of Attorney
Durable financial POA, healthcare POA, and living will. Designates who manages your finances and makes your medical decisions if you are incapacitated — before a court is forced to.
04 · Estate Administration
Probate & Estate Admin
Full-service Illinois probate administration — court filings, executor guidance, creditor claim management, asset distribution, and estate closing in DuPage, Will, Kane, and Cook County.
05 · Senior Strategy
Elder Law & Medicaid
Medicaid asset protection trusts, crisis planning, VA Aid & Attendance benefits, and guardianship. Nursing home costs exceed $10,000 per month — proactive planning is the only effective response.
06 · Wealth Defense
Asset Protection
Irrevocable trusts, LLCs, family limited partnerships, and spendthrift provisions designed to shield assets from creditors, litigation, and unintended beneficiary vulnerabilities.
07 · Property & Tax
Real Property Deeds
Trust transfer deeds, Transfer on Death Instruments (TODI), quitclaim and warranty deeds — ensuring your home and investment properties are properly integrated into your estate plan.
Who We Serve
Planning-Fit Clients
OnlyLawyers.co serves Illinois families, homeowners, professionals, and business owners who are serious about protecting what they’ve built. If any of the following describes you, a planning review is worth your time.
Homeowners & Families
Any Illinois homeowner with a property titled in their name alone has an unresolved probate exposure. A trust or TODI resolves it permanently.
Parents of Minor Children
A will is the only legal document that lets you name a guardian for your children. Without one, an Illinois court makes that decision for you.
Business Owners
Succession planning, business-to-estate coordination, buy-sell agreements, LLC structuring, and asset protection for owners with significant business exposure.
Adults 50+ Planning Ahead
Medicaid pre-planning, long-term care strategy, elder law protections, and the incapacity planning documents every senior needs in place before a health event.
Professionals with Liability
Physicians, attorneys, CPAs, and other licensed professionals with malpractice exposure need asset protection structures beyond insurance alone.
Families Facing Probate
If a loved one has passed and the estate requires Illinois probate administration, Brad guides families and executors through the process with efficiency and care.
Our Process
A Clear, Attorney-Led Engagement From Start to Finish
No generic questionnaires, no paralegal handoffs. Brad leads every engagement personally — from the initial review through document execution and asset funding.
01
Week 1 · Free & No Obligation
Free Planning Review
Submit your planning-fit request or call Brad directly. He reviews your situation, discusses your assets, family structure, and goals, confirms scope, and provides a flat-fee quote. No obligation until a written engagement agreement is signed.
02
Weeks 1–2
Strategy & Document Design
Brad designs the right structure for your situation — identifying which tools are needed, how they interact, and presenting your complete plan in plain English before any drafting begins. You understand exactly what you’re getting and why.
03
Weeks 2–3
Drafting & Client Review
Attorney-drafted documents are delivered for your review. Brad walks through every provision in plain language — no legal jargon, no unanswered questions. Revisions continue until everything is precisely right.
04
Weeks 3–4
Formal Execution
Documents are executed with proper witnesses and notarization in compliance with Illinois law — ensuring validity and enforceability in any Illinois court. Signing appointments are available evenings and weekends.
05
Week 4+ · The Step Most Attorneys Skip
Asset Alignment & Trust Funding
A trust only works if it is funded. Brad assists with deed transfers, beneficiary designation updates, and account retitling to ensure every asset is properly aligned with the plan — the step that makes the difference between a document and a plan that actually functions.
06
Ongoing
Ongoing Support & Document Updates
Life changes — marriages, divorces, births, deaths, asset acquisitions, and law changes can all affect your plan. Brad is available for periodic reviews, document updates, and planning adjustments as your family and assets evolve.
"Estate planning is not a document transaction — it is an ongoing relationship. The families I serve best are the ones who treat their plan as a living part of their financial life, not a one-time checkbox."
— Brad Plaschke, Managing Attorney · ARDC #6225854
About Brad
Attorney-Led Planning With an Operator's Discipline
- Illinois Licensed Attorney
- ARDC #6225854
- 30+ Years Experience
- Naperville & DuPage County Focus
- Direct Attorney Access — No Paralegal Handoffs
- Evening & Weekend Appointments
Brad Plaschke
Managing Attorney · OnlyLawyers.co
Brad Plaschke brings the perspective of an Illinois licensed attorney and senior operating executive to estate planning and probate. Strong planning is not merely legal drafting — it is coordination, risk control, decision architecture, and execution. Brad’s background in both law and business operations means your estate plan is built with both legal precision and practical clarity.
With more than 30 years of Illinois estate planning experience, Brad has guided hundreds of DuPage County families through complex revocable and irrevocable trust structures, probate matters, elder law challenges, Medicaid planning, and asset protection strategies. Every client receives direct attorney attention from the first call through plan execution and funding.
OnlyLawyers.co is an intentionally focused practice — estate planning, probate, trusts, wills, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and family protection planning. No general practice dilution. Every engagement benefits from deep, current expertise in Illinois estate law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an estate plan if I don't have a large estate?
What is the difference between a will and a living trust in Illinois?
How much does estate planning cost in Naperville, Illinois?
How long does it take to complete an estate plan?
Does Illinois have a state estate tax?
My spouse and I already have wills from years ago. Do we need to update them?
What Naperville Families Say
“Brad guided our family through a complex trust and probate matter after my mother passed. His calm professionalism and genuine care made an incredibly difficult time manageable. He handled everything — we never felt lost or alone in the process.”
Michael T., Naperville
“We finally got our estate plan done after years of putting it off. Brad made the whole process clear and efficient. He explained every document, walked us through our options, and made sure our wishes were perfectly captured. Best decision we made.”
Sarah & Tom K., Wheaton
“Brad’s knowledge of elder law and Medicaid planning saved our family enormous stress and money. His proactive strategies gave us options we didn’t know existed. He is truly an advocate for his clients — not just an attorney filling out forms.”
Linda R., Aurora
Service Area
Serving Naperville & Surrounding Illinois Communities
Proudly serving clients throughout DuPage, Will, Kane, and Cook County, Illinois.
Ready to Protect Your Family?
Schedule a free planning review. No pressure, no obligation — just clear answers from an experienced Illinois estate attorney. Flat-fee quotes provided upfront. Evening and weekend appointments available.