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 |  IL Licensed Attorney · ARDC

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Estate Planning + Probate

OnlyLawyers.co

Estate Planning + Probate

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Revocable Living Trusts

Estate Planning · Naperville, Illinois

Revocable Living Trusts Control Today, Protection Forever

A properly funded revocable living trust is the most powerful tool an Illinois family can use to avoid probate, protect privacy, and ensure seamless transfer of wealth. Brad Plaschke handles every detail — drafting, execution, and funding.

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What We Do

What Is a Revocable Living Trust — and Why Does It Matter?

A revocable living trust is a legal document that holds your assets during your lifetime and distributes them after your death — entirely outside of court. You remain the trustee, maintaining full control. When you pass or become incapacitated, a successor trustee you designated steps in immediately.

Without a Trust

Your estate goes through Illinois probate — a public, court-supervised process that typically takes 12–24 months and costs 3–8% of estate value in fees. Your assets, debts, and family disputes become public record

With a Funded Trust

Assets transfer privately to your beneficiaries within weeks — no probate court, no public filings, no 18-month delays. Your family receives what you intended, when you intended, with no friction.

"Illinois families with homes, investment accounts, or business interests almost always benefit from a revocable living trust — the probate costs alone justify it many times over."

— Brad Plaschke, Managing Attorney · ARDC #6225854

Trust Structures We Specialize In

We Design the Right Trust for Your Situation

01

Standard Revocable Living Trust

Full control during your lifetime. Amend or revoke at any time. Avoids probate for all titled assets. The foundation of most Illinois estate plans.

02

Married Couple (Joint) Trust

A single trust holding both spouses’ assets with coordinated successor trustee provisions — efficient, cost-effective, and estate-tax aware for Illinois couples.

03

Trust with Subtrusts for Children

Holds a child’s inheritance in trust until a specific age or milestone — preventing an 18-year-old from receiving a lump-sum inheritance the day they become an adult.

04

Trust with Special Needs Provisions

Protects a disabled beneficiary’s government benefits (SSI, Medicaid) while still providing supplemental support from the trust — a critical structure many families overlook.

How It Works

Our Attorney-Led Process

01

Week 1

Free Planning Review

Brad reviews your assets, family structure, and goals. No fee, no obligation — just clear answers about whether a trust is right for you.

02

Week 1–2

Strategy & Document Design

Your trust structure is designed around your specific situation — beneficiaries, successor trustees, distribution terms, and Illinois-specific provisions.

03

Week 2–3

Drafting & Review

Brad drafts the full trust document and accompanying pour-over will. You review every provision in plain English until it’s exactly right.

04

Week 3–4

Signing, Notarization & Funding

Formal execution with witnesses and notary. Then — critically — Brad helps you transfer your home, accounts, and assets into the trust so it actually works.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still control my assets after placing them in a revocable trust?
Yes. As the grantor and trustee, you retain full control. You can buy, sell, refinance, or remove assets from the trust at any time. “Revocable” means exactly that — you can change or cancel the trust during your lifetime as long as you are mentally competent.
This is one of the most important benefits of a trust. Your successor trustee steps in immediately to manage your assets — paying bills, managing investments, handling your affairs — without any court involvement. Compare this to a will, which only takes effect at death and provides no incapacity protection.
No. Because you retain control, the assets in a revocable trust are still considered yours for purposes of creditor claims and Medicaid eligibility. If asset protection or Medicaid planning is a goal, an irrevocable trust structure may be appropriate — Brad will explain your options during the review.
A trust that is drafted but not funded — meaning assets have not been legally retitled into the trust — does nothing. Your estate still goes through probate. Many attorneys draft the document and stop there. Brad assists with deed transfers, beneficiary designations, and account retitling to ensure the trust is actually operative.
A comprehensive trust-based plan at OnlyLawyers.co typically ranges from $2,000–$5,000+, depending on complexity. Brad provides a flat-fee quote during your free review — no hourly billing, no surprises. Compare that to Illinois probate, which routinely costs $15,000–$40,000 for an average estate.
Client Stories

What Naperville Families Say

“Brad explained exactly why we needed a trust rather than just wills. The funding step — transferring our home and accounts — was handled entirely by his office. We finally have real peace of mind.”

Michael & Karen T

Naperville, IL

“When my father passed, his trust made everything seamless. No probate, no court, no delays. The estate was fully distributed in six weeks. Brad built something that actually worked when it mattered most.”

Linda R.

Wheaton, IL

“We’d put off estate planning for years. Brad made it efficient, clear, and frankly not that difficult. The flat-fee quote gave us confidence there’d be no surprises. Highly recommend for any DuPage County family.”

Tom & Sarah K.

Lisle, IL

Ready to Protect Your Family?

Schedule a free planning review. No pressure, no obligation — just clear answers from an experienced Illinois estate attorney.

Request Free Planning Review
Call Brad directly

Attorney advertising. Not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship created by this website. IL ARDC #6225854.