Living Trust vs. Will: What’s Best for Your Family?

Planning for the future is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your loved ones. Whether you’re looking to ensure a smooth transfer of assets, avoid probate, or provide clear instructions for your estate, you’ll need to decide between a living trust and a will. While both serve as essential estate planning tools, they have key differences that impact how your estate is handled after you pass. So, which is right for your family? Let’s break it down.

The Missing Piece in Your Estate Plan: What Happens to Your Digital Life?

Estate planning is no longer just about homes, bank accounts, and retirement funds. In today’s digital world, many individuals have valuable assets stored online, yet few have a plan in place to manage them after they pass.

What Happens If You Don’t Name a Guardian?

If you and your child’s other parent were to pass away or become unable to care for them, the court, not your family, will determine who raises your children. This process can be complicated and stressful for loved ones, and the outcome may not reflect what you would have wanted.

Let's Talk About Inherited Retirement Accounts & Required Minimum Distributions in Illinois

Hey there, if you’ve inherited a retirement account recently, you might be wondering what’s next. The rules around Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) have changed, and if you’re in Illinois, you’ll want to be aware of what’s coming in January 2025.

We are excited to introduce the newest Russo Law Offices team member, Francesca Siracusano! As an estate planning and probate attorney, Francesca is dedicated to helping individuals and families navigate the complexities of planning for the future, managing estates, and handling probate court matters. Her passion for providing legal guidance stems from a deep desire to help families protect their assets and secure their legacies for future generations.

As an estate planning attorney with years of experience guiding families through the complexities of wealth transfer, one of the most powerful tools available to ensure your legacy is preserved and distributed according to your wishes is a trust.

I’ve seen firsthand how proper planning can create lasting security—and how the lack of it can lead to unintended consequences.

Unlike a simple will, a trust allows you to control how and when your beneficiaries receive their inheritance, offering protection from financial mismanagement, outside influences, and life’s uncertainties. If you want to safeguard your wealth while empowering your loved ones, a trust is the best way to achieve both.

If estate planning has been sitting on your to-do list for far too long, you're not alone. Many people put it off, believing they don’t have the time or feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of it all. But the truth is, without a plan in place, your loved ones could face unnecessary stress, confusion, and financial burdens in the future.

In a world that’s constantly changing, having a trust in place offers peace of mind and security for your loved ones. But is your trust truly prepared to protect your family and assets against the unexpected?

Many people create a trust and then set it aside, assuming it will work seamlessly forever. However, the reality is that life changes—and so should your trust.

Take Action This Year

The start of a new year is the perfect time to tackle important tasks like estate planning. At Russo Law Offices, we specialize in making the process straightforward and stress-free. Whether you’re creating an estate plan for the first time or need to update an existing one, our experienced team is here to guide you every step of the way.

Imagine this: Your family is gathered in a quiet room. Emotions are running high as you’re about to hear the last wishes of a loved one.

There’s a mix of curiosity, anticipation, and maybe even tension.

What exactly did they leave behind?

How will it be divided?

When planning for your family’s future, one of the most important—and sometimes challenging—decisions you can make is choosing a guardian for your children. As parents, we never want to think about the possibility of being unable to care for our kids, but preparing for the unexpected is one of the most responsible things we can do for them. That’s why discussing guardianship with your family, especially during holiday visits, can be an invaluable step in ensuring everyone is on the same page.

If you're like most people, you may have put off creating an estate plan. It’s one of those things that’s easy to ignore—until it’s too late. But here's the reality: you can’t afford to wait any longer. In 2025, having a solid estate plan is no longer optional—it's essential for protecting your wealth, your family, and your business. At Russo Law Offices, we want to help you understand why you need to act now and what you need to do to secure your future.

Preparation is more than a practical step—it’s an enduring act of love. By taking the time to ensure your affairs are in order, you give your family the gift of security, clarity, and peace of mind. It’s a way to show how much you care, even when you’re no longer physically present.

At Russo Law Offices, we’re here to guide you through this important process with compassion and expertise. Whether you need to create an estate plan, update existing documents, or discuss your unique circumstances, we’re ready to help.

In our modern world, estate planning is evolving into something more profound than just a practical necessity. It has become a powerful tool for healing generational wounds and fostering emotional well-being for future generations.

For many families, there are underlying tensions or unspoken dynamics—whether it’s a history of financial mismanagement, unhealed emotional wounds, or the invisible scars left by past traumas. These patterns often persist through generations, affecting how families relate to each other and their wealth. However, estate planning offers a unique chance to confront and transform these inherited burdens.

When it comes to estate planning, the choice between a Revocable Living Trust and an Irrevocable Trust can make all the difference. These two popular options offer distinct advantages, but they serve very different purposes.

When it comes to estate planning, veterans often have unique opportunities and resources many are unaware of. These benefits can play a crucial role in ensuring that your estate plan not only protects your assets but also honors your legacy of service. By leveraging veterans’ benefits as part of your estate planning strategy, you can enhance your family’s financial future and leave a lasting impact. Here’s what you need to know about incorporating veterans’ benefits into your estate plan.

In today's world, estate planning has evolved beyond traditional assets like homes, cars, and bank accounts. Our digital presence, online financial resources, and virtual memories have become valuable assets that require careful planning. From social media profiles to cryptocurrency, these digital assets can hold both financial and sentimental value, yet they are often overlooked in estate planning. In this blog, we’ll explore why these digital assets are essential to include in your estate plan and how you can take steps to protect them for your loved ones.

Estate planning may seem straightforward, but even small mistakes can have significant consequences for you and your loved ones. Outdated documents, overlooked beneficiary designations, and other common errors can tie your assets up in court, add unnecessary legal fees, and even pass your wealth to people you may not have intended. Here, we’ll look at common estate-planning mistakes and discuss how you can avoid them to ensure your assets end up with the right people.

While the focus is often on the joyous celebrations, it’s also a necessary time to consider your partnership's future and security. One crucial aspect that should not be overlooked is estate planning. Here’s a guide to help you navigate the essential steps after saying “I do.”

Choosing the right trustee or executor for your estate isn’t just about financial management—it’s about selecting someone with the emotional intelligence to handle potential family dynamics and maintain harmony.